Application of pulse charging techniques to submarine lead-acid batteries

The development of pulse charging equipment for the unique application to submarine lead-acid batteries is described. A prototype pulse charger has been developed and applied to individual twin-cell submarine batteries, plus a 20 twin-cell pulse charger has been commissioned at the battery manufacturing facility. The paper provides a description of the pulse charging equipment and preliminary test results and analyses using the prototype twin-cell pulse charger, based on application of a range of positive and negative pulse parameters. The tests so far indicate potential benefits may arise from this form of charging, including enhancement of battery charge levels, reduced gas charging (Stage 3) times and reduced gas evolution rates.