Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-04-04
Electrical Storage.

II is a very curious fact, and one that
illustrates the mystery in which many OF
the simpler problems of electrical engi-
neering are still wrapped, that when the
manufacture of storage battery by Nj.
Camille Alphonsc Faure, by means of
which the objections TO electrical storage
were overcome, was first announced in
this country, scarcely an electrician
could be found who could accurately ex-
plain the principle upon which the accu-
mutation of energy in secondary or polar
ization piles is founded. Indeed, al
though many descriptions of M. Faure's
invention have been published since the
successful use of his piles for lighting
the steamship Labrador during an ocean
voyage attracted general attention 70
their merits, there are very few electrl-
clans in the United States at the present
moment, probably, who could furnish
in public lecture an exact exposition
of the rationale of their operation. Ii
is known in vague way that the prin-
ciple of the storage battery was discov-
cred by M. CASTOR Plantc, OF Paris,
some years ago, and explained in
a paper read before the Academy
of Sciences. Extraordinary pre-
dictions relative to its future were in
dulged in by M. Plantc and his admirers.
But there were practical difficulties that
rendered his battery too expensive for
general use. In its simplest form the
battery of M. Plante was composed OF
two leaden plates immersed in some
electrolytic fluid, ten per centum solu-
ton of sulphuric acid in water being the
electrolyte usually employed, although
available. The capacity of the plates to
accumulate and store electrical energy
depended upon rendering their surfaces
more or less porous by means of sue
cessive charges and discharges of the
current; and this process, which was
styled the formation of the plates, rem
dered them in practice very expensive
things, though the lead of which they
were composed was of insignificant cost.
Moreover, the absorption was limited,
not only by the thickness of the plates
themselves, but by the cohesive attrac-
ton of the porous layers, thus formed,
which invariably scaled off or crumblcd
in pieces before the lead had become de-
composed to an adequate depth. This
fact rendered the active layers of the
plates so thin that the battery, though
embodying brilliant discovery in
physics, was practically Il very feeble and
inefficient affair. 1t is very singular that
q mode of obviating these objections did
not occur TO the ingenious mind of nj.
Plante. But such was not the case, and
the invention lay inert and useless until
nj. Faure took hold of it and introduced
some practical Improvements.
All the latter actually did was to sub
stitute for the porous layers that M.
Plante produced by the tedious process
of electricity layers compounded arti-
iicially 10y mixing oxides of lead with
suitable cohesive materials so rs to form
paste or paint, and applying the latter
to the plates. In this manner IN active
layer of sufficient depth and conference
was Obtained. The materials, in addi-
ton to the metallic oxides used i'm the
consisted preferably of sawdust or
crushed coke, which rendered the com
pound exceedingly porous andpcrmeable
by the solution of sulphuric acid When
applied TO the plates the layers are held
in position in M. Faurc's battery by
wrapping each elcctrode thus formed in
felt, cotton cloth or other porous material
not liable to be decomposed by the So
luton; or when the plates are placed in
the box the space between them can be
filled with any porous material to hold
them in position, Rivets or cemcnts may
be used to bind the active layers to the
lead plates in constructing the piles; but
in practice Nj. Faure has found that a
wrapping of felt or cotton cloth answers
as well, and such was the mode en-
ployed in the construction of the batter
les on board the Labrador, which en-
dured the jar and accidents of the voy-
age without n single outward accident.
The cost of cell rs thus constructed is
practically an insignificant item-thc
plates and oxides, sawdust, or coke, cot
ton cloth and materials for baking being
obtainable in quantity at IA trilling cost,
and being absolutely exclusive of the
acid solutiom the only REQUESTS for the
manufacture of the cells. No especial
skill is required in putting the materials
together and none in operating the piles.
~ Y. Times.