Thomas Edison had a preoccupation with electricity from his early days as a telegraph operator. He even chose night shifts so he could experiment with lead-acid batteries. One night in 1867 when he was aged just 20, he spilled acid onto the floorboards. This seeped through and dripped onto his boss' Contact online >>
Thomas Edison had a preoccupation with electricity from his early days as a telegraph operator. He even chose night shifts so he could experiment with lead-acid batteries. One night in 1867 when he was aged just 20, he spilled acid onto the floorboards. This seeped through and dripped onto his boss''s desk below. Exit job. But drum roll please for Thomas Edison’s Nickel-Iron battery experiments.
Edison began searching seriously for an alternative to lead-acid technology in the 1890''s. His end-goal was a rechargeable battery the industry sometimes referred to as an ''accumulator''. He wanted something compact he could use in phonograph gramophones, and perhaps later in electric cars too.
By now Edison was a prolific innovator with income flowing from some of his ideas. Wikipedia believes he may have tried as many ''10,000 combinations'' before settling on nickel-iron (NiFe). Perhaps he also had access to the 1899 patent for a similar battery by Swedish inventor Waldemar Jungner.
Edison''s first rechargeable nickel–iron batteries targeted the fledgling electric car market. However, defects plagued early batches, and customers changed brands complaining about failures.
Money became tight as the company exhausted its own resources. Eventually Edison had to fund operations from his own pocket. He finally produced a ''very efficient and durable nickel-iron-battery with lye as the electrolyte'' in 1910 according to Wikipedia.
But by then electric starters for gasoline engines were rolling out, and these soon took over from electric motors. This signaled the end of Thomas-Edison''s nickel-ion endeavors in that regard.
However, Edison’s battery achieved greater success in other applications. These included electric and diesel-electric rail vehicles, backup power for railroad crossing signals, and even lamps used in mines.
Waldemar Jungner Invents NiCad Battery
Preview Image: Edison Nickel-Iron Batteries
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By Walter Noon View In Digital Edition
With the wild fluctuations in fuel prices over the years, world concern over global warming, and simply the idea of creating new and more sustainable technologies, immense interest and progress continues in the world of battery development.
In fact, it seems that we keep hearing about a new breakthrough, and another step closer to that long sought elusive goal of a truly workable battery storage system. Perhaps one day soon we’ll have a battery that displays no “memory” effect, one that can be completely discharged or overcharged without harm, and require no complex computerized management system. This battery could even prove so durable it will be immune to damage from vibration and not break down chemically over time. In operation, such a battery might even routinely outlast the very vehicle or machine it was designed to operate in! Last, we could complete our wish list by adding in the impossible: low materials toxicity, simple construction, and, of course, good energy density.
Thomas Edison didn’t think so when in 1899 — working with a design pioneered by Waldemar Jungner — he patented a battery with all these characteristics.
It was Edison’s hope that electric vehicles — which currently had the lead in popularity — would easily trump internal combustion or steam to be the vehicle of choice of his time, and ours. The Edison cell had a greater energy density than popular lead acid, and recharged in half the time. Astoundingly, it was not harmed by being fully discharged (even if dead shorted for years), and overcharging occasionally was actually good for the cell. It was even recommended as a monthly exercise in the battery’s manual!
Edison advertised that the cell had a life of at least four years, but the materials proved to be so stable (due to the low solubility of the reactants in the electrolyte) that some are still producing their full capacity today after more than 50 years! Problems with the Edison cell were few, and included poor performance at low temperatures, a high self discharge rate when unused (20% to 40% per month), and a slower than normal charge and discharge rate (65%). Yet, the practical nature of these cells was undeniable, and perhaps remains so today.
Like many overlooked gems throughout the history of engineering, perhaps these “diamonds in the rough” deserve a second look and some thoughts as to how our present technology could be improved by examining the principles of their operation. Many times historically these cells have been referred to as “the battery that worked too well.” Though they were popular and profitable in niche markets for Edison, it has been said that a business model could never be created for the general public by producing a product that does not require replacement. However, these days where “going green” is more than a quaint idea, perhaps Edison’s idea has finally found its time.
Because I know first hand the ingenuity and depth of knowledge of Nuts & Volts readers, I’d like to present the Edison cell to you in two ways. First, I’d like to briefly cover the historical construction of the cell. I think this will spark some ideas and even possible improvements to the cell. Then, I’d like to present the details of my own homemade cell experiments so you can construct one, as well.
In many ways, the remarkable Edison cell is functionally the opposite of batteries we use today. Edison used simple iron (anode) and nickel (cathode) screens for the electrodes, submerged in a potassium hydroxide electrolyte. Next, he bucked the popular methodology and rather than a strong acid, used an alkaline electrolyte (potassium hydroxide) for his cell. The basic chemical reaction can be written as:
An alkaline electrolyte proved to be not only effective but — unlike acid — the solution was protective of the metal electrodes in the battery, giving them their phenomenal lifespan. The alkaline solution was also safer than acid, being about the same toxicity as ordinary bleach. (The raw chemical potassium hydroxide is not so benign, and must be handled with care as we’ll see later in an experimental cell.)
Edison claimed that he would not begin actual manufacturing of the cells unless he achieved five times the capacity of the competing (lead acid) cell. At one point, he claimed to have reached 15 times the energy density of lead acid in a series of remarkable experiments.
Edison had found the cell’s capacity increased directly with the surface area of the plates. It’s hard not to wonder with today’s astounding capabilities in miniaturization (and nano machines) what might be possible for plate creation with such robust cells.
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