On the characterization of oxygen recombination in sealed lead-acid batteries

For characterizing the oxygen cycle in sealed lead-acid batteries the technological terms oxygen recombination efficiency and oxygen recombination conditions are introduced and their different meanings explained. Numerical values are calculated or estimated from plots of overpressure against time. Emphasis is placed on investigations of the influence of technological parameters on oxygen recombination conditions.Nomenclature F Faraday constant - D diffusion coefficient - L solubility coefficient - A effective surface area on the negative electrode covered with an electrolyte film - diffusion layer thickness - p _{O 2} oxygen partial pressure - p _{H 2} hydrogen partial pressure - I _OC overcharging current (defined negative) - I _{O 2red} oxygen reduction current - I _{H 2ev} hydrogen evolution current - I _{PhSO 4red} cathodic formation (recharge) current - P _{O 2}(St) steady-state P_{O 2} - p _{O 2} quasi steady-state p_{O 2} - R gas constant - T temperature - V gas space volume - (I_OC–I_{O 2red}–I_{H 2ev}) - viscosity - d electrode distance - l crack length - p electrolyte density