Battery acid leakage is a common safety hazard in various power supply equipment. If it is not handled properly, it may cause multiple dangers.
Whether it is a dry battery used in daily life, a vehicle battery, a large industrial power storage device, once acid leaks, it may cause not only equipment failure and contact surface corrosion but also threaten to human health.
Timely detection of leakage and taking correct response measures are the keys to ensuring personnel safety and maintaining normal operation of the power supply.
This article will analyze the identification method of electrolyte leakage in detail, explain the safe cleaning process and disposal methods step by step, and provide effective measures to prevent battery leakage, helping to prevent battery leakage in daily use.
Part 1: What is Battery Acid Leaking
The literal meaning of battery acid leakage is very easy to understand, that is, the liquid inside the battery overflows from the battery shell.
The liquid inside the battery is the electrolyte used to maintain the charge and discharge inside the battery, or a series of other related solvents, etc.
When the battery acid leaks from the sealed battery shell due to various factors, it will not only affect the normal operation of the battery but also the performance and life of the battery that has leaked the battery acid will be significantly reduced.
Moreover, most battery acid is corrosive and pungent, which will pose a threat to the surrounding environment and human health.
Part 2: How to Identify Battery Acid Leakage
Battery acid leakage will have a very large impact on the human body and the surrounding environment, so if you want to identify battery acid leakage, we can do it from 3 aspects:
1. Appearance inspection
Direct observation. Directly check whether the battery shell has obvious damage, cracks, and deformation. Damage to the battery shell will directly lead to electrolyte leakage inside the battery. When checking, you can focus on the positive and negative areas of the battery and the interface where the battery connects to the device, because these places need to connect more other parts to maintain good conductivity, so they will be a little fragile.
Color change. When some batteries leak battery acid, it is likely to cause the battery shell and the surrounding area to change color. Most of the time, white or crystalline substances will appear.
Battery expansion. During the use of the battery, some gas will be released. If too much gas is released from the battery in a short period, the battery will swell. At this time, the expansion of the battery may not necessarily leak the battery acid, but once the battery swells, it is easy to leak the battery acid which requires close attention.
Dampness. When the battery acid leaks significantly, the surface of the battery is easy to feel damp and sticky.
2. Performance
Reduced battery life. When the battery life suddenly drops sharply and it is difficult to recover through normal charging, the battery acid has likelyleaked.
Abnormal charging. During the charging process, the battery will heat up, but if you find that the battery heats up severely, please stop charging, it is very likely that the battery acid has leaked. And if the charging speed is too fast or too slow, you should also be vigilant and stop charging.
Voltage floating. Use a multimeter or other voltage test tool to detect the battery voltage. If the battery voltage is unstable or continuously decreasing, it is possible that the battery acid has leaked.
3. Olfactory identification
Pungent smell. When the battery acid leaks, it is easy to emit a pungent smell because the main component of the battery acid is chemical substances. When the battery has a noticeable pungent smell when in use, please stop using it immediately.
Burning smell. If the cause of the battery acid leakage is battery overheating or a short circuit, some of the substances in the battery acid will likely burn and produce a burning smell. This is already a critical moment. It is necessary to immediately cut off the power supply and take fire extinguishing measures.
Part 3: Causes of Battery Acid Leakage
There are many reasons for battery acid leakage. This article systematically summarizes some common reasons, which are generally divided into the following 2 aspects:
1. Battery structure
Damaged shell. During transportation and use, the battery may be hit or squeezed, causing the battery shell to rupture and the battery acid to leak.
Manufacturing defects. During the manufacturing process of the battery shell, if the structure is unreasonable, the process is poor or the material quality is poor, it is very likely that small cracks and holes will appear in the battery shell. In this case, the battery will easily leak if it is used for a long time.
Poor or aging sealing materials. The sealing of the battery liquid is very dependent on the sealing material, and the common ones are sealing rings and glue. If the sealing material is not selected well and used for a long time, it is easy to age and deform, causing the sealing material to lose its sealing effect, resulting in battery acid leakage.
