過去，開口式(shi)蓄(xu)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)維護起來比(bi)較麻煩，因為(wei)蓄(xu)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)在使用的(de)時(shi)候要(yao)(yao)分解電(dian)(dian)解液中的(de)水(shui)，所以(yi)要(yao)(yao)定期檢測電(dian)(dian)解液的(de)比(bi)重，蓄(xu)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)的(de)電(dian)(dian)壓等參數，消耗(hao)的(de)電(dian)(dian)解液，要(yao)(yao)定期加水(shui)來補充。
而(er)后又(you)有密封式(shi)的蓄電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)出現(xian)，主(zhu)要(yao)以(yi)閥(fa)控式(shi)鉛(qian)酸蓄電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)（VRLA）為(wei)主(zhu)，由于不(bu)需(xu)(xu)加水，所以(yi)閥(fa)控式(shi)鉛(qian)酸蓄電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)（VRLA）從一開始便被稱為(wei)免維(wei)護(hu)(hu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)，而(er)生產廠(chang)家又(you)承諾該電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)的使用壽命(ming)為(wei)10 ~ 20年(nian)（較少為(wei)8年(nian)），這樣(yang)就(jiu)給(gei)國(guo)內的技術和維(wei)護(hu)(hu)人員(yuan)一種(zhong)誤解，似乎(hu)這種(zhong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)既耐用又(you)完全不(bu)需(xu)(xu)要(yao)維(wei)護(hu)(hu)，許多用戶從裝上(shang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)后就(jiu)基本沒有進行過維(wei)護(hu)(hu)和管理，因而(er)在(zai)90年(nian)代初國(guo)內使用的VRLA電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)出現(xian)了很多以(yi)前未遇到的新問(wen)題，例如(ru)，電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)殼變形、電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)解液(ye)滲漏、容量不(bu)足、電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)端電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)壓不(bu)均勻等(deng)。這些現(xian)象不(bu)單在(zai)國(guo)內，就(jiu)是在(zai)比我國(guo)早采(cai)用VRLA電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)的國(guo)外也(ye)同樣(yang)存在(zai)。
在(zai)VRLA電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)中由于(yu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)解液(ye)比重更大而(er)且浮充電(dian)(dian)(dian)流(liu)更大，因而(er)電(dian)(dian)(dian)極腐蝕(shi)更為(wei)迅(xun)速(su)。電(dian)(dian)(dian)極腐蝕(shi)也會(hui)(hui)消耗氧氣從(cong)而(er)使電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)變干(gan)，這(zhe)是(shi)VRLA電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)特有的故障(zhang)。VRLA電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)過度的氣體逸出(chu)(chu)、焊接(jie)柱或(huo)蓋板(ban)裂(lie)縫、密封不(bu)嚴，較后通過容器壁和塑料容器滲(shen)出(chu)(chu)水(shui)、氫和氧，這(zhe)些都會(hui)(hui)引起電(dian)(dian)(dian)解液(ye)滲(shen)漏。VRLA電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)的故障(zhang)有些是(shi)氣體調節閥出(chu)(chu)現(xian)故障(zhang)引起的，閥打開(kai)(kai)會(hui)(hui)導(dao)(dao)致(zhi)干(gan)涸(he)，也會(hui)(hui)使空氣進入電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)，陰極板(ban)自我放(fang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)，閥阻塞會(hui)(hui)使蓋鼓出(chu)(chu)和爆炸。VRLA電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)的冷(leng)卻比開(kai)(kai)口(kou)式電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)更為(wei)重要，如果不(bu)充分的話(hua)，熱(re)失控(kong)可能會(hui)(hui)引起電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)熔毀或(huo)爆炸。VRLA電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)內部接(jie)線柱、同(tong)極的連接(jie)片以及電(dian)(dian)(dian)極接(jie)頭的腐蝕(shi)而(er)斷(duan)裂(lie)的現(xian)象也比開(kai)(kai)口(kou)式電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)更常發(fa)生。這(zhe)些故障(zhang)都導(dao)(dao)致(zhi)容量損失。這(zhe)使使用單位不(bu)易掌握(wo)VRLA電(dian)(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)的耐(nai)久性和失效問題。
