Battery power is harvested by coupling the battery to an external circuit, allowing energy to be released for use.
When a battery is connected to a device or system that needs power, it essentially acts as a power source. The process of drawing this power involves a coordinated movement of charged particles both inside and outside the battery.
The Mechanism of Releasing Battery Energy
To release the energy stored within a battery – effectively "harvesting" its power – the following key elements and actions are required:
- Coupling to an External Circuit: The fundamental step is connecting the battery to an external circuit. This circuit is where the released electrical energy will be utilized, powering devices like lights, motors, or electronic components.
- Electron Movement: Once connected, electrons flow from one terminal of the battery, through the external circuit, and back to the other terminal. This flow of electrons constitutes the electric current that performs work in the external device.
- Ion Movement: Simultaneously with the electron movement through the external circuit, ions (atoms or molecules with an electric charge) move through the electrolyte inside the battery. This internal movement of ions completes the electrical circuit, maintaining charge neutrality within the battery's electrodes and allowing the electron flow in the external circuit to continue.
This combined movement of electrons externally and ions internally is how the chemical energy stored in the battery is converted and delivered as electrical energy to the external circuit.
For rechargeable batteries, this process is reversible. Electrons and ions can move in the opposite direction through the circuit and electrolyte, allowing the battery to accept energy (be charged) and store it for later release (harvesting power).
In summary, harvesting battery power is achieved by connecting the battery to an external circuit, which initiates a flow of electrons through the circuit and a corresponding flow of ions within the battery's electrolyte, thereby releasing stored energy.
