Battery Power - Winter 2014 - (Page 24)

Feature Growth in Battery Industry Sparks the Need for Battery Innovation Center Liza Wormus, Media and Communications Specialist Cincinnati Sub-Zero Products, Inc. During the past 10 years, we have seen an incredible surge in the demand for advanced battery technologies. One of the major factors in this growth is the need for green energy to reduce emissions and help the environment. After the introduction of hybrid vehicles, and because of the increasing popularity of electric vehicles, the demand for batteries that keep a charge longer, while still being reliable and use less energy has skyrocketed. We have also seen this growth from the electronics and medical sector, where a need for batteries that will power cell phones, tablets and other electronic devices has dramatically increased. As a result of this growth, the Battery Innovation Center (BIC), a non-profit organization located in Indiana was formed. They opened their 32,000 square foot facility in August of 2013, it serves as a hub for the developing, commercializing and validating of high-tech battery technologies. The Battery Innovation Center desires to accelerate new technologies, act as an industry focal point for battery innovation and to be a trusted source of energy storage capabilities. BIC is funded through partnerships with academia, government agencies and companies specializing in technology, engineering, sustainability, research, energy and power. These members not only benefit from the tools and technology located at the Indiana facility, but also from the vast array of facilities and capabilities located at participating universities as well as the NSWC Crane Division. Additionally, there is an ability to partner with other members on projects, leveraging a variety of technical skills and capabilities, which will result in accelerated advancements in battery technologies. Facility The facilities at the Battery Innovation Center provide the equipment for the designing, fabricating, packaging and testing 24 Battery Power * Winter 2014 of new energy storage systems. All of the equipment at the Battery Innovation Center is installed with safety systems to help mitigate the risks associated with the development and testing of batteries. Development & Manufacturing Cell, battery pack development and manufacturing are key to the acceleration of new technologies in energy storage. At the Battery Innovation Center, members are able to develop and manufacture both cylindrical and prismatic battery designs that possess structural integrity and durability. The BIC can support 300 cells a month with tools for mixing, coating, cutting, stacking, winding, formation, packaging and more. They also have a film line with a dryer, a dry room and a laser lab. Also, because of the special partnership with NSWC Crane, there is direct interface to NSWC Crane printed circuit board development and manufacturing which is Mil-Std compliant. MicroGrid The Battery Innovation Center utilizes and strives to develop MicroGrid capabilities, the facility is currently designed with access to more than 6 MW of power and contains a large grid storage device of approximately 1 MW. For green energy, BIC has low velocity, high efficiency wind turbines and a solar array with capabilities for electric vehicle charging, as well as regenerative charging systems for low-impact energy consumption. Testing The Battery Innovation Center also has testing capabilities, which is important because of the many risks associated with batteries. Common failures associated with batteries include overcharging, undercharging, overheating or a crack in the separating membrane. These failures can result in rupture, fire or an explosion. To minimize this risk, there are UL, IEC, SAE and IEEE testing specifications to be sure that the batteries will endure their everyday environment. While The Battery Innovawww.BatteryPowerOnline.com http://www.BatteryPowerOnline.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Battery Power - Winter 2014

Editor’s Choice
IDT Announces Next-Generation WPC 1.1 Wireless Power Receiver for Portable Applications
NREL to Research Battery Storage Approaches in Support of ARPA-E RANGE Program
Features
UPS Goes Green to Save Green
When Rubber Stamping is Not Enough
Purdue University Project Aims to Mass-Produce ‘Nanopetals’ for Sensors, Batteries
Growth in Battery Industry Sparks the Need for Battery Innovation Center
ORNL-Grown Oxygen ‘Sponge’ Presents Path to Better Catalysts, Energy Materials
New Products
Batteries
ICs & Semiconductors
Charging, Testing & Monitoring
ICs & Semiconductors
Components
Manufacturing
Departments
Industry News
Marketplace

Battery Power - Winter 2014