Abstract: A method for predicting the loading capability of an accumulator by measuring the current I, voltage U and temperature T of the accumulator, and comparing the measured values with the corresponding values of the response of an equivalent circuit diagram of the accumulator, the parameters of the components of the equivalent circuit diagram and the state variables are varied so that a match with the measured values is obtain. The loading capability is deduced from the matched parameters and state variables determined in this way. The equivalent circuit diagram has the form -Uo-R-CS- and the input voltage U? of the equivalent circuit diagram is a voltage that is corrected with respect to the measured battery voltage U, the correction function containing as variables only the current I, the voltage U and the temperature T and as a nonlinear term a logarithmic dependency on I. By using the equivalent circuit diagram, the instantaneous loading capability, i.e.

Abstract: In a method for predicting the equilibrated open-circuit voltage of an electrochemical energy store by measuring the voltage settling response Uo(t) in a load-free period, a formulaic relationship between the equilibrated open-circuit voltage Uoo and the decaying voltage Uo(t) of the form Uoo=Uo(t)−w*ln(t)−w*F(T) is used, the prefactor w being the experimentally determined slope of the dependency of Uo on ln(t) at the time t, w=−(uo(t2)−Uo(t1))/ln(t2/t1), and Uo(t1) being the unloaded voltage Uo at the time t1 and Uo(t2) being the unloaded voltage Uo at the later time t2>t1, and F(T) being a function which depends only on the absolute temperature T of the energy store. The function F(T) has the general form F(T)=(K|E/T)/(1+q*w)/f(T), K, E and q being experimentally determined constants, T being the absolute temperature in kelvin, and f(T) being a function which contains only the absolute temperature T as a free parameter.

Abstract: A method for predicting the loading capability of an accumulator by measuring the current I, voltage U and temperature T of the accumulator, and comparing the measured values with the corresponding values of the response of an equivalent circuit diagram of the accumulator, the parameters of the components of the equivalent circuit diagram and the state variables are varied so that a match with the measured values is obtain. The loading capability is deduced from the matched parameters and state variables determined in this way. The equivalent circuit diagram has the form -Uo-R-CS- and the input voltage U′ of the equivalent circuit diagram is a voltage that is corrected with respect to the measured battery voltage U, the correction function containing as variables only the current I, the voltage U and the temperature T and as a nonlinear term a logarithmic dependency on I. By using the equivalent circuit diagram, the instantaneous loading capability, i.e.

Abstract: In a method for predicting the equilibrated open-circuit voltage of an electrochemical energy store by measuring the voltage settling response Uo(t) in a load-free period, a formulaic relationship between the equilibrated open-circuit voltage Uoo and the decaying voltage Uo(t) of the form Uoo=Uo(t)−w*ln(t)−w*F(T) is used, the prefactor w being the experimentally determined slope of the dependency of Uo on ln(t) at the time t, w=−(uo(t2)−Uo(t1))/ln(t2/t1), and Uo(t1) being the unloaded voltage Uo at the time t1 and Uo(t2) being the unloaded voltage Uo at the later time t2>t1, and F(T) being a function which depends only on the absolute temperature T of the energy store. The function F(T) has the general form F(T)=(K|E/T)/(1+q*w)/f(T), K, E and q being experimentally determined constants, T being the absolute temperature in kelvin, and f(T) being a function which contains only the absolute temperature T as a free parameter.

Abstract: A method for determining the state of charge of lead-acid rechargeable batteries comprising a) substantially simultaneously measuring measured-value pairs (Ui, Ii) of the rechargeable battery voltage and current flowing at time ti over time interval dt, b) selecting a group of said measured-value pairs (Ui, Ii) for which only a discharge current flowed in the last time interval dt, c) varying parameters Uo, R and C such that a residual sum of squares between values Ui given by formula (1) Ui=Uo−R*Ii+1/C∫Idt  (1) and measured values U(ti) is minimized, wherein Uo represents no-load voltage, R represents resistance and C represents capacitance, and d) calculating the state of charge of the rechargeable battery from the no load voltage obtained from formula (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the state of charge and loading capacity of an electrical storage battery by measuring current, voltage and temperature and comparing the measured values with the corresponding values for the response of an equivalent circuit diagram of the storage battery, the parameters of the components in the equivalent circuit diagram and the state variables being varied such that the measured values are matched and that the state of charge and loading capacity are determined from the adjusted parameters and state variables determined.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the state of charge and loading capacity of an electrical storage battery by measuring current, voltage and temperature and comparing the measured values with the corresponding values for the response of an equivalent circuit diagram of the storage battery, the parameters of the components in the equivalent circuit diagram and the state variables being varied such that the measured values are matched and that the state of charge and loading capacity are determined from the adjusted parameters and state variables determined.

