Sustainability: Battery Charging Circuit and Reverse-Connected Battery Protection to Allow Rechargeable Battery Use in Electronics

With the ever-growing electronic use in today’s lifestyle, the need to create smaller and energy-efficient is an issue engineer’s have to tackle.  As an example, mobile laptops use typically 40 Watts and can typically replace computers, which operate around 150-200 Watts if you include the LCD monitor as well[1].  You [Who?] can save even more energy by operating the notebooks off the rechargeable batteries as opposed to constantly having the laptop use the power off the wall like desktops.  The circuit used by S. Bhandarkar allows the use of rechargeable batteries, thus allowing energy savings, while at the same providing protection for the batteries [2].

In terms of protecting the environment, the switch from relying on external power to batteries reduces consumption of the earth’s natural resources.  You can recycle various batteries and allows them for reuse. [Grammar] In the grand scheme of things, moving from disposable to rechargeable batteries can further protect the environment by reducing the number of disposables in itself [3].  Rechargeable batteries using Ni-CD and Li-Ion use more toxic materials than alkaline but if you are consuming way less rechargeable batteries due to constantly recharging them, then overall, less toxic components make it out to the environment during the end of life phase[3].

The move to rechargeable power affects the global economy.  Rechargeable batteries might cost a little more up front but by nature of not having to purchase them again for at least a few years, the cost to use them drops immensely.[reference or evidence?]  One has to take into consideration and look at the cost of purchasing batteries per year compared to per purchase to see the benefits this has.  You cannot reuse alkaline batteries once they deplete and thus must buy new ones.  With rechargeable ones, just charge them and reuse!

Everyone around the world has equal opportunity and chances to obtain rechargeable batteries and components that use rechargeable circuitry.  These components are cheap and thus should not hinder many people from considering the more costly initial investment in making the switch to rechargeable systems.

The use of rechargeable circuitry and components touch all bases of the green engineering principles [5].  With respect to green engineering principle 1 (referred as GEP further on), the environmental affects[spelling] considered attributed to the switch to use these rechargeable devices and thus reduce waste in society.  In satisfying GEP 2, the rechargeable batteries use less toxic materials. Also because of the reducing consumption of batteries due to reusing them, this will overall slow down the toxic effects to the environment.  For GEP 3, recharging the batteries repeatedly will consume fewer raw materials over the years as opposed to constantly producing and tossing alkaline batteries once they have no charge left.  For GEP 4, these considering[Word choice] of the materials as safe as possible have been the reason Ni-CD batteries are no longer used and instead moved to using Ni-MH and Li-Ion type batteries.[Grammar]  The later type batteries are less toxic the environment.  To satisfy GEP 5 and 6, rechargeable batteries allow minimal depletion of materials and at the same time reducing waste base on the principle you reuse the batteries instead of disposing of them and not have to purchase or demand more of these batteries to replenish the depleted batteries.  To satisfy GEP 7, these batteries are only slightly more expensive than the disposable counterparts are and thus are easily accessible by all people globally.  For GEP 8, rechargeable technology continues to improve such as the use of this system in hybrid vehicles that constantly recharge the battery in the car and allow for a dual power system in those vehicles.  The market for rechargeable systems continues to grow and evolve with new companies tapping into this market.  Therefore, this satisfies GEP 9 as stakeholders consistently see the market has a need for rechargeable and reusable systems and want to capitalize on this fact.

References:

[1]. Energy Star, “Desktop vs. Laptop”, Labeling Energy Efficient Office Equipment. Available: http://www.eu-energystar.org/en/en_022p.shtml

[2]. Santosh Bhandarkar, “MOSFET prevents battery damage”. Design Ideas. EDN, (February 5, 2009): pg. 50. [Online]. Available: http://www.edn.com/article/CA6632373.html.

[3]. Green Kleaning, “Disposable vs. Rechargeable”.  Available: http://www.greenkleaningproducts.com/post/26/disposable-vs-rechargeable-batteries.

[4]. D. Braun and Cal Poly Electrical and Computer Engineering Students, “Cal Poly’s wiki for Sustainability in Integrated Circuits,” Available: http://sustainability-and-ICs.pbwiki.com/.

[5]. D. Braun. “Sustainability Analysis Assignment,” Available: http://courseware.ee.calpoly.edu/~dbraun/courses/ee413/SustainabilityAnalysis.html