What is a Gel Battery? What is the Working Principle of Gel Batteries?
The electrical energy required for the activation of the ignition system, which is needed for the operation of the vehicle, is obtained from the batteries. This function of the battery is fulfilled by storing electrical energy in the form of chemical energy. Then, the stored chemical energy is converted into electrical energy and the current that will operate the vehicle is obtained. With the developing technology, the gel battery has become one of the most preferred battery types by separating it from other battery types.

What is a Gel Battery?

Thanks to the increasing technological developments, lead acid batteries, which were used in the past, have been replaced by gel batteries. The gel battery, which is in the dry battery class, contains not a liquid, but a gel-like electrolyte. The gel consistency in the battery is obtained by homogeneously mixing sulfuric acid and fumed silica. Gel batteries are highly preferred in renewable energy sources such as marine, wind energy and solar energy, as they are resistant to high temperature and vibration.

The most important feature that distinguishes the gel battery from other battery types is that it offers deep discharge. Deep discharge, on the other hand, is characterized as the fact that the chemical structure within it is not damaged when the battery is recharged after it is completely discharged. In this way, unlike other batteries, the lifetime of the gel battery is not shortened and its efficiency does not decrease after each charge.

Working Principle of Gel Batteries

Gel batteries work on the principle of conversion. This occurs when the gaseous elements in the battery condense and enter into a chemical reaction. Gel batteries, which are classified as stand-alone type batteries, have a special valve system. Thanks to this valve system, the outflow of gases inside the battery is prevented. Thus, water loss of the battery is prevented. As in flooded batteries, there is no need for any liquid reinforcement. Thus, the efficiency and lifetime of the battery is preserved.

What is the Usage Capacity of the Gel Battery?

Compared to other battery types, gel batteries have a very high usage capacity. While the usage capacity of a 100 amp water battery is 50%, the usage capacity of the same ampere gel battery can increase up to 80%.

Compared to flooded batteries, gel batteries have a considerably higher cycle life. While the cycle life of a 100 amp aqueous battery is 100, the cycle life of a gel battery of the same power is 450. This means that the aqueous battery is discharged and charged 100 times, and the gel battery is discharged and charged 450 times. Since gel batteries have a high cycle life, they are used extensively in many areas.

Usage Areas of Gel Battery

Since the gel battery is resistant to external factors such as high temperature, extreme cold weather, vibration and impact and shows high performance compared to other batteries, it has a wide range of use. It is preferred to use a gel battery in machines or vehicles where only the energy to be obtained from the battery is sufficient to function or move. The usage areas of the gel battery can be listed as follows:

solar energy systems

Telecommunications systems

Wind energy systems

Marine

Vehicles such as boats, caravans

golf cart

mobile shops

Wheelchair

floor cleaning machine

Manual pallet trucks

How to Maintain a Gel Battery?

Unlike flooded batteries, gel batteries do not need any extra maintenance. Since there is no need to add water or any other substance to the battery, the gel battery is also called a maintenance-free battery.

Unlike flooded batteries, gel batteries have small ventilation windows called valves. The reason for this is that it has a function based on the condensation and transformation of the elements in the gel battery. Due to this way of operation, the outflow of gases inside the battery is at a minimum level. In rare cases, gas escaping may occur if you are in environments with excessive pressure. For this reason, it is necessary not to force the valves and not to try to open them while maintaining the gel battery. Otherwise, the gas in the battery will come out and the service life of the battery will be reduced.

In addition, in order to maintain the gel battery, care should be taken to ensure that the terminals of the battery are clean and the electrolyte level of the battery should be measured at regular intervals.

What are the Advantages of Gel Battery?

Thanks to the gel consistency of the electrolyte in the battery, it works with high efficiency even at the lowest or highest temperature.

Thanks to the gel electrolyte, the evaporation problem is eliminated and there is no need to add pure water to the battery. In this respect, it is very practical to use.

While the energy production capacity of the aqueous battery is 50 amps, an energy level of 80 amps can be obtained from the gel battery. In this respect, it has 75 times higher performance compared to other batteries.

Gel-consistent batteries are considered environmentally friendly because they have a lower chance of leaking than aqueous batteries.

Compared to other batteries, gel batteries are more resistant to vibration, liquid contact, abrasion and impact.

Lead has a longer life than acid type batteries. Gel batteries can be used for many years.

It charges easily and is more efficient than other batteries.