What advantages do lithium thionyl chloride batteries offer?

 
LTC batteries are considered a light, safe energy source. They demonstrate a number of typical properties which we have summarised below, taking battery manufacturer Tadiran as an example:

The voltage generally remains constant during discharge. A slight drop in voltage may occur when discharging with medium currents. If discharge is interrupted, the voltage returns to the original value. This means that practically 100% of the battery’s available capacity can be used at a voltage level well above 3V.

The available capacity, which is at its maximum in the rated discharge current range, depends on the discharge current and discharge duration. At lower currents, self-discharge must be taken into account due to the increased discharge duration, and the available capacity is reduced accordingly. At higher discharge currents, discharge efficiency is reduced by effects caused by the speed of ion transport. Internal resistance increases and the available capacity is reduced.

The duty cycle (ratio of on time to off time) generally ranges from 1:10 to 1:10,000. This value influences the available capacity. If it is large (1:10), the available capacity corresponding to the amplitude of the pulse current is almost reached; if it is small (1:10,000), available capacity increases and approaches the value corresponding to the average current.

During storage, Tadiran SL-300 series LTC batteries experience capacity loss of less than 0.5% per year; SL-700 series batteries lose 2% per year. Self-discharge while discharging is dependent on the discharge current, and amounts to 2-4% per year for an operational life of ten years.

The physical position of the lithium batteries also affects the available capacity. Within the rated current range, capacity is virtually unaffected whether discharging the batteries in a vertical or horizontal position. With a small discharge current or infrequent high-current pulses, the position while in use also makes no difference.
With high current, however, the available capacity of the large batteries is lower if they are discharged in vertical orientation — using them in this way should be avoided.

The rated operating temperature range for most Tadiran lithium thionyl chloride batteries is -40 to +85°C. In long-term operation at high temperatures in particular, the lithium batteries are exceptionally powerful: Discharging ten SL-550 (½AA) batteries at a constant temperature of 150°C and with a 560kΩ load, the batteries functioned for more than 5 years, reaching 65 per cent of their rated capacity.

The batteries are designed for long-term applications that place high demands on reliability, space and energy content, as well as in extreme environmental conditions. They are used, for example, in CMOS memories, consumption meters, automotive systems, alarm and security systems, medical devices, industrial automation, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

At Schukat electronic, we offer the lithium thionyl chloride batteries from European manufacturer Tadiran. The company produces its batteries in two distinct formats: the cylindrical bobbin version, and as flat cells. They are available in a range of sizes from ½AA to DD. Diverse connection types are available and they can be permanently installed in a circuit.

In addition, our technical sales team provides professional support for our customers for all questions concerning lithium batteries.