Abstract: A method for determining the state of charge of lead-acid rechargeable batteries comprising a) substantially simultaneously measuring measured-value pairs (Ui, Ii) of the rechargeable battery voltage and current flowing at time ti over time interval dt, b) selecting a group of said measured-value pairs (Ui, Ii) for which only a discharge current flowed in the last time interval dt, c) varying parameters Uo, R and C such that a residual sum of squares between values Ui given by formula (1)

Abstract: A method for determining the starting ability of the starter battery in a motor vehicle. The current and voltage of the storage battery are measured before starting is begun, shortly after starting is begun and at short intervals of time during the starting procedure. The current/voltage value pairs for each instant are used to calculate a resistance value and the quantity of charge drawn from the storage battery, and the rate of rise in the resistance values as a function of the quantity of charge drawn is used to derive a measure of the availability of the storage battery during the starting procedure. In particular, the gradient &Dgr;RQ of the internal resistance as a function of the quantity of charge drawn and the turn-on internal resistance RE are stored in an arithmetical memory as a field as a function of the charge state or of the equivalent no-load voltage (UR) and the battery temperature and are compared with already recorded values or typical normal values.

Abstract: In a process for determining the state of charge and the peak current loadability of batteries in the currentless pauses before and after a loading phase the no-load voltages U.sub.01 and U.sub.02 are measured. From them, with allowance for battery-specific parameters, especially the time curve of the no-load voltage, the true battery rest voltages U.sub.001 and U.sub.002 are computed. During the loading phase the converted current quantity q is measured and from the relationship U.sub.002 -U.sub.001 =C.sub.1 .multidot.q/Q.sub.0 the acid capacity Q.sub.0 of the battery is found. The relative state of charge SOC.sub.1 is determined from a curve of the rest voltage U.sub.00 linearized by the formula SOC.sub.1 =U.sub.002 /C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 as a function of the state of charge of the battery from which the absolute state of charge is calculated as SOC.sub.1 .multidot.Q.sub.0.From the internal resistance R.sub.

Abstract: Alkaline MnO.sub.2 /Zn cells having nickel-plated steel cups as the cathode collector show deterioration of their discharge characteristics after high-temperature storage, which can be prevented by an additive in the cathode paste which forms a strong complex with nickel. Nickel oxide layers of high ohmic resistance, which are the cause of the contact resistance between the cathode and the nickel coating of the steel cup, are accordingly dissolved or transformed. Imidazole, 2-picolinic acid, dimenthylglyoxime, 4,5-dihydroxbenzene-1,3-disulfonic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline are particularly effective additives for compounding into the cathode. Preferred amounts are between 0.001 wt. % and 1 wt. %.

Abstract: In connection with a metal oxide electrode in an alkaline electrolyte system, especially for a brownstone electrode, the presence of cobalt as a thin film or as an alloying consitituent at the surface of the positive current drain wire, which is preferably a nickel-plated steel cup or a deep-drawing steel plate, leads to a reduction of the contact resistance between the current drain wire and the MnO.sub.2. To apply the cobalt, the current drain wire is preferably polarized in an aqueous CoSO.sub.4 solution. The cobalt film, which is formed in a thickness of less than 1 micron (depending on the Co ion concentration and the selected current conditions), imparts resistance properties to the transition between the MnO.sub.2 and the nickel-plated current drain wire even after prolonged storage, which can otherwise only be achieved with gold-plated current drain wires.

Abstract: A gas venting plug which separates entrained moisture has a gas escape nozzle and cooperating impingement plate, and a return duct for the separated liquid. The nozzle opening and return ducting are so dimensioned that the hydrostatic pressure in the return ducting is higher than the liquid capillary pressure in the nozzle.

Abstract: Separate cooling systems are provided for the heat of recombination and for the heat of condensation, respectively, of a hydrogen recombination reactor, such as used for lead storage batteries.