A virtual reference electrode for field analysis and optimisation of VRLA battery float charge

This paper investigates the problems and deficiencies with present valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) battery float charge techniques. The requirements and goals of float charges are identified, and a mechanism for assessing the achievement of these goals is provided. An electrical equivalent model of a VRLA cell's float charge operational region is developed. This model replicates both the steady state and transient responses of a float charging VRLA cell. Based on the response of each electrode within a cell to an applied stimulus, a simple test and analysis procedure is developed. This procedure extracts reference-electrode-like polarisation information from any conventional 2V VRLA cell in float service. This test procedure is applied to the terminals of a standard cell, and does not require any physical modification to the cell.