Lead Acid Batteries

Oxygen and

+
hydrogen
non-return
vent
-

dilute sulphuric Lead

Lead Peroxide acid (grey
(brown colour plate)
Positive negative
plate)
ions ions
hydrogen SO

PbO2 + Pb + 2 H2SO4 = PbSO4 + 2 H2O + PbSO4

 Battery Data
a) Nominal voltage per cell - 2V  
b) Charge state - 2.15 V  
c) Discharge - 1.75 V
The reading is not reliable when the battery is not connected to a load.

Water is formed when the battery discharges. Hence the specific gravity
reduces.
Charged state - 1.28
Discharged state - 1.125
 
The state of charge of the battery can be checked by using a hydrometer which
measures the specific gravity of the electrolyte.
 Nickel Cadmium Batteries
+
Oxygen and
hydrogen
non-return
vent
-

Potassium Cadmium
Nickel
hydroxide
hydrate
solution

Negative OH
ions

2 Ni (OH)3 + Cd = 2 Ni (OH)2 + Cd(OH)2

 Alkaline Battery Operation
• KOH solution dissociates into positive K ions and negative
OH ions.
• They act as carriers and transfer hydroxyl (OH) ions from
one electrode to the other,
• Ions of KOH does not take part in chemical reaction..
• Unlike the ions of electrolyte of lead acid battery
 Alkaline Battery Operation
• The chemical reaction is complex. At the positive plates
(nickel hydrate, Ni(OH)3 ), negative hydroxyl ions (OH) ,
is introduced into the electrolyte. As the action takes place,
nickel hydrate is converted into nickel hyroxide, Ni(OH)2.
• At the negative plate, the hydroxyl ions that are released
from the positive plates react with the cadmium to form
cadmium hydroxide.
• The electrolyte does not undergo any chemical reaction
and its specific gravity remains unchanged.
 Alkaline Battery Data
a) Nominal voltage per cell - 1.2 V  
b) Charge state - 1.3 V  
c) Discharge - 1.1 V
Measure the voltage only when the battery is in use.  

The specific gravity does not change.

Charged state - 1.19
Discharged state - 1.19 

The state of charge of the battery cannot be checked by using a

hydometer to measure the specific gravity of the electrolyte.
 Charging of Batteries
220 V ac
supply

Transformer-rectifier

Emergency 30 V dc
Lights + - Connected to
MSB or ESB

Trickle Quick
Charge Charge

Test Switch

L C

Under-voltage
relay coil
sensing
main supply
Emergency voltage
Batteries
 Battery Capacity

• Normally given in ampere-hours (AH) at

the 10-hour rate.
– E.g. a 200 AH battery will give 20 A for 10
hours.
• Battery will generally have a lower capacity
at a shorter discharge rate.
– the same battery will NOT give 100 A at 2-hour
rate.
 Batteries Charging
• To charge a 24 V battery, a 30 V d.c. supply
voltage is required.
• The supply may come from a 230 V a.c. main
which is transformed and rectified to 30 V d.c.
The positive terminal of the battery is connected to
the positive side of the supply and the negative
terminal of the battery is connected to the negative
supply line.
• The flow of current into the battery reverses the
discharge action in the lead acid and alkaline cells.
 Re-Charging
• A battery that is fully discharge is given a quick charge to restore it to
full charge in a few hours.
• The current is about 0.1C and 0.17C, where C is the battery capacity
in ampere-hours for alkaline cells and acid cells respectively.
• When the lead acid battery is near the end of charge, oxygen is given
off at the positive plate and hydrogen is given off at the negative plate.
This is known as gassing.
• In an alkaline cell, oxygen and hydrogen are given off during
charging.
• Batteries on standby duties may lose their charge through leakage.
They are kept fully charge by trickle charging. The trickle charging
current is kept at about 0.06C. There should be no gassing.
 Battery Charge and Discharge Board

EQ EQX

440 / 110 V

EQT Battery
Charger

10 A

WL EQX EQT GL GL MC
440 / 24 V

Equalising Floating
Charge Charge
Battery
Charger
N P

Silicon Dropper
EQX

24 V dc
Feeder Circuit

100 A MC

Battery Charge and Discharge Board

To Battery
 Emergency Power
• To provide, in the event of total power failure, a supply for emergency
lighting, alarms, communications and other services necessary to maintain
safety and to permit safe evacuation of ship by life boats.
• Emergency Power Source
• The power source may be an emergency generator or emergency batteries.
• 1) Accumulator Batteries
• 2) Generator - Transitional Batteries are required to provide power during
momentary blackout before emergency generator comes on load.
• Normal Operation
• Emergency switchboard supplied by main power through bus tie circuit
breaker.
• Blackout - Emergency Operation
• Emergency switchboard supplied by own independent power source.
• Sequence of event following mains failure
 Emergency Power Operation
• When under-voltage relay senses a large drop in voltage in the mains,
a signal is send to connect transitional / emergency batteries to
emergency load. The emergency generator is then started manually or
automatically and connected to the emergency switchboard (ESB).
• Battery supply is switched off and emergency load is supplied from
the emergency generator. Main switchboard (MSB) is isolated from
the ESB.
• Automatic Connection of Emergency / Transitional Batteries
• Emergency power or temporary emergency power can be provided by
automatic connection of a battery at loss of main power. In normal
condition, the batteries are on standby with load switches (L) open and
charging switches (C) closed. This position of the switches is held by
the electromagnetic coil against pressure of the spring.
• Loss of main power has the effect of de-energising the coil so that the
switches are charged by spring pressure moving the operating rod. The
batteries are disconnected from the mains as switch C opens and
connected to the emergency load by closing of L.
 Emergency Switchboard

