2 lithium batteries… Y' has no picture!
See performance clearly superior to those of the lead-acid batteries, the lithium battery (LiFePo4) seems the best choice for the boat service batteries. But they are very sensitive to certain parameters that must master before embarking on this adventure.
Since writing this article I have developed a BMS that exactly meets the protection and longevity needs of a lithium battery for power from an isolated site (boat, camping car, House, industrial site). At the request of friends navigators I industrialized it. It is now for sale on my website: https://www.taobms.com
Benefits of the compared with the lead-acid batteries lithium batteries :
First a few terms used:
%DOD = "Depth of Discharge" or percentage of battery discharge (100% DOD = battery empty)
%SOC = "State of Charge" or percentage of battery charge (100% SOC = battery full)
x.xC = current of charge or discharge capacity (C) battery (for a battery of 100Ah, a current of 0, 5 c = 50A)
1 – Number of cycles
The manufacturers promise a lifetime of 4000 cycles or more 80% DOD. Tests over several years in intensive actual use show that after 770 cycles, in optimal conditions (We will cover this later), a fleet of lithium batteries has lost none of his ability. It seems reasonable to expect 2000 cycles to 80% DOD, It's not bad, and on a boat that would correspond to more of 15 years!
This is compared to the 400 to 500 cycles to 50% DOD promised for the best lead batteries (AGM, Golf…). I have never had batteries that made as many cycles before seeing their capacity reduced to shrinking and having to replace them! 200 to 300 cycles would be a maximum for these batteries.
2 – Usable capacity
A lithium battery keeps tension at the top of 12 volts so far 80% DOD (20% SOC). So it can be used between 90-100% and 20% SOC, usable capacity 70 to 80% nominal capacity.
This is compared to the 30 to 40% of the actually usable regularly for a lead-acid battery rated capacity - between 80-90% and 50% SOC. At the top of 80% SOC these batteries accept only a low current and be patient to achieve the 100% SOC.
3 – Weight /volume
A lead of good quality of 100Ah battery in 12 Volt weighs about 25kg for a volume of 13dm 3. If we consider its usable capacity 35% nominal capacity, This gives us an energy density 1,4 Ah / kg and 2,7 Ah / dm3.
A cell of 100Ah (3,2V) Lithium weighs about 3.5 kg for a volume of dm 2, 3. 14kg and 8dm 3 for a fleet of 100Ah in 12 plug. If we consider its usable capacity 75% nominal capacity, This gives us an energy density 5,3 Ah / kg and 9,3 Ah / dm3.
So for the same usable capacity lithium battery weighs less one-third as a lead-acid battery. Its size is also divided by three.
For 450Ah in 12 usable volts, It takes :
450Ah / 12V | Lead | Lithium |
Rated capacity (Ah) | 1200 | 600 |
Weight (Kg) | 300 | 84 |
Volume (dm3) | 156 | 48 |
A fleet of lithium batteries you alleviates 216 kg and frees up space in the vaults.
4 – Fast charge
A lithium battery accepts virtually all the power that you provide and this current remains constant until almost a full load. With solar panels and regulator set to 3, 9V batteries are charged to almost 100% When the controller's mode "Absorption".. For optimal conditions it is advisable to charge a battery lithium with a maximum current of 0, 3 c (or 180A for a battery of 600Ah). Note that these batteries are used in electric vehicles and can be recharged with a current of 3 c (or 1800A for a park of 600Ah!!).
It is advisable to charge a battery with a maximum current of 0, 2 c (either 120A for a battery of 600Ah). When the battery is near the 80% SOC, its internal resistance increases quickly, the current drops strongly... and it takes several hours to complete the load.
Below a graph representing the voltage (V) based on the percentage of charge (SOC) and the current. This is for a 3 cell, nominal 2V (It takes 4 to a 12V battery).
5 – Stable voltage
Using my new lithium batteries between 5% and 80% DOD, the tension passes of 13, 2V to 12, 4V. In addition this tension varies little when big consumers set out (freezer, pilot, windlass, Electric winch…). Since as they service my screen Raymarine made more of his (Flash, RAZ and other weird behavior) and my fridge/freezer no longer safe low voltage.
Below a graph representing the voltage at the terminals of a cell depending on the discharge (DOD) and the current.
6 – No sulfation
A lead-acid battery is prone to the phenomenon of sulfation and it is necessary to charge it to 100% as often as possible to reduce the effects… What is practically impossible on a cruising yacht which never sees a Terminal 220 Volts… where a loss of capacity of these batteries… and their quick death.
No sulfation for a lithium battery, so no need to charge it to 100%. In fact she will be better.
7 – Close to efficiency 100%
If you use a lithium battery 100Ah, need you to 100Ah for charging at the same level.
A battery lead to a return of 70% to 90% (for the best and most expensive). So if you consume 100Ah, It must download the lead battery with 110 to 140Ah.
