Applied battery research of modules/packs including electrical, mechanical, thermal, safety, and control systems for performance assessment and model validation.
The Renewable Energy Storage Laboratory (RESL) houses a comprehensive suite of battery cyclers, thermal chambers, and advanced data acquisition systems. The team conducts testing on cells, modules (~50 V) and battery packs up to 800 V and with 1000+ A, across a temperature range from -70 to +325 °C. An outdoor containerized, thermally conditioned test chamber provides isolated test bays for large-scale evaluations.
Battery samples are tested within tightly controlled, specialized environments to assess energy, power, efficiency, and thermal performance under a wide range of operating conditions and control strategies. Capabilities include long term degradation studies, advanced “stacked” control algorithms, and the application of predictive technologies.
Complementing the experimental infrastructure, the laboratory operates an advanced energy storage modelling centre that develops high-fidelity analytical models of battery systems for both short- and long-term storage applications. These models are applied across multiple scales, from individual systems to complex geospatial and temporal scenarios (up to provincial level), and are validated using experimental data.
- Battery testing of single cells, modules, and full-scale packs. Conduct testing from 0 – 800 VDC, ± 1000 ADC, and up to ±100 kW.
- Testing of series and parallel battery pack configurations to evaluate systems 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 monitoring by measuring temperature distribution across entire battery packs.
- Testing of power converter systems to assess conversion efficiency and maximum power performance.
- Testing of battery management systems (BMS) to evaluate performance, including inter-cell balancing capabilities.
- 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
- Battery cycling and system performance testing (cell to pack levels): Perform charge–discharge cycling, performance characterization, and lifetime testing across a wide range of voltages and currents using multi-channel battery cyclers and high-voltage pack-level systems.
- Thermal testing and environmental simulation: Conduct controlled temperature testing from −75 to +200 °C for batteries and components using environmental chambers.
- Battery management system (BMS) testing and validation: Monitor, control, and validate performance of multi-cell battery systems with high channel capacity (up to ~180 cells).
- Battery test environments (cell and pack levels): Provide controlled and specialized environments for safe evaluation of individual cells and full battery packs, including large-scale and containerized test setups.
- Thermal management and conditioning systems: Evaluate and regulate battery temperature using integrated liquid cooling systems for pack-level applications.
- Data acquisition and experimental monitoring systems: Collect and log multi-parameter data (voltage, current, temperature) using integrated data acquisition platforms and sensor networks.
- Electrical measurement and diagnostics instrumentation: Measure electrical performance and assess battery health, including voltage, current, resistance, insulation, and waveform behavior, using advanced diagnostic instruments.
- AC power measurement and monitoring systems: Monitor electrical consumption and power characteristics in testing environments using industrial-grade power meters.
- Battery prototyping and experimental materials: Provide access to a wide range of battery chemistries and formats (e.g., lithium-ion and lead-acid; pouch, prismatic, cylindrical) for testing and development.