Discharge behaviour of tubular lead dioxide electrodes Part III: Two-dimensional current density distribution

The initial current density distribution in lead acid batteries with tubular lead dioxide electrodes and flat lead electrodes has been studied by means of a two-dimensional model and experimental verification by polarization curves and potential transients during galvanostatic discharge. The cell geometry was modelled with and without separators and a tubular electrode envelope. The governing equations were solved with a finite element method. It was found that the tube envelope has a large impact on the current density distribution and had to be incorporated into the model to fit the experimental results. Although the envelope increases the ohmic losses, it has the positive effect of giving a more uniform current distribution around the electrode tube. A lead acid cell with tubular positive electrodes and flat negative electrodes can therefore be approximated by a one-dimensional model consisting of a positive electrode tube placed concentrically in a cylindrical lead electrode. The two-dimensional model was further used to study the effects of different design factors, for example, cell width and kinetic parameters of the lead dioxide electrode. © 1995 Chapman & Hall.