structural, chemical and physical attributes to
be examined at the same time and the EIL
specializes in such measurements, by, for
example, combining thermal imaging with
X-ray computed tomography and off -gas
analysis to monitor battery thermal runaway,
or combining neutron imaging, current and
temperature mapping to optimize water
management in fuel cells,” Rettie adds.
Collectively, the tools and methodologies
employed provide a capability to diagnose a
range of conditions relating to battery
state-of-health, from understanding thermal
runaway in fractions of a second to exploring
capacity fade over thousands of cycles.
Translational diagnostics
While the multi-million dollar lab-based
instruments at the EIL provide a unique
insight into materials and device operation,
typically they cannot be deployed on-board to
inform battery or fuel cell management
systems. Therefore, the Engineering and
Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
funded TRENDS project (Translational Energy
Storage Diagnostics), a partnership between
Imperial College, University of Oxford, WMG,
University of Coventry and UCL.
The TRENDS project aims to translate the
learning from high-end techniques such as
X-ray computed tomography and sophisticated
thermal imaging techniques and use low-cost,
mass-deployable sensors and data processing
techniques for on-board operation.
Ultrasound, for example, has been used to
6
6. Researchers combine
different measurements
of structural, physcial and
chemical characteristis at
the laboartory
7. An engineer prepares a
module for testing
“A ‘digital fingerprint’ can be generated in
seconds using X-ray computed tomography”
Dr Tom Miller, lecturer in the Electrochemical Innovation Lab
great eff ect in both the medical and metallurgy
fi elds, which off er a non-destructive insight
into the hidden world of the internal
structures of materials. The technique, which
can be deployed on-board on during servicing,
highlights internal electrode structure change
during battery cycling and clearly shows
delamination due to gassing.
“One challenge is that these techniques
provide huge amounts of data, which requires
analysis, storage, curation and mining,”
explains Dr Tom Miller, lecturer
in the EIL. “However, with the
right tools and computing
power, this provides substantial
opportunity.
“Work as part of the Innovate
UK funded VALUABLE (VALUe
chain And Battery Lifecycle
Exploitation) program is
developing ways of generating a
‘digital fi ngerprint’ that can be
generated in seconds using X-ray
computed tomography and
describes the entire internal
structure of a battery from its
beginnings,” he adds.
By comparing this data set
with that later in the battery’s
134 // July 2019 // www.electrichybridvehicletechnology.com
life, second-life or end-of-life decisions can be
made and it’s even possible to virtually unroll
spiral-wound batteries computationally to
understand how it has aged using digital
volume correlation techniques.
Through world leading tools, techniques and
expertise the EIL is tackling some of the major
challenges in electrochemical technologies and
partnering closely with industry to translate
improvements in fundamental understanding
into real world impact.
7
TEST & ANALYSIS
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