實踐證明(ming)，VRLA電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)端(duan)電(dian)(dian)壓與放電(dian)(dian)能力無相關性，VRLA電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)和電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)組(zu)在運行過程中，隨著使用時間的(de)增加(jia)必然會有個別或(huo)部分電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)因內阻(zu)變(bian)大，呈(cheng)退(tui)(tui)行性老化(hua)現象，實踐證明(ming)，整組(zu)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)的(de)容(rong)量(liang)(liang)是以(yi)(yi)(yi)狀(zhuang)況較差(cha)的(de)那一塊電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)的(de)容(rong)量(liang)(liang)值(zhi)為(wei)準，而(er)不(bu)是以(yi)(yi)(yi)平(ping)均(jun)值(zhi)或(huo)額(e)(e)定值(zhi)（初始值(zhi)）為(wei)準，當(dang)(dang)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)的(de)實際容(rong)量(liang)(liang)下(xia)(xia)降到其本身額(e)(e)定容(rong)量(liang)(liang)的(de)90% 以(yi)(yi)(yi)下(xia)(xia)時，電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)便(bian)進入衰退(tui)(tui)期，當(dang)(dang)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)容(rong)量(liang)(liang)下(xia)(xia)降到原來的(de)80%以(yi)(yi)(yi)下(xia)(xia)時，電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)便(bian)進入急劇的(de)衰退(tui)(tui)狀(zhuang)況，衰退(tui)(tui)期很短(duan)，而(er)且蓄電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)組(zu)都是串(chuan)連起來，如果有一節(jie)發生問(wen)題，則整組(zu)都將失效，這時電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)組(zu)已(yi)存(cun)在極大的(de)事故隱患(huan)。
使用(yong)單位(wei)和(he)管(guan)理單位(wei)，往往只重(zhong)視(shi)備(bei)用(yong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)源的(de)設備(bei)部分的(de)維護和(he)管(guan)理，而忽視(shi)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池組(zu)(zu)的(de)重(zhong)大作(zuo)用(yong)，殊不知斷電(dian)(dian)(dian)的(de)危險(xian)很大程度上(shang)就潛(qian)伏在電(dian)(dian)(dian)池組(zu)(zu)。整組(zu)(zu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池充(chong)(chong)(chong)(chong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)的(de)特性是，如電(dian)(dian)(dian)池組(zu)(zu)內有一個或幾個內阻變大的(de)老(lao)化(hua)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池，其(qi)容(rong)量(liang)必然變小，充(chong)(chong)(chong)(chong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)器給(gei)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池組(zu)(zu)充(chong)(chong)(chong)(chong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)時，老(lao)化(hua)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池因(yin)容(rong)量(liang)小，將很快(kuai)充(chong)(chong)(chong)(chong)滿。充(chong)(chong)(chong)(chong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)器會誤以為整組(zu)(zu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池已充(chong)(chong)(chong)(chong)滿而轉為浮充(chong)(chong)(chong)(chong)狀(zhuang)態(tai)，以恒定(ding)電(dian)(dian)(dian)壓和(he)小電(dian)(dian)(dian)流(liu)給(gei)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池組(zu)(zu)充(chong)(chong)(chong)(chong)電(dian)(dian)(dian)。其(qi)余(yu)狀(zhuang)態(tai)良好的(de)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池不可能充(chong)(chong)(chong)(chong)滿。電(dian)(dian)(dian)池組(zu)(zu)將以老(lao)化(hua)電(dian)(dian)(dian)池的(de)容(rong)量(liang)為標(biao)準進(jin)行充(chong)(chong)(chong)(chong)放電(dian)(dian)(dian)，經(jing)多次浮充(chong)(chong)(chong)(chong)--放電(dian)(dian)(dian)--均充(chong)(chong)(chong)(chong)--放電(dian)(dian)(dian)--浮充(chong)(chong)(chong)(chong)的(de)惡性循環，容(rong)量(liang)不斷下降，電(dian)(dian)(dian)池后備(bei)時間(jian)縮(suo)短。
結(jie)論：如不(bu)定時(shi)檢測，找出老化電(dian)池(chi)給(gei)予調整，電(dian)池(chi)組的容量將變小，電(dian)池(chi)壽命縮短(duan)，影響系統的高(gao)效安全運行。
0電極腐蝕更為迅速
：VRLA電(dian)池中由于(yu)電(dian)解液(ye)比重更(geng)大(da)而(er)且浮充(chong)電(dian)流大(da)
0電池變干
：電極(ji)腐(fu)蝕也會(hui)消耗氧氣從而(er)使電池變干(gan)
0電解液滲漏
：VRLA電(dian)池過度的氣體逸出(chu)(chu)、焊接(jie)柱(zhu)或蓋(gai)板裂(lie)縫、密封(feng)不(bu)嚴，較后(hou)通過容器(qi)壁(bi)和(he)塑料容器(qi)滲出(chu)(chu)水、氫和(he)氧
0氣體(ti)調節閥出現故障(zhang)
：閥打開會(hui)導致干涸，也(ye)會(hui)使空氣進入電(dian)池，陰(yin)極(ji)板自我放(fang)電(dian)，閥阻塞會(hui)使蓋鼓出和爆炸(zha)
0電池熔毀或爆炸
：VRLA電池的冷卻(que)比開(kai)口(kou)式電池更(geng)為重要
0VRLA電池內部接線柱、同極的連接片以及電極接頭的腐蝕而斷裂的現象也比開口式電池更常發生所有這些，都會導致容量損失