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> Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of sodium batteries is their late start. Sodium batteries have a long history. I know the US Navy was using them for batter
by gumby 3y ago
> Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of sodium batteries is their late start.
Sodium batteries have a long history. I know the US Navy was using them for batteries on their submarines back in the 70s, and they surely started long before then. Lead-acid batteries emit H2 which would be a disaster in a sub.
On problem I remember about them was that they run very hot, and are liable to catch fire. Perhaps that has been solved in the last five decades!
- MisterTea 3y agoYou may be thinking of molten salt batteries https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molten-salt_battery https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molten-salt_battery
- datameta 3y agoApparently the non-rechargeable version is the primary power source of AAM, SAM, and cruise missiles. The interesting thing is before use the salt is solid and inert (without degradation in a long-term stockpile) but once triggered with a pyrotechnic primer they reach an operating temperature of 400-550 for the single use lifetime.
- pfdietz 3y agoThose were likely sodium-sulfur batteries. They employ diffusion of sodium ions through a hot ionic conductor, beta-alumina. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium%E2%80%93sulfur_battery https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium%E2%80%93sulfur_battery