Originally Published MPMN March 2005
INDUSTRY NEWS
New Process Created to Manufacture Li-ion Batteries
 |
| The Massively Parallel Modular Battery architecture produces large battery modules from many small cells. |
Modular Energy Devices Inc. (Westerly, RI; www.modenergy.com) has developed a system for manufacturing large Li-ion batteries from small, safe commercial Li-ion cells. The Massively Parallel Modular Battery technology combines many small cells in parallel and series to achieve a specified capacity and voltage. Then multiple modules are connected in series to obtain the desired battery pack voltage.
Embedded electronic circuitry reliably balances the capacities of the individual cells in the module. A supervisory battery-management system enables the user to properly interface the battery to the application bus. Control circuitry can disable a section of a module that contains a failed cell with only minor loss in capacity, thus providing a high level of reliability.
The process has many advantages. It compensates for cell differences; allows for individual cell failure without severe loss in system performance, which increases module reliability; and leverages the low cost of mass-produced commercial cells to provide a price reduction for large Li-ion batteries.
Copyright ©2005 Medical Product Manufacturing News
