BFH

BFH – Battery and Storage Systems Lab

The BFH Energy Storage Research Centre provides a unique source of technical and commercial expertise. It serves as a subject-matter expert on storage applications in the energy and mobility sector and works with its partners to generate impetus for developments.

The characterisation and modelling of electrochemical storage devices is key to their successful implementation. There’s also a need for complete battery and energy systems to be developed and tested. Among other things, this involves identifying the optimal operating parameters for integrating electrochemical storage technology into a wide range of applications. A variety of test and characterisation methods are also used.

Battery and energy management systems (BMS and EMS) ensure that electrical storage systems operate safely and correctly. Our specialised researchers develop efficient, reliable software and hardware for these systems. To this end, they develop, test and validate model-based software algorithms and individual hardware for a wide range of battery applications.

Services

• Battery testing and characterization: analysis of properties, performance, degradation and thermal behaviour of batteries with state-of-the-art test stands.
• Development of algorithms for monitoring and functional evaluation of battery systems: state of charge, service life, performance estimation based on collected data.
• Development of battery management systems (BMS): adapted hardware and algorithm to specific applications that offer low internal consumption and high level of safety.
• Development of battery systems and components and integration into mobile and stationary applications.

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy for modelling of lithium-ion batteries

Development of reduced Order Physics-Based Models for​ State Estimation of Li-Ion Batteries​

BMS HIL Test Platform – Cell, module and pack simulation environment

Battery Cycle Life Assessment through High-Precision Coulombic Efficiency Measurements

Development of battery systems / battery components and their integration into mobile and stationary applications

BFH – Manufacturing Technologies for Battery Production

The research group manufacturing technologies for battery production at BFH is focused on development of new sustainable and cost‐effective production technologies for battery cells and other production lines supporting Swiss battery manufacturers.

The team submits not only technical solutions for battery production but also offers innovative ideas according to the holistic approach.

Test batteries in different geometries can be produced in their own pilot production line for battery cell manufacturing which aims to improve product quality and processing steps with cost effective solutions. This pilot line helps to get deeper understanding and serves as a showcase for industry partners and research groups. It allows to feed the electrodes into the laser cutting unit from role and stacking them automatically in a controlled mini environment under cleanroom conditions. With cooperation of different disciplines and integration of smart sensors to the system, „Industry 4.0″ revolution is implemented for the future applications and their developments.

Beside technical improvements and investigations, the research group can also optimize and up-scale the battery manufacturing lines with virtual production solutions (computer model) from slurry preparation until cell production and formation. A virtual production line can help to detect the bottlenecks of system also enables to minimize production cost and to improve process flow of battery cell production lines.

Research group Manufacturing Technologies for Battery Production offers services in the following areas:

• Electrode cutting with laser cutting unit for electrodes up to 300×150 mm dimensions.
• Cell assembly in glove box under inert gas atmosphere.
• Manufacturing of test batteries for flexible cell dimensions from electrode cutting & automated cell stacking in a controlled mini environment under cleanroom conditions to battery formation.
• Modelling (virtual production line), simulation, optimization and upscaling studies of battery production lines.
• LiFE, thermal and ion flow simulation in battery cells without license cost.
• General production optimization for machine and full lines
• Development of smart sensors for optimization, predictive maintenance etc.

Pilot System

Pilot System​

Pilot System​

Pilot System​