2. Chemical reaction
Overcharge and over-discharge. If the battery is overcharged, the chemical reaction inside the battery will be out of control, and a large amount of gas will be generated, resulting in increased pressure inside the battery, and the battery sealing structure will be destroyed, resulting in battery acid leakage.
Over-discharge of the battery can easily cause corrosion of the battery's electrode material, produce solid substances such as crystals, and make the positive and negative electrodes of the battery contact, resulting in a short circuit in the battery, destroying the internal structure of the battery, and causing battery acid leakage.
Temperature. Due to thermal expansion and contraction, the electrolyte and gas inside the battery will expand in a high-temperature environment. At this time, if the sealing ring inside the battery is of poor quality, it is easy to leak the battery acid.
High temperature generally catalyzes chemical reactions, and the electrolyte decomposes and produces new substances, which can easily corrode the internal structure of the battery, increase the pressure inside the battery, and cause battery acid leakage.
Part 4: How to Deal with Battery Acid Leakage
When there is a battery acid leak, in order to ensure personal safety, immediately deal with it, in order to avoid the occurrence of chemical corrosion, flammable and explosive, gas poisoning and other health hazards such as the occurrence of the situation. In order to enable you to safely deal with battery acid leaks, this article compiles the steps and methods applicable to most battery acid leaks, as follows:
Step 1: Ensure the environmental safety of the leak site
The first time you find a battery acid leak, you should quickly move away from the leaking battery, avoid direct contact with the battery acid, so that your body is in a safe environment. If it is in a closed environment with no air circulation, try to ensure air circulation to avoid gas poisoning. If you are outdoors, you can avoid gas poisoning caused by battery acid by standing upwind. At this time, if the battery is still in operation, to ensure that the environment is not a greater danger, immediately turn off the power to stop the battery operation.
Step 2: Take protective measures
When dealing with leaking battery acid, be sure to do a good job of personal protection to avoid injury to personal health. When doing a good job of personal protection, you can start from the following points:
Limbs: make sure that the limbs are covered by clothes, hands and other key parts in direct contact with battery acid, you need to wear rubber gloves made of nitrile, such gloves can to a certain extent to prevent battery acid corrosion of the skin as well as damage to the skin by foreign objects.
Eyes: Eyes are very fragile, always wear goggles to prevent splashing into the eyes when handling battery acid.
Breathing: Some types of battery acid leaks may be accompanied by the evaporation of harmful gases, which can be prevented by wearing protective equipment such as masks and gas masks.
Step 3: Handle battery acid contact with the skin (if it occurs)
If the battery acid contacts the skin, it should be immediately rinsed with plenty of clean water to quickly reduce the concentration of the battery acid and reduce damage to the skin. It should last for at least 15 minutes. Blindly using neutralizers will cause secondary damage to the skin. At the same time, according to different battery types, further treatment is required (if redness, swelling, and pain are still present after treatment, please seek medical attention immediately):
Lead-acid battery: The main component of the battery acid in lead-acid batteries is sulfuric acid, so it needs to be neutralized with alkaline substances. Common soaps in life are alkaline. You can use soap or baking soda water to gently wipe the skin and then rinse it clean.
Alkaline battery: The main component of the battery acid in alkaline batteries is potassium hydroxide, so it can be neutralized with acid. Citric acid or diluted white vinegar are both good choices. Just wipe it gently and then rinse it with clean water.
Lithium battery: The battery acid in lithium batteries is composed of organic solvents. The characteristics of organic solvents are low toxicity and short-term contact is harmless, so you only need to rinse it with plenty of clean water.
Step 4: Isolate the battery
After ensuring the on-site environment and personal safety, remove the battery with battery acid leakage to prevent a larger accident. When contacting, be sure to bring protective tools. When removing, isolate the battery in a leak-proof plastic box or metal container, and be sure to keep away from flammable materials.
Step 5: On-site cleaning
1. Small leakage
For a small amount of battery acid leakage, the more common method is to use absorbent materials, such as towels and paper towels, etc., to fully cover the leaked battery acid to avoid direct contact, and then handle the materials with battery acid.
