
Preventing Thermal Runaway in Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
From air transportation to electric vehicles and most recently “Hover Boards”, our industry is painfully aware of the over-discharge malfunctions associated with high-energy lithium-ion batteries, yet according to recent studies, nearly 70% of all Energy Storage Systems currently deployed are lithium-ion. Avoiding the pitfalls of utilizing greater energy density in larger installations is what will be discussed. Michelle will walk through the recent innovations from materials and process tracking in battery manufacturing to comprehensive control of cells in a fully deployed system. Incorporating lessons learned from recent failure investigations by the NTSB and FAA as well as new DoE mandates, Michelle will discuss how to achieve and in some areas surpass the new emerging safety certifications for a multi-megawatt energy storage system.
This webinar will focus on the following key topics:
• Making batteries safe or making safe batteries? (control & mitigation)
• Cell manufacture tracking, certification and response
– NTSB & DoE analysis and current situation
• Incorporating advanced battery management systems (BMS)
– Active cell dynamic balancing
– Cell replacement (hot-swapping)
– System reconfiguration
– Energy density scalability
Presenter
Michelle Klassen – VP of Business Development at Pathion, Inc.
Michelle Klassen is VP of Business Development for PATHION Inc. which manufactures high-performance, safe, and reliable Energy Storage Systems (ESS) for commercial markets ranging from 86 kilowatt-hours in stand-alone systems to over 1 megawatt-hour in containerized units. Prior to PATHION, as Vice President at ZeroBase Energy, she led the design and implementation of power systems and micro-grids for customers, including the US Department of Defense, Kenya Ministry of Energy and the L.A. Department of Water and Power.
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Battery Selection Tutorial Course 1/3: Selecting your Cell and Cell Manufacturer(s)
After designing your product, you need to ensure the battery with which you are operating it will ensure the right performance and lifetime. When deciding this, narrowing down which chemistry (e.g. Li-ion, lithium primary, NiMH, etc.) best fits your product and which form factor are some of the first steps. Choosing a cell design (high-power vs. high-energy, for example) is another step and finally, finding the right cell manufacturer to fabricate your cells and packs. This webinar is the first in a three-part series on designing the right battery for your product. It will cover many of the key differences in chemistries, form factors, and cell designs and other best practices.
This webinar will focus on the following key topics:
• Choosing the right chemistry for your application
• Choosing the right form factor
• Choosing cell designs (e.g. high power vs. high-energy)
Presenter
Exponent – a multidisciplinary engineering and scientific consulting firm with significant experience in various aspects of battery design, safety testing and failure analysis.
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Determination of Battery Safety and Performance Parameters Using Adiabatic and Isothermal Calorimetry
FREE Webinar – Thermal Hazard Technology is a proud sponsor of this event.
This presentation describes two main types of calorimetry which can be used to carry out safety and performance testing on batteries. Isothermal calorimeters allow for direct heat measurement on cells during use, while adiabatic calorimeters can measure heat released from batteries during thermal runaway.
Calorimetry can serve as a quantitative scientific method for evaluation of battery safety but it requires appropriate instrumentation. The principles of operation of both types of calorimeters are described along with specific applications within the field of battery testing.
A combination of both technics allows for detailed thermal characterization of lithium-ion and other rechargeable cells, and differences due to chemistry, cell design, cell age, state of charge and cell size can be evaluated.
This webinar will focus on the following key topics:
• The principles of adiabatic and isothermal calorimetry
• How calorimetry can be used in battery testing
• Parameters established by adiabatic safety testing
• Parameters established by isothermal performance testing
• Pressure measurement and gas collection
Presenter
Danny Montgomery – Technical Performance Manager at Thermal Hazard Technology
Danny Montgomery has worked at Thermal Hazard Technology for 9 years. His current role is Technical Performance Manager; overseeing the lab and technical aspects of instrumentation manufactured by THT. He joined the company in 2009 after graduating from Southampton University with a master’s degree in physics.
Danny’s focus is primarily on lithium battery calorimetry; both adiabatic and isothermal. He oversees the use of calorimeters for customer sample testing as well as installing calorimeter systems and provided training for battery and automotive companies worldwide, such as Panasonic, BMW and Samsung. Danny works in Thermal Hazard Technology’s UK office in Milton Keynes.
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Battery Selection Tutorial Course 2/3: Beyond the Standards: Device-Specific Testing
After choosing your cell and manufacturer (Part 1 of this series), most likely, they will have passed the tests of various standards organizations. However, depending on your operating environment, you may need to go above and beyond the baseline to ensure your product operates as intended. This webinar is Part 2 in a three-part series and will review a variety of factors to consider in your device-specific testing, including designing tests to predict the outcomes of various user-abuse scenarios, understanding the mechanisms of gas generation, capacity retention based on different voltage windows, and what happens if you need to cycle your cells outside of their operating range (outside in an Arizona summer or Minnesota winter, for example).
This webinar will focus on the following key topics:
• User-abuse scenarios to prevent against
• Causes and effects of various gas generation mechanisms
• Voltage limits
Presenter
Exponent – a multidisciplinary engineering and scientific consulting firm with significant experience in various aspects of battery design, safety testing and failure analysis.
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