Emergency Generator
Alarm and

Fire Detector x x x Control Systems

24 V d.c.

Transformer
x Circuit
Breakers
x
Battery
Emergency Switchboard ESB ESB
440 V 220 V

Emergency Supply
Bus Tie Transformer/
Rectifier

Charging Current
Steering Gear Motor 1

Battery

Emergency
Main Switchboard MSB
Lights
 Emergency Battery
• Emergency batteries looses charge gradually over a period of time. Rate of
loss is kept to a minimum by maintaining the cells in a clean and dry state but
it is necessary to make up the loss of charge. The system shown has a trickle
charge. The battery is kept on continuous trickle charge but facilities are
provided for giving a quick charge after the battery has been discharged.
• Loss of charge is made up when the batteries are on standby, through the
trickle charge which is adjusted to supply a continuous constant current. This
is set so that it only compensates for losses which are not the result of external
load. The current value (50 to 100 mA per 100 AH of battery capacity) is
arrived at by checking with a trial value that the battery is neither loosing
charge (hydrometer test) or being overcharged (gassing).
• When batteries have been discharged on load the trickle current set only to
make up leakage, is insufficient to recharge them. Full charge is restored by
switching in the quick charge. Afterwards batteries are put back on trickle
charge.
 Emergency Power
• There is no standard arrangement in which
emergency power can be supplied.
• The emergency switchboard has two sections, one
operating at 440 V and the other at 220V.
– The 440V supply, under normal circumstances is taken
from the main engine-room switchboard through a
circuit breaker A. Loss of main power causes this
breaker to be tripped and the supply is taken over
directly by the emergency generator when started,
through breaker B. An interlock prevents simultaneous
closure of both breakers.
 440V Essential Service
• emergency bilge pump
• sprinkler pump and compressor
• one of two steering gear circuits (the other
being from the main board)
• 440/220V 3-Phase transformer through
which the other section is fed.
 220 V Emergency Supply
• navigation equipment,
• radio communication
• transformed and rectified supplies to battery
systems.
• Separate sets of batteries are fitted for
temporary emergency power and for a low
pressure dc system.
Emergency Power on Cargo Vessel
• Battery system are automatically connected upon loss of main supply and
function as a transitional source for at least 30 minutes before the generator is
started.
• Power available for emergencies must be sufficient to operate certain essential
services simultaneously up to 18 hours. These are:
• a) emergency lights
• b) navigation lights
• c) internal communication equipment
• d) manual fire alarms
• e) emergency fire pump
• f) steering gear
• g) navigational aids
• Transitional batteries are required to supply 30 minutes power for emergency
lighting, general alarm, fire-detection and alarm system, communication
equipment and navigation lights.
 Automatic Operation of Emergency Generator

Emergency Switchboard (ESB)

Under-voltage relay

0V
R
450 V

24 V

Alarm
F Start F Contact
Push-button
Stop A
ST Push-button
R
Stop
Relay Coil A F RL Buzzer
S
Start Relay Coil
 Automatic Operation of
Emergency Generator
• 1. Starting of the emergency generator prime mover is often
automatic. The run-up is initiated by an electrical sensing relay which
monitors the normal mains power supply.
• 2. Failing mains frequency or voltage causes, the sensing relay to
initiate “start-up” of emergency diesel via the control circuit by
closing contact R.
• 3. The control circuit operates on power from the emergency
battery. The prime mover may be electrically cranked from its own 24
V battery and starter motor or air-started from its own air reservoir
fitted local to the generator engine.
• 4. A manual start-up and shut-down may be initiated by push
buttons in the emergency generator room.
 Passenger Ships
Emergency Generator
Alarm and

Fire Detector x x x Control Systems

24 V d.c.

Transformer
x Circuit
Breakers
x
Battery
Emergency Switchboard ESB ESB
440 V 220 V

Emergency Supply
Bus Tie Transformer/
Rectifier

Charging Current
Steering Gear Motor 1

Battery

Emergency
Main Switchboard MSB
Lights
 Passenger Ships Emergency Power
• Emergency generators are now required to be automatically started
and connected within 45 seconds.
• Transitional batteries, capable of carrying essential items, ensure that a
total blackout cannot occur between the moment of power failure and
moment of connection of emergency generator.
• Regulations specify the supply of emergency power to essential
services on passenger ships for a period of up to 36 hours.
• If batteries are the only source of power they must supply the
emergency load without recharging or excessive volt-drop (12% limit)
for the required length of time.
• Because the specified period is up to 36 hours, batteries are used
normally as a transitional/temporary power source with the emergency
generator taking over essential supplies when it starts.