2. Large leakage
Lead-acid battery: At this time, the main material in the battery acid is sulfuric acid, which can be neutralized by sprinkling baking soda. At this time, foam will be generated. Wait until the foam is reduced before cleaning.
Alkaline battery: Potassium hydroxide in the battery acid can be neutralized by slowly pouring white vinegar and lemon juice. After neutralization, absorb the residual liquid on site and then clean it up.
Lithium battery: The organic solvent of a lithium battery cannot be in contact for a long time, which will cause harm to the human body, so it can be mixed with dry sand or cat litter, and then the mixture can be put into an explosion-proof container.
Step 5: On-site cleaning
1. Small leakage
For a small amount of battery acid leakage, the more common method is to use absorbent materials, such as towels and paper towels, etc., to fully cover the leaked battery acid to avoid direct contact, and then handle the materials with battery acid.
2. Large leakage
Lead-acid battery: At this time, the main material in the battery acid is sulfuric acid, which can be neutralized by sprinkling baking soda. At this time, foam will be generated. Wait until the foam is reduced before cleaning.
Alkaline battery: Potassium hydroxide in the battery acid can be neutralized by slowly pouring white vinegar and lemon juice. After neutralization, absorb the residual liquid on site and then clean it up.
Lithium battery: The organic solvent of a lithium battery cannot be in contact for a long time, which will cause harm to the human body, so it can be mixed with dry sand or cat litter, and then the mixture can be put into an explosion-proof container.
Step 6: Disposal of waste
All the waste generated in the above steps needs to be sealed, including wiping towels, gloves, etc., and it needs to be marked as "waste chemical waste". For sealed waste, please contact the local environmental protection department or send it to the designated recycling site. It is forbidden to discard it at will to cause secondary pollution.
Part 5: How to Avoid Battery Acid Leakage
Avoiding battery acid leakage can solve the harm caused by battery acid leakage from the source. Here are several methods that can help you better protect the battery and avoid battery acid leakage.
1. Correct charging and discharging.
Different batteries have different usage requirements, so before using the battery, please read the instructions that come with the product carefully, understand the battery usage requirements, and choose a suitable environment for charging and discharging the battery. Do not use the battery in extreme environments, which is very easy to cause danger. And one thing that is easily overlooked is that when using the battery, you must choose an appropriate charger. An incompatible charger can easily damage the battery structure. When charging and discharging, please do not overcharge, which will greatly damage the battery, battery acid leakage is likely to occur, and the battery life will decrease in the long run.
2. Regular inspection and maintenance
The first thing that should be discovered when the battery acid leaks is the change in appearance. To avoid battery acid leakage, you can regularly check the appearance of the battery and observe the performance of the battery. If there is any abnormality, timely handling can effectively prevent battery acid leakage.
3. Correct storage and carrying
Battery storage is very critical. It is necessary to keep away from heat and fire sources and avoid exposing the battery to high-temperature environments because high temperatures will accelerate the chemical reaction inside the battery and increase the risk of leakage. At the same time, the storage environment should be kept dry and ventilated, and the relative humidity should be controlled within a reasonable range. When carrying batteries, they should be placed in the original packaging box or a special battery protective cover to prevent the battery from collision, extrusion, and vibration.
4. Choose a reliable battery
The choice of battery is very important. In daily life, there have been many news reports about fires caused by battery acid leakage. After carefully reading the above article, you can also find that choosing a safe and reliable battery can effectively prevent battery acid leakage and solve the problem from the source. When choosing a high-quality battery, you can pay attention to the following points:
High-quality battery type: When considering the safety of batteries, the development of the times is a very critical point of measurement. With the improvement of previous generations of batteries, lithium batteries have the most cutting-edge technology and have integrated the advantages and disadvantages of all batteries on the market for improvement.
