Unique Calorimeter-Cycler for Evaluating High-Power Battery Modules

Ahmad A. Pesaran, Donald J. Russell, John W. Crawford, Robert Rehn, Edwin A. Lewis

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

16 Scopus Citations

Abstract

Battery thermal management is critical for high-power battery packs commonly used in electric vehicles (EV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV). To design battery thermal management systems properly, obtaining accurate heat generation data from battery modules is essential. To measure heat generation from full-size, multiple-cell battery modules, we developed and tested a custom-made calorimeter for large modules. Battery modules with dimensions up to 21 cm×39 cm in cross section and 20 cm in height can be placed in the cavity of the calorimeter for measuring heat generation rates from 1 W to 100 W with the battery operating at -30 °C to +60 °C. The instrument is capable of measuring heat effects as small as 10 joules with accuracy of 5%. A state-of-the-art high power battery cycler is used to cycle the modules in the calorimeter. This paper provides a description of the calorimeter, calibration test results on its performance, and test results from a module simulating a HEV lead-acid battery.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages127-131
Number of pages5
StatePublished - 1998
EventProceedings of the 1998 13th Annual Battery Conference on Applications and Advances - Long Beach, CA, USA
Duration: 13 Jan 199816 Jan 1998

Conference

ConferenceProceedings of the 1998 13th Annual Battery Conference on Applications and Advances
CityLong Beach, CA, USA
Period13/01/9816/01/98

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/CP-540-23799

Keywords

  • battery
  • battery thermal management
  • electric vehicles
  • hybrid electric vehicles (HEV)
  • thermal

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