Applied battery research of modules/packs including electrical, mechanical, thermal, safety, and control systems for performance assessment and model validation
The facility houses a wide range of battery power cyclers, thermal chambers, and advanced data acquisition systems. We operate on cells, modules (~50 V) and battery packs up to 800 V and with 1000+ A over a range of temperatures from -70 to +325 °C. An outdoor containerized thermally conditioned test chamber has isolated test bays. Battery test samples are contained in tightly controls specialized environments to evaluate their energy, power, efficiency, and thermal performance over a wide range of conditions and control strategies. This includes long term degradation testing, advanced “stacked” control algorithms, and the use of predictive technologies.
Alongside the experimental laboratory is an advanced energy storage modeling center that creates powerful analytical models of battery systems for both short term and long term storage applications. These are applied at a range of scales including single applications and highly varied geospatial and temporal scales (up to provincial levels). Models are then validated with results from experiments.
- Battery testing of single cells, modules, and full scale packs. 0 – 800 VDC, ± 1000 ADC, ±100 kW
- Testing of a multitude of parallel and series battery packs for vehicle, grid, space, and marine applications
- Advanced charge and discharge algorithms including predictive technologies and power signal varying on a per-second basis
- High resolution temperature measurement throughout the entirety of the pack
- Testing of power converter systems including conversion efficiency and maximum power levels
- Testing of battery management systems including inter-cell balancing
- Aerospace and satellites
- Automotive
- Clean technology
- Defence and security industries
- Energy
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Manufacturing and processing
- Ocean industries
- Professional and technical services (including legal services, architecture, engineering)
- Transportation
- Utilities
Specialized labs and equipment
| Equipment | Function |
|---|---|
| Neware Battery power cycler (cell level) |
|
| Arbin Battery power cycler (module level) | 0-20 VDC, ±100 ADC, 3 channels |
| Gustav Klein / Green Light Innovations Battery power cycler (pack level) | 0-800 VDC, ±200 ADC, 2 channels |
| CSZ Thermal chamber (cooling) | -75 to +200 °C; 1 m3 |
| Campbell Scientific CR1000 data acquisition systems | Numerous and varied voltage, current, temperature sensors |
| dataTaker® DT80 data acquisition systems | Numerous and varied voltage, current, temperature sensors |
| Orion BMS battery management system | Up to 180 cell channels |
| Nuvation Energy battery management system | Up to 180 cell channels |
| Thermal conditioning system | Liquid thermal cooling system for battery packs |
| Battery test chamber (cell level) | Unique air cooled cabinetry for 12 individual cell testing |
| Battery test chamber (pack level) | Unique containerized pack level testing |
| Fluke 289 True RMS Industrial Data Logging Multimeter (2) | Portable measurement instrument |
| Fluke 87V digital Multimeter (2) | Portable measurement instrument |
| Fluke 1587 Insulation Tester Multimeter | Up to 1000 V output |
Fluke 336 TRMS AC/DC Current Clamp Meter
| Clamp meter (600 A DC/AC) |
| Fluke i30s AC/DC Current Clamp Meter | Clamp meter (20 A DC/AC) |
Fluke i1010 AC/DC Current Clamp
| Clamp meter (1000 A DC/AC) |
| Fluke BT510 Battery Analyzer | Internal resistance tester |
| Fluke 190-104 ScopeMeter® Test Tool | Portable oscilloscope, 4 channel, recording, up to 600 VDC |
| Anton Parr specific gravity meter | DMA35 Version 4 |
| Anderson Power Products cabling and crimpers | Crimping from 26g to 4/0g |
| Fume hood | 5’ x 2’ |
| Batteries available for prototyping and experiments | A wide range of lead-acid and lithium-ion cells, modules, and batteries, including brands of A123, AESC, CD Technologies, Crown, East Penn, EnerDel, Lishen, K2, LG Chem, Panasonic, Saft, Samsung SDI, Surrette, Tesla, Trojan. Formats include prismatic, pouch, and cylindrical. Thermal conditioning technologies include passive, forced air, and liquid. |
| Extech power supplies | 30 V, 20 A; 60 V, 10 A |
| Ohaus SD weigh scales | 200 kg and 30 kg |
| CCS WattNode AC power meters | Modbus and pulse type. 240/120, 480, and 600 VAC models. |