THT Battery eNewsletter: March 2015

Offices in ENGLAND, USA, CHINA, INDIA Representation Worldwide

World Benchmark Battery Testing Calorimetry Calorimetry

THT is proud to carry on supply and support for all ARC Systems – battery and chemical (Pharma, explosives, reactive chemicals, epoxies…)

The ARC was devised by Dow Chemical Co Ltd in the late 1970s as an adiabatic safety calorimeter to safely simulate potential runaway reactions in the laboratory. Quantifying hazards from reactive chemicals was key to decreasing explosive and other serious incidents in the Chemical Industry.

The ARC was commercialised by CSI (Columbia Scientific Industries) in 1980. CSI had a small International Office in England and when CSI ceased business in the mid 1990s THT was born, the 3 staff maintaining the business, supporting the users, modernising the equipment and continuing the technology.

Li ion batteries…their size and shape, their capacity, their applications, their number has mushroomed over the past 15 years and THT has responded to the challenges…working with organisations worldwide to produce systems capable of studying a diverse range of applications, has achieved goals and made equipment available – equipment that is now in use around the world with very many household names from battery manufacturers, to research organisations and universities, to users in industries such a automotive and aerospace…

Li Ion battery calorimeters from THT dominate the world arena.

This continues today – but now there is an emphasis in Li Ion Battery Calorimetry. The ARC had been used for battery studies in the 1980s but with Li Ion rechargeables hitting the market in the late 1990s there was serious interest.

THT took up the applications and challenges of this market sector and has worked with companies since this time.

The original 1990s THT ARC Brochure Photograph

The 2015 EV+ System

The first two THT ARC calorimeters manufactured were sold to SONY in Japan.

2

1995 Testing mg of components n the esARC

2015 Testing a single cell weighing near 2kg

Main Heading March 2015 Newsletter main header

News

The esARC for small batteries and components. The EV ARC for small to large cells. The EV+ for large format cells and small modules. The BPC for modules.

Our THT website now has a new live chat feature allowing you to ask questions directly to our team application specialists. To start a conversation simply click the ‘Chat’ button at the bottom of the page.

Options available with all THT Calorimeters KSU THT built in single channel cycler – or range specified by customer. The cycler hardware and software is fully integrated to give a turnkey system for charge, discharge, cycling and overvoltage tests

The UK-based commercial sample service offered by THT has further expanded due to demand and we are delighted that Vittorio Bartoli has joined us. Vittorio worked with us for 3 summers as a vacation student during his time at the University of Manchester where last year he graduated with a First Class degree in Chemical Engineering.

In addition we are pleased to see more and more papers in the Scientific Literature detailing important studies and data from testing Li Ion Batteries; these are complemented by papers given at conferences worldwide where articles and Presentations are made available. Please feel free to send us any relevant references! Abstract of recent papers are given with a link for full articles.

Extending the application Lets recap and summarise all the calorimeters and options THT offer. First studies were ‘Heat-WaitSeek’ safety assessments of batteries & their chemistries – simply the effect of heat upon batteries.

But then the challenges started – and large size calorimeters and options were devised.

BSU An integrated ‘Battery Safety Unit’ allowing overvoltage and short circuit testing.

MultiPoint With 8, 16 or 24 individual thermocouples the variation in temperature over the battery surface can be recorded throughout the test.

Nail Penetration and Crush THT has pioneered this area with both pneumatic and motor driven options. High torque and controlled speed options are available allowing nail penetration and crush tests to be performed with very high force Gas Collection THT has made available small specific gas collection cylinders and gas collection bags of varying volume – this allows gas collection for onward analysis Cameras Video camera filming (with the data file being integrated into the software)is standard on the EV+ system, it is not available with the smaller calorimeters. The EV+ calorimeter can also be used with IR Camera for surface temperature monitoring

3 ES Calorimeter

EV Calorimeter

EV+ Calorimeter

BPC Calorimeter

World Battery Testing Calorimetry March Benchmark 2015 Newsletter

Extending the application Heat Capacity The ARC, though not designed to determine specific heat and heat capacity, has the potential to do this, THT has made available options for all calorimeters to achieve this.

Kits THT offer a number of ‘simple’ kits – for example to allow easy testing of components, to allow internal pressure measurement of batteries during test, using various sample holders.

Conferences & Exhibitions THT are attending the following battery shows either as delegates or exhibitors:

AABC 2015 Detroit, Michigan. USA 15th to 19th June 2015 The Battery Show Novi, Michigan. USA 15th to 17th September 2015

Further Product Information

FireBox Safety Testing Containment System

The containment vessels - Blast Boxes, used in all THT calorimeters are a vital safety feature (anyone not seen a 100Ah battery disintegrating?) THT now offer this containment system as a stand-alone product for safe evaluation of batteries during normal use and abuse testing scenarios. Reinforced steel construction with safety interlocks for maximum operator protection. A manual or automated (temperature - controlled) fume extraction system is available to vent potentially dangerous gases that may be produced during battery decomposition.

Read more about THTs product range in our 18-page General Battery Brochure

Download the EV+ Flyer

Š Thermal Hazard Technology 2015 All rights reserved.

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Offices in ENGLAND, USA, CHINA, INDIA Representation Worldwide