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Showing posts from May, 2024

Chemical & structure material properties for cell safety and battery design

 Ensuring cell safety and effective battery design involves a comprehensive understanding of the chemical and structural material properties that impact the performance, durability, and safety of batteries. Here are the key factors to consider: Chemical Properties: Electrolyte Composition: Type: Liquid, solid, gel, or polymer. Stability: Chemical and thermal stability to prevent decomposition or hazardous reactions. Conductivity: High ionic conductivity for efficient charge transfer. Electrochemical Window: Stability across a wide voltage range to avoid decomposition at high voltages. Electrode Materials: Cathode: Typically lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO₂), lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄), or nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC). Anode: Commonly graphite, lithium titanate (LTO), or silicon composites. Capacity: High specific capacity to store more energy per unit mass. Voltage: Appropriate redox potential to maximize energy density. Separator: Material: Polyethylene (PE), pol...

Battery Pack Safety, Battery Standards, and Tests

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Lithium-ion battery (LIB) safety is a major concern for designers. LIBs are generally safe to use if they have been properly manufactured and are integrated correctly into systems. However, the use of sub-standard materials and the possibility of manufacturing or design defects can result in hazardous conditions. As a result, there are many global safety standards related to LIBs. This FAQ first looks at the potential for, and consequences of, thermal runaway in LIBs, it looks at the most-commonly-cited LIB safety standards, it reviews the non-standard nature of so-called “nail penetration” testing, looks at the hazard levels associated with LIBs in electric vehicles and closes with a brief look at coin cell safety standards. Figure 1: Three stages of battery thermal runaway. Thermal runaway (TR) in LIBs can be a catastrophic event. It can have several causes, such as dendrite formation, manufacturing defects, physical damage during use, and so on. It doesn’t happen all at once but in ...

Battery Management System- Power Module, Battery, DC/DC Converter, load, communication channel

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 Three terms apply to the implementation of monitor and control functions in the energy chain. These terms are battery management, power management and energy management. As a rough indication, battery management involves implementing functions that ensure optimum use of the battery in a portable device. Examples of such functions are proper charging handling and protecting the battery from misuse. Power management involves the implementation of functions that ensure a proper distribution of power through the system and minimum power consumption by each system part. Examples are active hardware and software design changes for minimizing power consumption, such as reducing clock rates in digital system parts and powering down system parts that are not in use. Energy management involves implementing functions that ensure that energy conversions in a system are made as efficient as possible. It also involves handling the storage of energy in a system. An example is applying zero-volta...

Energy & Power estimation

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  Energy and Power Estimation in Electric Vehicle Battery Packs Key Definitions Energy Capacity (Wh or kWh) : Represents the total amount of energy the battery can store. Typically measured in watt-hours (Wh) or kilowatt-hours (kWh). Power (W or kW) : Represents the rate at which energy is delivered or consumed. Typically measured in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW). Calculating Energy Capacity The energy capacity of a battery pack is determined by its voltage and capacity (Ah). Example Calculation Assume a battery pack has: Voltage (V): 400V Capacity (Ah): 200 Ah Calculating Power Power can be calculated using the voltage and current. Example Calculation If the battery pack operates at: Voltage (V): 400V Current (A): 100A Estimating Power for Different Driving Conditions Constant Speed : Power requirement is lower as it mainly counteracts aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance. Example: At 60 km/h, the power required might be around 20 kW. Acceleration : Power requirement is higher du...

State-of-charge estimation

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  What needs to be estimated, and why?  EVs need to know two battery quantities:  How much energy is available in the battery pack?  How much power is available in the immediate future?  ■ An estimate of energy is most important for EV: Energy tells me how far I can drive.  ■ An estimate of power is most important for HEV: Power tells me whether I can accelerate or accept braking charge.  ■ Both are important for E-REV/PHEV.  ■ To compute energy, we must know (at least) all cell states-of-charge Zk and capacities Qk.  ■ To compute power, we must know (at least) all cell states-of-charge and resistances Rk.  ■ But, we cannot directly measure these parameters—we must estimate them as well.  ■ Available inputs include all cell voltages, pack current, and temperatures of cells or modules. ■ We’ll see that there are both good and poor methods to produce estimates: The poor methods are generally simpler to understand, code, and validate, ...

Requirement of Battery Monitoring

 Battery monitoring plays a crucial role in ensuring the optimal performance, safety, and lifespan of batteries across various applications. Here's a breakdown of the key reasons why battery monitoring is essential: Safety: Prevents Over-charge/Discharge: Li-ion batteries, commonly used today, can be damaged or pose fire risks if over-charged or discharged beyond safe limits. Battery monitoring systems (BMS) track voltage and current to prevent these scenarios. Thermal Management: Batteries generate heat during operation. Monitoring temperature allows for early detection of overheating and activation of cooling systems, preventing thermal runaway, a dangerous condition that can lead to fire. Performance Optimization: State of Charge (SoC) Tracking: Knowing the remaining battery capacity (SoC) is crucial for accurate range prediction in electric vehicles (EVs) and avoiding unexpected power outages in critical applications. Cell Balancing: Batteries can have slight variations...

Traction Battery Pack design

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 Introduction A traction battery pack is a crucial component of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), providing the necessary power for propulsion. Designing an efficient and reliable battery pack involves several key considerations, including battery chemistry, configuration, thermal management, and safety features. Key Design Considerations Battery Chemistry : Determines energy density, power density, cycle life, and safety. Example : Lithium-Ion (Li-ion), Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH), Solid-State (emerging technology). Cell Configuration : Series and parallel arrangements to achieve desired voltage and capacity. Series : Increases voltage. Parallel : Increases capacity and current handling. Thermal Management : Ensures optimal operating temperature to enhance performance and longevity. Methods : Air cooling, liquid cooling, phase change materials. Battery Management System (BMS) : Monitors and controls battery pack parameters to ensure safety and efficiency...

Selection of battery for EVs & HEVs,

  Introduction The selection of batteries for Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) is crucial as it directly impacts the performance, range, and overall efficiency of the vehicle. Several factors must be considered to choose the most appropriate battery technology for these applications. Key Considerations for Battery Selection Energy Density : Definition : The amount of energy stored in a battery per unit mass (Wh/kg) or volume (Wh/L). Importance : Higher energy density means more energy can be stored in a smaller and lighter battery, which is crucial for extending the range of EVs and HEVs without adding excessive weight. Power Density : Definition : The amount of power a battery can deliver per unit mass (W/kg) or volume (W/L). Importance : Higher power density is essential for providing quick acceleration and handling peak power demands, particularly in HEVs which rely on quick bursts of power. Cycle Life : Definition : The number of complete charge-disch...