Battery Power Online | Articles

Reducing TCO with the Right UPS Architecture and Operating Mode

Josh Johnson February 10, 2016

Peter Panfil, Vice President, Global Power • Emerson Network Power

One of the most widely discussed issues throughout the world today is the rapidly increasing demand for energy within the computing industry. This is fueling interest in energy efficiency solutions worldwide. Many organizations are looking at their data center’s UPS systems to optimize efficiency while protecting availability and maintaining flexibility to quickly meet growing demands. Read more about Reducing TCO with the Right UPS Architecture and Operating Mode …

Designing and Managing Custom Battery Pack Plastic Enclosures

Josh Johnson January 26, 2016

Anton Beck, Battery Product Manager • Epec Engineered Technologies

Customers are often unfamiliar with battery regulatory requirements which can lead to complications during the design of plastic enclosures. Understanding some of the design and management elements will help avoid production process complications. With any enclosure, the most important aspect is that the enclosure must be able to support the battery itself. It must also pass rigorous tests, especially when associated with transportation safety certifications. Read more about Designing and Managing Custom Battery Pack Plastic Enclosures …

Assessment of Performance and Safety on Lithium Ion Pouch Battery Under Various Test Conditions

Josh Johnson December 5, 2015

Joshua Su, Sr. Engineering Manager • HZO

In recent years, lithium ion polymer cells in pouch format have found increasing use in portable consumer electronics. They are commonly being referred to as lithium polymer cells (hereafter referred as Li-Poly), although these cells are not of the true polymer types^1,2. Compared to conventional batteries such as nickel cadmium systems, Li-Poly cell designs provide the highest specific energy (>220 Wh/kg) and energy density (>450 Wh/L) of all commercially available designs³. From a safety and fire protection standpoint, a high energy density coupled with a flammable organic, rather than aqueous, electrolyte has created a number of new challenges with regard to the design, storage and handling of batteries containing lithium ion cells. Read more about Assessment of Performance and Safety on Lithium Ion Pouch Battery Under Various Test Conditions …

The Changing Landscape of Battery Storage

Josh Johnson November 11, 2015

Robert Magyar • VARTA Storage GmbH

In the last several years, there has been tremendous media attention surrounding the potential for battery storage to play a significantly larger role within the public electricity grids both at the utility level and within the market-side ownership of Distributed Energy Resources. Much like 10 to 12 years ago, when the photovoltaic (PV) solar market was beginning to mainstream, today’s view of the battery storage market often appears complex and confusing. While some see battery storage as the complete answer to the intermittent power production of PV solar energy, others see the technology as costly and difficult to maintain. As in all technologies, the answer is not within the technology itself, but the business model applications and government regulations which will ultimately determine how far ”the great battery storage revolution” will go. Read more about The Changing Landscape of Battery Storage …

A Review of America’s First Step Towards the Harmonization of Portable Battery Standards: UL 62133

Josh Johnson October 14, 2015

John C. Copeland, VP/COO • Energy Assurance LLC

Although not widely publicized, Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) released a new battery standard applicable to rechargeable lithium cells and battery packs in early January 2015. This standard, UL 62133 (Revision 1), takes its place among other country-specific versions of the IEC 62133 international standard which has been in active use for global battery approvals for many years. Why is this important? After all, do we really need another battery standard? As it turns out the answer is a definite “Yes” and is driven by a single concept – Harmonization. Read more about A Review of America’s First Step Towards the Harmonization of Portable Battery Standards: UL 62133 …

Real-Time Battery Modeling in HiL Testing of Battery Management Systems

Josh Johnson September 3, 2015

Paul Goossens, Vice President, Engineering Solutions
Maplesoft

Demand growth for rechargeable batteries in products such as portable electronic devices, electrified vehicles (EVs) and decentralized power utilities (smart grids) is nothing short of robust. With forecasted annual growth pegged at 8 percent by the Freedonia Group, the global battery market will reach almost $74 billion this year. Rechargeable batteries will account for about 82 percent of that, or $60 billion, according to market researcher Frost & Sullivan.

Energy Density Comparison of Silver-Zinc Button Cells with Rechargeable Li-Ion and Li-Polymer Coin and Miniature Prismatic Cells

Josh Johnson September 2, 2015

Jeff Ortega, Ph.D., Director of Research, ZPower, LLC
Ross Dueber, Ph.D., President and CEO, ZPower, LLC

Silver-zinc batteries have the highest theoretical specific energy (Wh/kg) and energy density (Wh/L) of all rechargeable battery technologies available commercially today. Rechargeable silver-zinc batteries have been successfully used for decades in military and aerospace applications where high energy and power density are required. The electrochemical reaction involves the oxidation of zinc to zinc oxide and the accompanying reduction of silver(II) oxide to metallic silver. The reaction at the AgO cathode involves a two-step oxidation (1.8 V and 1.5 V) of two water molecules to form hydroxide anions that migrate to the anode where they oxidize the metallic Zn to form the soluble zincate species before precipitation of the zinc oxide. Read more about Energy Density Comparison of Silver-Zinc Button Cells with Rechargeable Li-Ion and Li-Polymer Coin and Miniature Prismatic Cells …