As the global demand for electrification grows, the importance of reliable, safe, and efficient battery systems cannot be underestimated. The BATSS project aims to contribute to the standards for battery safety and performance by integrating cutting-edge innovations across thermal, electrical, and mechanical domains. This comprehensive approach is guided by the Safe by Design (SbD) methodology, ensuring that every innovation aligns with industry requirements and paves the way for predictive maintenance and next-generation battery management systems.
Tackling thermal challenges: A closer look at the battery system thermal design
One of the key focuses of BATSS is improving thermal performance and addressing thermal safety challenges. By utilising state-of-the-art modelling and simulation tools, the project is optimising battery system designs to enhance both safety and efficiency. The battery system’s thermal innovations focus on three key tasks:
1. Electro-thermal characterisation
In the initial phase, project partners CIDETEC Energy Storage, IFP Energies Nouvelles, and MIBA Battery Systems collaborated to characterise battery cells and a downscaled battery system. This groundwork forms the basis for creating precise 1D and 3D models. A notable achievement is the development of a downscaled prototype, manufactured by MIBA Battery Systems, which will soon provide critical data for validating not only thermal but also electrical and mechanical simulations.
2. Parametric 1D modelling and simulations
IFP Energies Nouvelles has led the creation of dynamic 1D models, calibrated using early experimental data. These models play a key role in simulating battery behaviour, including safety-critical scenarios like thermal runaway. The Electromobility Research Centre’s integration of these models into a Hardware-in-the-Loop system is particularly useful, enabling the simulation of end-use cases and offering insights for the battery system design.
3. CAD-based 3D modelling and testing
At the forefront of BATSS’s thermal innovations is MIBA Battery system’s FLEXcooler® heat exchanger, a novel solution compared to traditional cooling plate designs. CIDETEC Energy Storage supports this task through advanced thermofluidic simulations, evaluating thermal efficiency and risk mitigation under extreme scenarios. Efforts also extend to 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations, which help identify gas flow behaviours and minimise ignition risks during thermal runaway events.
Why this matters
The comprehensive approach of BATSS’s thermal innovations underscores its commitment to creating safer and more efficient battery systems. By combining innovative thermal solutions with rigorous safety measures, the project aims to deliver designs that not only meet but exceed current industry standards.
Through collaborations with leading research institutions and industrial partners, BATSS ensures that its innovations will have a lasting impact on Europe’s journey toward sustainable, electrified transport.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to push the boundaries of battery technology!