The structure of lithium batteries is well-designed and can prevent battery acid leakage through a hard shell. The internal structure of lithium batteries is also very stable. Solid or liquid gel is usually used to improve the stability of chemical substances and reduce the possibility of battery acid leakage. Moreover, the battery fluid of lithium batteries is mostly organic and non-toxic. It only has a slight effect on the human body in the case of long-term leakage.
Brand and quality certification: High-quality brands can produce high-quality products, so the brand and corresponding quality certification are very worthwhile to measure. Although GYCX Solar is a comprehensive solar system manufacturer, the battery cannot be ignored in the solar system, so the lithium batteries produced by GYCX Solar are famous for their high quality and high safety. The lithium batteries produced by GYCX Solar meet the standards of most countries and industries, or even exceed the standards. GYCX Solar has the industry-recognized QMS certification, CE, UL, UN38.3, etc., and also has several patented technologies. After market testing, it has been recognized by many countries and has a solid guarantee in terms of quality and safety.
Battery Technology: When choosing batteries, technology is always the hard truth, and adopting advanced technology always circumvents the deficiencies and risks of the past.GYCX Solar's lithium batteries, which adopt international advanced production and R&D technology, are quality products certified by many international patents. Among GYCX Solar's lithium batteries, the most advanced one is the Grade A LifePo4 battery, which ensures the long cycle life of the battery through high energy density and good chemical stability as a way to maintain the high performance of the battery. At the same time, GYCX Solar, as a professional battery production and R&D organisation, ensures the compatibility of the battery, which can be used with most of the products on the market, avoiding acid leakage caused by incompatibility.
Battery Management System (BMS): High-quality lithium batteries are always equipped with a BMS, and GYCS Solar is no exception. when the BMS is in operation, it is able to monitor and adjust the charging and discharging of the battery in real time to ensure the safe operation of the battery. the BMS ensures the safe operation of the battery by means of more than accurately monitoring the battery's key data, such as voltage, current, temperature, etc., and preventing the battery from over-charging, over-discharging, short-circuiting, and over-exposure. BMS can not only effectively avoid battery acid leakage, but also further improve the life of the battery.
Conclusion
Battery acid leakage, improperly handled, is very likely to cause accidents, so it is very important to correctly handle battery acid leakage, not only to protect personal safety, but also to avoid the unknown risks. When dealing with battery acid leakage, please strictly follow the steps in the article: safeguard the site environment, wear protective equipment, handle battery acid safely, and dispose of waste according to regulations, which can minimise the harm. In the daily use of batteries, please keep in mind that safety comes first, and at the same time, regular inspection of batteries can effectively reduce battery acid leakage, and also improve the service life of the battery. Keeping the above in mind, under the protection of high technology, safe use of batteries, and maximise the convenience of life.
FAQs
1. What is battery acid?
Battery acid is an electrolyte liquid inside the battery. The electrolyte composition of different types of batteries is different. For example, the electrolyte of lead-acid batteries is usually a sulfuric fluid solution, and the electrolyte of lithium batteries is generally lithium salt dissolved in organic solvents. Its function is to conduct ions during the battery charging and discharging process, thereby forming a current path.
2. What harm does battery acid leakage do to the human body?
The sulfuric acid solution of lead-acid batteries is highly corrosive. Once it comes into contact with the skin, it will cause burns, redness, swelling, and pain. If the contact time is long, it may cause skin ulcers. · Battery acid entering the eyes is very dangerous. If the electrolyte of a lithium battery splashes into the eyes, it will irritate the eye mucosa, causing severe pain and tears, blurred vision, and severe cases, of corneal damage or even blindness. If the gas volatilized by the battery acid is inhaled into the human body, it will irritate the respiratory tract.
3. Can the battery acid continue to be used after it leaks?
If the battery acid is only a small amount of leakage, then timely clean up the leakage of battery acid, and the battery shell inspection, as well as replenish the leaked battery acid, after a comprehensive assessment, the battery probability is still able to continue to use. However, if the battery acid leaks more, or has appeared more serious consequences, such as the internal structure of the battery is damaged, has appeared pole plate corrosion, then please do not continue to use the battery.
