British ceramics firm Morgan Advanced Materials has revealed it is supplying a range of critical components and technology solutions for GE Energy Storage’s Durathon batteries.
Durathon sodium nickel chloride modules are designed for UPS applications for back-up power to the grid, as well as the telecommunications and transportation sectors. Each cell within the battery has to be hermetically sealed to guard against chemical leakage and then be connected to other cells in a module which is thermally insulated to ensure the temperature of its external surfaces remains within 10°C to 15°C of the ambient temperature.
Morgan supplies GE with ceramic collars to prevent chemical leakage to maintain performance and service life of the battery. For the collars, Morgan deploys Sintox FA, its propietory aluminium oxide ceramic.
The collars have a metallised layer, which is used to bond them to the metal components within the battery. The metallising is specially formulated to create a strong hermetic bonding combination with Sintox FA, which is chemically resistant to the corrosive environment within the cell structure.
Yannick Galais, commercial manager at Morgan Advanced Materials, said: “Our application engineers and technical team have worked very closely with GE to provide a customised, specific solution to enable the battery to perform effectively in a temperature range between 260°C to 300°.
“This low temperature range allows GE to offer a cost-effective solution compared with other technologies operating at higher temperatures. Our Sintox FA material was specified for the battery collars due to its excellent bond strength and resistance to chemical attack, particularly important where continuity of service is absolutely critical, such as in hospitals and data centres.”