H.E.L Group signs sustainable energy agreement with Indian Institute of Technology
The collaboration is part of a national initiative in sustainable energy led by IIT Kanpur to develop new testing laboratories to conduct research into battery storage, new chemistry development and thermal characteristics.
In-depth understanding of heat generated during battery operation is critical to ensure appropriate safety precautions and usage recommendations are put in place, minimizing the risks of thermal runaways and combustion.
As part of the agreement, H.E.L will provide IIT Kanpur with the latest battery testing technology and access to expertise in battery performance and application safety.
H.E.L’s Iso-BTC+ is a non-abusive and non-destructive isothermal calorimeter designed to characterize thermal behavior of battery cells during charge and discharge testing, giving enhanced performance, lifespan and safety data.
Dr. Raju Kumar Gupta, professor at IIT Kanpur, said: “Global demand for batteries is rapidly growing and this is especially true in India. Change is occurring very fast and we at IIT Kanpur are working to understand the testing requirements for larger batteries. The Iso-BTC+ will enable us to measure heat release profiles of large batteries during charge and discharge.”
“The equipment will give extremely tight control of the battery temperature and will enable us to obtain thermal characteristics of cells during operation. The software-integrated battery cycling function will allow us to understand how charge/discharge profiles affect heat generation. The iso-BTC+ will give us a complete picture of heat generation by batteries during normal and extended use conditions which is vital for maximizing safety and performance.”
Rajeev Kumria, general manager at H.E.L India, added: “Poor understanding of battery thermal behavior can lead to unsafe batteries being integrated into devices with inadequate safety precautions in place, and safe batteries being used inefficiently – leading to shortened product lifetimes and poor energy management.”
“As we strive for a more sustainable world, batteries are becoming more prevalent in, for example, electric vehicles and e-scooters, and it is imperative that we continue to research and develop efficient and safe cells appropriate for all environments and applications. As such, we are delighted to be working with IIT Kanpur on this important initiative to help India transition into a more sustainable energy environment, and look forward to providing the latest technology, and sharing our experience in developing battery testing and process safety tools."
