Short Course at ECS meetings
This course covers the application of thermal analysis techniques to the design and development of batteries and battery materials.
The requirements for portable, rechargeable energy sources are demanding. New and innovative battery materials are required to support the broadening role rechargeable cells play in our everyday life. Thermal Analysis techniques such as Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) are fundamental aids in designing materials for high performance and safety. Li-ion cells have also been a source of many well documented “thermal runaway” events. The costs of these events have been dramatic for both cell manufacturer and their added-value partners. Adiabatic calorimetry has been the tool most often used to characterize cells and measure thermal runaway. Isothermal Calorimetry can be used to measure heat, and thus the efficiency directly, at varying conditions, charge/discharge rates and at different SOCs. This short course will provide an overview on how to effectively measure and analyze battery performance and safety of coin cells up to large format cells using calorimetric tools.
Topics to be covered
- Key Thermal Analysis Techniques for Battery Material Development and Testing
- Thermal Analysis techniques such as
- Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), experimental parameters and analysis
- Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and evolved gas analysis (EGA)
- Other techniques such as MMC, LFA
- Improving Battery Safety with Calorimetry
- Understanding “thermal runaway” events.
- Adiabatic calorimetry (ARC), its strengths and limitations, and its application to small and large cells and packs.
- Nail penetration tests
- Calorimetric Performance Measurements for Rechargeable Cells
- Isothermal Methods from coin cells to large format cells
- Measuring efficiency and performance with calorimetry
- Entropic studies
About the instructor
Peter Ralbovsky has a passion for solving difficult testing problems and is currently the calorimetry product manager for NETZSCH Instruments North America. He was worked with battery material testing for over 20 years both at Arthur D. Little, Inc. and TIAX LLC before joining NETZSCH in 2009. He has been involved in the development of award-winning calorimeters including, most recently, an R& D 100 award in 2013 for a coin cell calorimeter.
Mr. Ralbovsky has conducted seminars, courses, webinars on calorimetry and thermal analysis for battery and material testing for over a decade. Outside of work Mr. Ralbovsky enjoys spending time with his family and camping with his local Boy Scout Troop where he serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster.