8 – Peukert and negligible temperature compensation
The capacity of a lithium battery is not or very few reduced by a strong current of discharge - type anchor windlass, Electric winch, desalinator.
No need to compensate the charge voltages to keep account of batteries above 25 ° C temperature.
9 – Low own discharge
With a rather low own discharge is not necessary to provide a support system when the batteries are stored for a few months. It is recommended to store them at 60% SOC and disconnect.
Constraints of the lithium batteries:
Read all these advantages we can wonder why our boats are not all equipped with these batteries... almost miraculous (compared with the lead-acid batteries)?
Because This isn't the "Plug-&-Play". If you just replace a lead by a lithium battery battery, There are chances that your alternator burn quickly and that the life expectancy of these batteries is very limited...
What to know before you buy batteries lithium:
1 -Overload
Your Lithium battery performance will be severely degraded or the battery will be destroyed if you load too. Not only the electrolyte will boil, but the walls of the battery will warp irreversibly.
A too high blood pressure destroyed the battery.
As seen on the highest load curves, Once charged to 100% the voltage climbs very quickly... and the battery is destroyed.
2 -Too deep discharge
A too deep discharge will result in a reversal of polarity and the destruction of cells.
Too low blood pressure destroyed the battery.
As seen on the highest discharge curves, below a certain level of discharge voltage collapses... and the battery is destroyed.
3 -Load below 0 ° c.
They can be used below 0 ° c., but never recharged when it freezes.
4 – Imbalance of cells
A Lithium battery of 12 volts is composed of 4 cells in series. Each cell has a nominal voltage 3,2 plug. It is imperative that they all have the same capacity and that they are loaded exactly at the same level before using.
If the cells are not "balanced" (i.e.. they have not all exactly the same level of load):
- a cell will be full (100% SOC) before the others and his blood pressure is going to explode up to destroy this cell
- a cell will be empty (0% SOC) before the others and his blood pressure will collapse up to destroy this cell
And this happens in a few minutes...
5 -Current of maintains (Float)
The optimal conditions of use of a Lithium battery is when it is at 50-60% loaded (50-60% SOC). So apply a voltage of "Float" once she is to 100% SOC and keep 100% SOC cannot make him good and could have negative effects on the long term.
6 -Do not rely on the manufacturer specifications
The Lithium batteries (LiFePo4) are primarily used in applications of electric vehicles where the currents are high and refills must be fast. Manufacturers therefore advocate extreme tensions (charge to 16 volts and discharge so far 11,2 plug) with currents up to 3 c (1800A for a battery of 600Ah). But those who did tests on the duration in use marine (and some have destroyed many farms) claim that it is not necessary to achieve these extremes and to stay well below to ensure the longevity of the batteries. For example, our applications, the voltage applied to the batteries should never exceed 14 volts and a load to 13,80 volts is enough to reach 100% SOC.
7 -Chargers often inappropriate trade
Unfortunately most of the Chargers, Solar controllers and regulators of alternators of trade are completely inadequate to charge a Lithium battery. Even those who have a setting for Lithium batteries can be dangerous for your batteries with charge voltages much higher than 14 plug. Which is not surprising if they are based on manufacturer specifications.
Never use the setting "Lithium" Chargers trade... unless you want to destroy your batteries.
8 -High initial cost
My cells lithium 600Ah me have cost USD 3500, imported directly from China (What is in May about what cost 1300Ah of AGM batteries that will provide the same capability available). But to this must be added the cost of upgrade of all systems to load, the purchase of a battery management system (BMS - battery Management System) in order to protect batteries, the replacement of some cables and all the work to assemble the cells and redo many wiring. I believe that my investment in addition to the batteries is of the order of USD 5500, a total cost of USD 9000.
If we divide by two life announced by manufacturers, either 2000 cycles, the cost per cycle would be USD 4,50.
Assuming a life expectancy of 500 cycles for AGM batteries, the cost per cycle would be USD 7,00.
9 -Are they dangerous?
All batteries are dangerous!
LiFePo4 is the safest technology lithium. The Lithium batteries used in laptops or phones are far more dangerous and some are prohibited on planes! Synopoly tests were carried out on its batteries: short circuit, high temperatures, flames... without being able to make them explode. A number of precautions are necessary to avoid an accident when we think that a simple cell of 3,2 volts and 60Ah can provide more than 1800 in short circuit - to melt the spanner that has fallen over the battery.
Lithium battery system
These constraints are not insurmountable, but forget to think "Lithium battery" as a replacement for your current batteries. The battery is only a component of the system that will provide you announced any performance in ensuring your safety and preserving your investment.
To design a "Lithium batteries" it is necessary to think about:
- A way to compress the cells when they are assembled so that even if they heat they do not deform
- Equipment to balance the cells in a precise way and control this balance in time
- A BMS (Battery Management System) which will trigger alarms and control relays to various tensions high and low thresholds
- A solenoid for, as a last resort, automatically disconnect the batteries in case of serious problem detection and failure of other systems of protection
- A Class T fuse to protect the batteries and short-circuit cables (the current can exceed the 20000 a.!!)
