An automotive manufacturer needed a reliable way to test lithium-ion cells under extreme abuse conditions. In the event of defects or incorrect loading, battery cells can overheat, generate enormous amounts of heat, release large quantities of gas, and, in the worst case, explode. Previous test methods either did not offer sufficient safety or did not provide reproducible results. The goal was therefore to develop a compact, fully enclosed test environment that could safely simulate short-circuit and drop tests and make thermal events controllable.
HAINZL developed a robust test chamber that enables short-circuit tests with currents of up to 2000 A as well as defined drop tests from a height of 1.5 m. The chamber is equipped with a pressure relief valve, particle filters, a viewing window for filming, and passive afterflow, and provides reliable protection against thermal and mechanical events. A connection option for an extraction system, including safety-related monitoring, ensures the safe removal of gases and particles and eliminates any danger to personnel. The combination of several test procedures in a compact system that is CE-compliant and meets strict safety requirements results in an efficient and future-proof solution for evaluating cell safety under realistic extreme conditions.
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