dear all
I need to design a 24V battery charger.
Amperes could be 4A max.
could I design it using LM317K or some other thing?
You can to use LM338K TO-3, its 5A linear voltage regulator. This regulator is very reliable. Of course if you look to make power efficient device you can try with switching voltage regulator.
For two lead acid batteries with nominal 12V voltage, float charging voltage is 27,6V and cycling voltage is 28,8V.
Lets say that you need at least 3V Vi-Vo difference, Vi (float voltage) should be 30,6V and Vi (cycling voltage) should be 31,8V.
Power dissipation for LM338K in 3V difference and at 5A is 15W, which this regulator handle without problem, efficiency is other story.
For LM338K TO-3 maximum input voltage is up to 35V and maximum dissipation power is up to 50W.
For LM338T TO-220 maximum input voltage is up to 35V and maximum dissipation power is up to 25W.
I use LM338K regulator a lots for battery chargers, I can say its very reliable and almost undestructable if you make all properly.
Best regards,
Peter