THERMAL BATTERY

Conventional battery:

• Conventional battery technology uses electrical energy to operatee. it is based on the system of charging/discharging cycles that are driven by electricity.
  
  
• Working:
  • G. the Lithium-ion battery consists of electric charges being transferred from electrodes.
    
    
  • Energy is derived from this battery, when lithium atoms turn into lithium ions (Li+), and get stored when this reaction reverses.
    
    
  
  
  

 Thermal battery:

• Thermal battery uses thermal energy to operate e. the energy created by temperature differences.
  
  
• Working:
  • It consists of two parts: a cool zone known as ‘sink’, and a hot source called ‘source’.
    
    
  • Both these sides consist of compounds known as Phase-Changing Materials (PCMs), which can change their state of matter on the basis of a physical/chemical reaction.
    
    
  • When the sink of a thermal battery receives heat, it stores energy, while the source cools down and vice-versa.
    
    
  • Depending on the nature of the battery, the system can derive heat from any source, which makes a thermal battery very versatile.
    
    
  
  
  
• Significance:
  • It has potential applications in electrical grids, electric vehicles and telecom services.
    
    
  • It will also maintain a low carbon footprint, and is less dependent on external factors like weather (in case of solar plants).
    
    
  
  
  
• Timeline:
  • Thermal battery technology was patented in India by Dr Patrick Glynn in 2016.
    
    
  • The Amravati plant is expected to start commercial operations in 2019.