Thin Plate Pure Lead Batteries (TTPL): Battery Basics

Here is full information about the basics of Thin Plate Pure Lead Batteries (TTPL), including its comparisons with other types of batteries.

A variation of Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries are Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) batteries. The performance of TPPL batteries is very similar to that of any other AGM battery, with the notable exception that regular extended charges at decreasing charge acceptance rates are necessary to bring the batteries to a full state of charge and prevent sulfation.

In this article, we’ll first go over the design and the unique features of the batteries. The advantages it has over flooded wet cells and valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries will then be covered.

What Are TPPL Batteries?

Thin Plate Pure Lead batteries go by the acronym TPPL. These batteries are a brand-new variety of AGM batteries, which have been available on the market for a while.

Lead-acid batteries include TPPL Batteries and AGM Batteries. The operation of TPPL batteries is strikingly similar to that of an AGM battery. The time it takes a TPPL battery to fully charge is reduced overall, but TPPL batteries must be fully charged to prevent sulfation.

The rate of charge is where TPPL batteries and AGM batteries diverge most. TPPL batteries can absorb more charge more quickly than a typical AGM battery. As a result, the acceptance rate rises but declines. Accordingly, a TPPL battery can charge quickly (up to 70–80%), but it takes a long time to reach its full charge.

How Do TPPL Batteries Work?

Prior to when TPPL batteries were created, most batteries were constructed with two metal plates – the anode and cathode electrodes – and a liquid electrolyte. Absorbent glass mat (AGM), however, was a ground-breaking material used in the development of TPPL batteries.

In the end, this AGM material is intended to cover the electrode plates in a sponge that would enable fewer electrolytes to be required to help electrons move when connecting the battery to a load, resulting in a more effective and long-lasting TPPL battery.

Where Are TPPL Batteries Being Used?

There are two areas where QPS has been seeing growth in TPPL batteries. Data centers have been trying to find ways to support their critical equipment while minimizing the floor space needed for it. Due to the TPPL batteries’ higher discharge rates and reduced battery thermo-management requirements. These factors, in our opinion, account for the significant TPPL battery growth observed in data centers.

The other area we have been seeing TPPL batteries being used is in areas where traditional VRLA batteries have not been able to survive due to temperature changes. Fahrenheit, a part of Deka’s TPPL battery line, boasts that it can operate at 140 degrees Fahrenheit for three times longer than conventional VRLA batteries.

In outdoor applications where building cool rooms would be prohibitively expensive, TPPL batteries have been used because of their capacity to discharge heat.

Thin Plate Pure Lead Vs. a Lithium-Ion Battery

When compared to the majority of lithium-ion chemistries, it typically takes twice as much nominal capacity to achieve the same effective capacity, which translates to two to four times the weight and volume. As with any lead-acid battery, if operated in a permanent partial state of charge the batteries steadily lose capacity, whereas lithium-ion does not.

Although it is more effective than most other lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries still outperform them in terms of the efficiency at which charging current is converted into usable battery capacity.

In high-rate charge and discharge situations, the increased inefficiency translates into internal heat which reduces battery life expectancy. Even under ideal operating conditions, the cycle life is significantly lower than that of the majority of lithium-ion batteries.

When compared to lithium-ion batteries, the cost per kilowatt-hour of TPPL batteries’ “throughput” can significantly increase due to the necessity of a regular extended charge cycle, depending on the charging source.

Thin Plate Pure Lead Vs. Traditional VRLA Batteries

Traditional VRLA batteries and TPPL both use absorbent glass material in seal containers, so what’s the difference between the two? The lead plates inside the batteries differ from each other in thickness and purity. Unlike TPPL batteries, which need to be purer than that to function properly, all lead used in VRLA batteries is typically rated to be 99.99% pure.

Additionally, the lead plates in VRLA batteries can be up to 1.2 mm thick, whereas the TPPL lead battery plates must be rolled under 1 mm. The thickness of TPPL batteries allows them to store up to 20% more lead plates than their VRLA counterparts. This design allows TPPLs to have high discharge rates and faster recharge times.

Beyond discharge/charge rates, the TPPL battery’s increased surface area also enables another benefit. It also makes it possible for accumulated heat produced during these processes in the batteries to dissipate more quickly. Because of this trait, it is frequently unnecessary to thermally manage TPPL batteries.

Thin Plate Pure Lead Vs. Flooded Cell Batteries

There are two key distinctions between TPPL batteries and flooded cell batteries: maintenance vs. longevity. A monthly preventative maintenance checkup is advised to keep flooded cells functioning properly and to ensure that the electrolyte levels are appropriate.

In contrast, a TPPL battery has a maintenance calendar that looks identical to a traditional VRLA. which involves checking the batteries every two years and gauging their resistance. If properly cared for, Flooded cells can live an average lifespan that is typically greater than twice as long as a TPPL.

Conclusion: Thin Lead Acid Battery

Although the technology has been around for almost 50 years, only recently have we begun to see a rise in demand for thin plate pure lead batteries.

A high-performance AGM battery is what a TPPL battery is at its core. Relative to a traditional wet-cell deep-cycle battery, it has a significantly higher charge acceptance rate albeit with a similar charge curve. It will experience a progressive loss of capacity if it is not regularly fully recharged with an extended charge cycle.

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