Evaluation on performance and environmental impacts of the revived industrial lead-acid batteries
In Malaysia, various types of batteries have evolved, as the energy revolution from internal combustion engines to electric motors continues to progress due to increased environmental awareness. The lead-acid battery is one of the preferred choices to run the electric motor for industrial applica...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English English |
| Published: |
2022
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/8291/1/24p%20NOOR%20SAIDATUL%20MAYA%20IBRAHIM.pdf http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/8291/2/NOOR%20SAIDATUL%20MAYA%20IBRAHIM%20COPYRIGHT%20DECLARATION.pdf http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/8291/3/NOOR%20SAIDATUL%20MAYA%20IBRAHIM%20WATERMARK.pdf |
| Summary: | In Malaysia, various types of batteries have evolved, as the energy revolution from
internal combustion engines to electric motors continues to progress due to increased
environmental awareness. The lead-acid battery is one of the preferred choices to run
the electric motor for industrial applications, such as electric forklifts and golf carts.
However, the problem with lead-acid batteries is that their performance degrades over
time, as the internal resistance of the battery increases due to the presence of lead
sulphates (PbSO4) . Low-capacity batteries are recycled through the pyrometallurgical
method contributing to carbon emissions (kgCO2e). As an alternative, regeneration
technology has been introduced to revive low-capacity batteries using high-current
pulses of up to 450 A to dissolve lead sulphates on the plates. The results from the
experimental work that has been conducted, this technology can enhance battery
capacity up to 96% and can also improve battery longevity. Using the life-cycle
assessment (LCA) method, this study evaluated the carbon footprints (kgCO2e) of
recycling and reviving lead-acid batteries. The carbon footprints (kgCO2e) were
evaluated gate-to-gate with a functional unit of 1,315 kg lead-acid batteries. The
findings from SimaPro simulator software show that recycling a lead-acid battery
generated 131% more carbon footprints (kgCO2e) than from reviving it. Besides that,
the process and environmental costs of both methods were compared using the
environmental life-cycle costing (E-LCC) approach. The comparative results from the
SimaPro simulator software show that reviving lead-acid batteries was 79% more
economical than recycling them. Lastly, in response to environmental awareness, this
study proposed a policy framework for lead-acid battery distribution and waste
management to assist in handling the batteries. |
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