CD-adapco Unveils Lithium-Ion Battery Cell Simulation

By DE Editors

CD-adapco has released a new computer-aided engineering tool, the STAR-CCM + Battery Simulation Module, designed to simulate spirally wound lithium-ion battery cells. The technology is aimed at helping the automotive and battery industries more quickly design and develop advanced electric drive vehicle power sources, the company says.

The project, which began in August 2011, is co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The new spiral cell software was developed within the first year of a multi-year award.

"Proliferating simulation methods in the new and rapidly changing field of lithium-ion battery development is the goal of the CAEBAT (Computer-Aided Engineering for Electric Drive Vehicle Batteries) project," said Ahmed Pesaran, energy storage group team leader at the NREL. "By including such models in to their mainstream product, CD-adapco is supporting the Department of Energy to meet these goals."

The tool was created in conjunction with Battery Design LLC, Johnson Controls, and A123 Systems.

This computer simulation technology project was one of three chosen to support the DOE's CAEBAT program to reduce petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy provided the funding.

Goals of the project include developing battery engineering tools to design cells and battery packs; validating the accuracy of those tools; shortening prototyping and manufacturing processes; improving overall battery performance, safety, and life; and reducing battery costs.

For more information, visit CD-adapco.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.