Honeywell announced two novel approaches aimed at enhancing the safety of electric vehicle (EV) users and gigafactory production. Honeywell Process Solutions and Honeywell Sensing Solutions’ solutions help the firm connect its portfolio with three significant megatrends, one of which is the energy transition.
To be more precise, Honeywell is enabling giga-factories to produce high-quality batteries by incorporating ultrasound scanning-based comprehensive battery cell testing into its Battery Manufacturing Excellence Platform (MXP) software system. Additionally, new safety sensors are being introduced that can identify thermal runaway indicators in EV batteries prior to a possible fire.
“As the world moves at full speed toward electrification, a number of challenges have arisen, including how to make EV batteries safely, efficiently and at high volume,” said Victor Verissimo, general manager, Electrification for Honeywell Industrial Automation.
Thorough testing of battery cells on the manufacturing floor
Titan Advanced Energy Solutions, a leader in ultrasound-based battery interrogation systems, and Honeywell Process Solutions are collaborating to incorporate Titan’s cutting-edge scanning technology into the Honeywell Battery Manufacturing Excellence Platform (MXP).
Real-time, in-line battery quality analysis is made possible by the integration of Titan’s ultrasonic scanning technology with Battery MXP. This allows for the detection of production flaws that are not visible using conventional techniques. Particularly for early-stage gigafactories, the comprehensive testing of each battery cell by Titan technology facilitates faster defect-tracing and overall process efficiency increases.
EV batteries now include new safety sensors
For use in electric vehicles, Honeywell Sensing Solutions is introducing a cutting-edge lithium-ion battery safety sensor. Li-ion Tamer electrolyte gas detection technique is employed by the battery safety electrolyte sensor (BES) to identify “first vent” events, which are extremely early warning signs of a possible battery fire. Five to twenty minutes before a fire starts, the indicators may sound a warning.
The BES solution functions as an early-warning tool in an EV supervisory system by detecting the gases emitted by a malfunctioning battery cell before thermal runaway occurs. With the use of technology, operators can then put out the battery fire, possibly saving lives and averting serious property damage.