Feasibility study for a lithium-ion-battery celltester
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | WireFlow AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 350 526 |
| Project duration | October 2020 - July 2021 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Electronics, software and communication - FFI |
| Call | Electronics, Software and Communication - FFI - June 2020 |
| End-of-project report | 2020-02919sv.pdf(pdf, 879 kB) (In Swedish) |
Important results from the project
The purpose of the feasibility study was to develop a technical concept and a prototype of a tester for Li-ion battery cells. The project has succeeded in meeting these goals. The project has defined a system architecture based on a centralized power distribution that can easily be scaled up to any number of test channels by building on with the corresponding number of current-boards. Apart from a fault in the prototype where the current regulation sometimes becomes incorrect, the prototype works very well and has demonstrated that it can be used to perform powerful tests on Li-ion cells.
Expected long term effects
The project has demonstrated the possibility of developing a flexible cell tester, which in addition to basic functions for charging and discharging, can also be supplemented with the following functions: - Powerful software with open interfaces - Multiplexing of instruments - Cell holder with built-in temperature measurement - Surveillance of cells with thermal imager - Safety systems that measure carbon monoxide (CO) as a way of early detection of cells that risk potential thermal runway. WireFlow will continue to invest in product development of cell testers.
Approach and implementation
The project was carried out in the following phases: 1. Needs analysis regarding testing of battery cells. Conducted through studies of literature, market analysis and interviews with engineers at several companies that work with battery manufacturing. 2. System design and definition of architecture for a cell tester. 3. Design and manufacture of a 5-channel prototype of a cell tester. 4. Evaluation and use of the prototype for testing cells at both WireFlow and at Toyota Material Handling Manufacturing Sweden.