- Relays and wiring appropriate so that the BMS can turn off alternators, the stop of Chargers solar and other chargers, stop the inverter 220V and other big consumers, the start-up of the generator...
- Charge regulators (Dock charger, Solar, wind turbine, alternators...) whose voltage and duration of the phases of charge parameters are adjustable by the user - with each decision-making power directly on the battery by a wire that carries no power
- Replacement of alternators "with a" standard model that can provide a current high continuously without overheating
- External regulation for the alternator in order to limit the charge current depending on the temperature of the alternator
- A battery controller to see the State of charge of the batteries, their voltage and current
- The replacement of some cables to reduce loss of tension with stronger currents
- A way to load the engine battery
Optimal conditions for the Lithium batteries
- Do not load them with more 14,0 plug (with 13,8 volts they will be responsible to 100% SOC)
- Do not load with a current higher than 0, 3 c (180For a park of 600Ah)
- Limit the absorption phase to 13,8 volts up to what the current down to 0, 025C (15For a park of 600Ah)
- No phase "Float" (stop loading once the full batteries)
- Do not unload unless 12,0 volts or 20% SOC
- Position the batteries in a cool the more possible with sufficient space for the circulation of air
- When not in use, disconnect them (including the BMS) and store them in 50-60% SOC in a cool place
Other articles on lithium batteries:
Menu… Practice > Technique > Lithium
Hello again,
One thing omitted in my previous answer:
Battery coupler . Very often there is a position “1 + 2” . which is to put a battery in parallel “vacuum” with a “full” ; You get a nice short juice , able to melt solder lugs in 70; (by experience…) I have two basic switches; After long studies, the function of exclusion of 1+2 is made by connecting the 2 keys by a piece of string.
right nav
Gael clavé
Hello,
An excellent article. Then I attached with my little experience pleasure.
I built in 2009 , for my sailboat , 2 packs 24V 130Ah from cells CALB.
In service since; Which 7 years in the Caribbean and 2 years “unused”, without any precaution.
Today we are back in Antibes.
In daily operation : lighting has giorno, 3 PC and 1 tablets, fridge, … often turns to nothing…
The watermaker (100l/h) with 30A turns without problem - and diesel.
The windlass itou, me up in the morning without weakness.
However the storage capacity is significantly reduced- estimated has 50%.
But still sufficient for a local navigation.
How to load : 1 panels solar monocrist’ 130W
1 Charger dock 24V clamp in limit current has 50 Am
1 140Amp rule a 28V 70Amp.avec 24V alternator serpentine belt 8K
EU notes on the alternator: It is the 2' alternator. The 1′ 24V 90Amp , clamp it has 50 has smoked after 200 hours of operation, as well as the trasmission ( 2v-belt).
For fear of corrosion problem, I did Brown the connectite cells.
The BMS classic ets with high and low alarm , 1 load relay and 1 relay of discharge., cell balancing.
To complete, a good article on the technology /https LiFePO://www.Industrie-techno.com/Le-lithium-fer-phosphate-la-plus-sure-des-technologies-de-batteries-au-lithium.44982
Kind regards
Gael Clave – All ESE.
Hello,
thanks it is clear and this will make followers for the LiFePo4…
In the implementation, I am interested by the “flexible” black and red of your photos. “bar” copper isolated ? with crimped tip or connector adapted ? or simply manually punctured ?
(I got me even some difficulties to break cleanly through these bars for a table of “power”…)
Hello Anne,
These are IMHO the tresses of mass brass of a sufficient diameter/section crept in heatshrink. To avoid creeping corrosion inside these braid the humidity, sea air, Salt, It is imperative to grease them with silicone grease before putting them under sheath. We then put the end caps, crimped and if possible soldered with Tin.
Kind regards,
Philippe
Bravo, It's clear and better “argued” that what I say in the choice of the LiFePo4.
It's the doc Winston, so clear that tensions in 100% SoC can be different with other brands of LiFePo4 cells (Sinomoly, Calb, etc.).
I don't speak of Valence batteries that they are special and pure Lithium.
It has to change life on the N44, because the original Battery Park is small enough !
Kind regards,
Philippe
Thank you Philip to have specified that curves and other data for cells WINSTON. But tell the users of other brands (CALB, SINOPOLY…) the differences seem minimal.
You have also indicated that the life expectancy of the batteries is strongly reduced above 25 ° C: “per additional 10 ° and 25 °, the LiFePo4 have a diminished life of a quarter”. Although I find no data on this point, Some users who have installed their Battery Park in motor behavior indicates a rapid decline in their ability…
Bravo,
It's a very nice mix A&M Supelec, I learned a lot of things that will probably serve me not, but it is clear, and when one reads the implications, We understand your care to pamper your investment.
If electric comfort is commensurate with the efforts, so bravo.
Good luck for the rest, B + Ch
Electric comfort is to go. We almost forget that we are not connected to the network EDF!