Advanced Battery Technologies

[stube40]

I've recently been doing some work with lead-acid batteries. As most of you know, these things are nuts in terms of the amount of power they can deliver - effectively they are a power supply that can deliver hundreds of amps in a small space of time. The upper limit is only defined by the limits of the chemical equation going on inside, coupled with the melting point of the matterials used to make the battery.

I'm wondering if there's any existing or new battery technologies that have an inherently more stable chemical equation that results in some sort of integral virtual current limiting or current control?

It's been a while since my high-school chemistry lessons, but maybe there are some chemical equations that cannot be speeded up? The assumption here is that the speed at which the chemical equation takes place is proportional to the power delivery.

Can anyone can shed any light on this?

 

[dick_freebird]

Cranking / starting lead-acid batteries are optimized for
peak current. Other types, with starved electrolyte, thicker
spacers, etc. would have a more controlled current by virtue
of fewer ions available, or more distance for them to move.

But you probably would prefer something other than the primary
power source to be in charge of your current limit, generally
speaking. Batteries which self-limit, are dissipative of power
when you try to push them.