Quantitative analysis of electrochemical battery elements involves cycling in a cell containing a radioisotope-labeled electrolyte, and applying element on luminescent screen sensitive to radiation emitted by the radioactive tracer

摘要

Quantitative analysis of battery electrode plate, separator or grid involves cycling in a cell containing an electrolyte in the presence of a radioactive tracer, e.g., 35S, rinsing, drying, applying on the element a luminescent screen sensitive to radiation emitted by the tracer, and analyzing the screen by a laser beam, to convert the image to luminescent energy whose intensity is evaluated. The cell (1) comprises at least two electrode plates (15) and an electrolyte (19). The screen (43) comprises a luminescent material, preferably BaFBr:Eu2+ crystals in an organic matrix. A radioactive image of the element to be analyzed is produced on the screen (43). Analysis of the radioactive image is carried out by means of a laser beam to transform the image into luminescent energy. The intensity of luminescence is measured and recorded at each point of the screen in order to determine the amount of radioactive tracer at each point of the element to be analyzed. The surface of the element of the battery, preferably a lead-acid accumulator, is subjected to abrasive treatment between the rinsing-drying stage and application of the screen onto the element, in order to obtain an image at different depths and to determine the amount of radioactive tracer present in the volume of the element. The electrolyte is based on sulfuric acid labelled with a radioactive tracer, preferably 35S. An Independent claim is given for a device used to implement the above process.