Nickel-Iron Battery

Overview

Nickel Iron Battery

The Nickel Iron Battery is the primary electrical energy storage device for the GVCS.

Detailed Description

The nickel-iron battery (NiFe battery) or "edison cell" is a storage battery having a nickel oxide-hydroxide cathode and an iron anode, with an electrolyte of potassium hydroxide (lye can be used as a substitute).

The active materials are held in nickel-plated steel tubes or perforated pockets.

It is a very robust battery which is tolerant of abuse, (overcharge, overdischarge, and short-circuiting) and can have very long life even if so treated.

It is often used in backup situations where it can be continuously charged and can last for more than 20 years.

Nickel-iron batteries have ~50 year lifetimes, compared to a few-year lifetime of lead acid batteries. They are environmentally more benign, and lend themselves to local recycling and fabrication. They can have higher discharge rates and faster charge times than lead-acid batteries depending on mechanical design of the electrodes etc, so they lend themselves not only to off-grid power, but also to power electronics applications such as welding and heavy workshop power. In China a company by the name of changhong batteries makes a version of them for use in automotive starter batteries. Their energy density is half that of lead-acid batteries, but their long lifetime makes them highly relevant to the GVCS, including to electric farming equipment as the next generation of LifeTrac infrastructure.

The Edison Battery was developed and promoted primarily by Thomas A Edison.

Product Ecology

Product Ecology

Product Ecology
Battery

From	Uses	Creates	Enables
3D Printer - Casing Controller Box - Power Rod and Wire Mill - Wires, Tubes Components		Electricity	Universal Power Supply - Stores energy Charge Controller Inverter

Components

Anode Compound

• iron plate - low carbon, mild steel (demo)
• iron graphite compounded (Edison)
• iron oxide

Anode Construction

• plain plate (demo)
• pocket plate with mesh inserts (Edison)

Cathode Compounds

• nickel(III) oxide-hydroxide
• nickel hydrate and pure nickel flake (Edison)

Cathode Construction

• plain plate (demo)
• pocket plate with mesh inserts (Edison)
• generally nickel-plated rather than pure nickel

• Nickel sponge
• Sintered nickel powder
• Nickel mesh/cloth

Electrolyte

• potassium hydroxide
• sodium hydroxide (alternate, lower voltage)
• lithium (modern additive)

Cell Casing

• nickel-plated steel box, rubber seals (Edison)
• plastic box (modern commercial)
• glass jars (demo projects)
• pvc cylinders (Ed's Workshop)

Status

The Nickel-Iron Battery is currently in the research phase of development.

See Also

• Batteries
• Electricity
• Edison Battery
• Battery Cost
• Wikipedia: Battery
• Wikipedia: Nickel Iron Battery
• Battery Lifetimes

The Global Village Construction Set
Habitat	CEB Press	Cement Mixer	Sawmill	Bulldozer	Backhoe
Agriculture	Tractor	Seeder	Hay Rake	Well-Drilling Rig
	Microtractor	Soil Pulverizer	Spader	Hay Cutter	Trencher
	Bakery Oven	Dairy Milker	Microcombine	Baler
Industry	Multimachine	Ironworker	Laser Cutter	Welder	Plasma Cutter
	CNC Torch Table	Metal Roller	Rod and Wire Mill	Press Forge	Universal Rotor
	3D Printer	3D Scanner	CNC Circuit Mill	Industrial Robot	Chipper Hammermill
	Drill Press	Induction Furnace
Energy	Power Cube	Gasifier Burner	Solar Concentrator	Electric Motor Generator	Hydraulic Motor
	Steam Engine	Heat Exchanger	Wind Turbine	Pelletizer	Universal Power Supply
	Nickel-Iron Battery
Materials	Aluminum Extractor	Bioplastic Extruder
Transportation	Car	Truck
Key	Design	Planning	Prototype	Almost done	Full Release