Improved flooded battery cells

In a method for charging a flooded lead-acid cell at a charge voltage which has a value that is in excess of the value of the open-circuit voltage of the cell, said cell including, in spaced relationship, a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and a liquid electrolyte comprising a hygroscopic material in which the positive electrode and the negative electrode are immersed, wherein, during said charging of the cell, there is a loss of water from the electrolyte through electrolytic decomposition of the water creating hydrogen and oxygen gases that vent from the cell to the surrounding atmosphere, the improvement comprising;

• minimizing the loss of water from the cell by inhibiting the venting from the cell of the hydrogen and oxygen gases;
• catalytically converting the oxygen and hydrogen gases to water vapor;
• providing fluid communication between said catalyst and said electrolyte by which said hydrogen and oxygen gases can flow to said catalyst and said catalytically converted water vapor can flow to said electrolyte;
• allowing unrestricted flow of said water vapor to the electrolyte to provide a dynamic equilibrium for a hygroscopic cycle;
• and
• hygroscopically absorbing a majority of said catalytically converted water vapor directly into the electrolyte from an internal atmosphere of the flooded lead-acid cell.

A method of operating a flooded electrolyte battery cell used in standby service to prevent the loss of water, the method comprising:

• a) float charging the cell while on standby with a continuous charge at a constant charge voltage that has a value in excess of the value of the open-circuit voltage of the cell;
• b) electrolytically decomposing water in a liquid electrolyte to oxygen and hydrogen gases, said liquid electrolyte including a hygroscopic material;
• c) catalytically recombining the oxygen and hydrogen gases to water vapor by use of a catalyst;
• d) inhibiting venting of said oxygen and hydrogen gases and said water vapor from the cell;
• e) providing fluid communication between the catalyst and the electrolyte for the oxygen and hydrogen gases and water vapor;
• f) allowing unrestricted flow of said water vapor to the electrolyte to provide a dynamic equilibrium for a hygroscopic cycle;
• and
• g) hygroscopically absorbing a majority of the water vapor of step c) directly into the electrolyte from an internal atmosphere of the flooded electrolyte battery cell.