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NREL and A123Systems Collaborate on Thermal Management Techniques for Advanced Transportation Batteries
20 June 2008
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| NREL thermal imaging of A123Systems cells. Click to enlarge. |
The US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and A123Systems have signed a three-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to examine and develop new techniques to improve thermal management in advanced transportation batteries.
By better understanding the thermal behavior of advanced batteries, NREL researchers will help A123Systems engineers design improved thermal management systems and to optimize the design of the battery cell and develop a battery pack that’s lighter, cheaper and more durable.
In addition to providing Li-ion packs and cells for a range of production vehicle and vehicle development projects, A123Systems is developing high-power lithium-ion batteries with Nanophosphate cathodes under a contract with the US Automotive Battery Consortium and the FreedomCAR-Fuel Partnership.
We’re pleased to be working with A123Systems on thermal management of their advanced nanophosphate-based lithium ion batteries. Batteries with improved thermal behavior are critical for widespread acceptance of affordable hybrid-electric vehicles that consume less fuel and reduced harmful emissions.
—NREL Principal Engineer Ahmad Pesaran
NREL’s Energy Storage Program supports three major elements of the DOE’s Integrated Energy Storage Program:
Battery development, testing and analysis. NREL contributes thermal characterization and analysis and energy storage simulation and analysis in this element.
Applied battery research. NREL carries out Li-ion thermal abuse reaction modeling.
Exploratory battery research. NREL is investigating high-energy oxide anodes.
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| Inputs and outputs for battery thermal modeling at NREL. Click to enlarge. |
NREL’s thermal characterization and analysis activity measures the thermal properties of batteries or ultracapacitors; models the thermal performance of batteries; and uses computer aided-design tools to develop configurations with improved thermal performance.
NREL uses a unique calorimeter to provide information for thermal management system design, measuring the heat generation of prototypes under different and realistic power/drive profiles and measuring the heat capacity of prototypes.
The lab uses infrared thermal imaging to identify hot spots and provide insight on thermal design. It also evaluates thermal performance of modules by thermal testing under realistic drive cycles and conditions. Modeling tools such as electro-thermal and multi-physics analysis identify designs that lead to better internal current and temperature distributions in cells and modules.
NREL has fabricated a new calorimeter for testing large, liquid-cooled modules and packs that supports higher voltage (600V vs 500V on the older calorimeter); higher maximum current (600 Amps vs 250) and physically larger battery packs. Maximum constant heat generation with the new calorimeter is 1,000 W, compared to 150 on the older device.
NREL is also developing a 3D lithium-ion battery performance model that quantifies temperature imbalance and explores thermal-chemical-structural interactions under normal and abusive conditions. Part of this was driven by the need for better understanding of the large cells preferred in PHEV applications. Although these large format cells and modules require fewer electrical connections and less balancing circuitry, internal temperature gradients in the large cells can degrade life and performance.
The lab works with a number of battery makers, including CPI/LG Chem, Johnson Controls-SAFT, EnerDel and others.
Resources
Energy Storage R&D: Thermal Management Studies and Modeling (Pesaran, 2008 DOE Vehicle Technologies Annual Merit Review)
June 20, 2008 in Batteries | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
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Comments
That thermal image doesn't look very comforting. Yeah,
work on it. I'm waiting for fresh news on the Lithium
nanowire battery that Stanford University researchers
licensed to (Gevo?). I think that one's a player if they
can mass produce. I haven't heard much since the 'breakthrough' news a couple of months ago.
Posted by: swen | Jun 20, 2008 9:05:13 AM
The news of the Stanford battery was even older than
I remembered. The link goes back to December '07.
Here it is:
http://tinyurl.com/2slvyq
Posted by: swen | Jun 20, 2008 9:10:29 AM
I thought Professor Wu was going to work on silicon NWs for the next 3-5 years before partnering and/or licensing the technology. There still seemed to be a lot of work to do.
Posted by: jrs nsw | Jun 20, 2008 11:56:52 AM
That image is amazing!, look how even the temperature is all over the cell.. the hottest parts are the connecting bars from cell to cell.
This is a marketting gimmick that A123 is using to showcase the excellent temperature qualities of their cells.. they can be fast charged without overheating and thus degrading the cells life, other lipos suffer from hotspots and occasional fires. A123 is the battery tech that least needs thermal management help.. I could be too cynical but...
Posted by: Herm | Jun 24, 2008 9:35:08 AM
ZEBRA batteries cannot easily be damaged by overheating because they contain no plastics and already operate at high temperatures. Since they are not produced in the US, ZEBRA batteries are not getting any US funding to reduce their cost and increase their power whilst they actually have equivalent energy capacity to commercial Lithium batteries. Beta Research, who brought the battery to useful perfection, seems to have gone out of business just when the batteries were beginning use in TH!NK cars. Keeping ZEBRA batteries hot seems to be a much cheaper and easier activity than keeping Lithium batteries cool. Not invented here must always get in the way of producing a useful electric car. Perhaps NREL could develop an all iron version of the ZEBRA to eliminate the Nickel, but only reduce the cost by ten percent. Robot and machine operated mass production is what is needed for both batteries and cars. ...HG...
Posted by: Henry Gibson | Jun 27, 2008 4:30:04 PM
