Large battery packs may contain hundreds, or even thousands of individual cells. While these packs operate as single units, every cell gradually develops its own characteristics as it ages. Researchers at Kiel University in Germany, have individual battery cells ‘talking’ to them in their laboratory.
Why We Need ‘Conversational Cells’ in Large Batteries
Small differences in manufacturing, operating temperatures, charging patterns and mechanical stress mean that no two cells behave exactly the same way. Monitoring these cells in fine detail is therefore becoming a major technical challenge.
Today’s battery management systems can measure each cell’s voltage and estimate its state of charge. They may also monitor temperatures at selected locations and track the battery’s overall performance.
However, battery management systems cannot directly determine the detailed internal condition of every cell. Important changes, such as cell lithium loss, microscopic damage, or the early stages of failure, must be inferred from indirect measurements. Now if we could get individual battery cells talking, that would be another matter!
We Are Currently At An Informational Disadvantage
This limited data matters, because a battery pack can only perform as well as its weakest cells. Hidden deterioration in just a few of them can reduce capacity, slow charging, shorten battery life, and, in rare cases, increase safety risks.
Focusing On Data Flow From Individual Cells
Researchers are currently exploring new ways to give battery management systems a clearer picture of individual cell health. One promising idea enables cells to communicate more detailed information about their own internal state.
What The Researchers in Germany Are Up To
The team have demonstrated in their laboratory, that individual battery cells can transmit data via their existing power connections. And also via the electronics that already control the battery’s charging and discharging processes.
And so, in a sense, they do have battery cells talking to them. This discovery could allow us to gauge temperature from individual cell data, not just generally speaking from the outside.
How This Could Benefit We, The Consumers
We should note that this work is at the preliminary stage, and we are unlikely to have individual battery cells talking back to us for some time. This research does however, open the door to safer, more efficient, and longer lasting batteries for transport and energy storage.
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