Lithium Ion Battery Module Packaging and Testing - 1-113

Project Member(s): Wang, G., Zhang, N.

Funding or Partner Organisation: AutoCRC Ltd
AutoCRC Ltd

Start year: 2013

Summary: The battery packs used as the rechargeable electrical storage system in electric vehicles are large and complex. Controlled release of the battery¿s energy provides useful electrical power in the form of current and voltage. Uncontrolled release of this energy can result in dangerous situations such as release of toxic materials (i.e. smoke), fire, high pressure events (i.e. explosions), or any combination thereof. Such energy releases can be caused by severe physical abuse, such as crushing, puncturing or burning, which can be mitigated by mechanical safety systems and proper physical design. However, they can also be caused by shorted cells, abnormally high discharge rate, excessive heat build-up, overcharging, or constant recharging, which can weaken the battery. These causes are best prevented by a properly designed and validated electronic safety and monitoring system, better known as a battery management system. One of the major validation and safety challenges to be tackled in modern electric vehicles concerns the effective testing of the battery pack itself and the battery management systems ¿ the complex electronic system that manages the performance and safety of the battery pack and the high levels of electrical energy stored within.

Keywords: Lithium ion battery, Battery package

FOR Codes: Materials Engineering not elsewhere classified, Electrochemistry, Energy Storage (excl. Hydrogen), Energy Transformation not elsewhere classified