Abstract: A battery management system for determining a time series of normalised voltage of at least one battery cell corresponding to a time period during which a first current flows through the at least one battery cell.

Abstract: A battery management system (103) for a battery (100) comprising a plurality of battery cells (101, 102) connected in parallel with each other. The battery management system comprises an electronic circuit (104) for connection across at least one of the plurality of battery cells. The electronic circuit comprises a charge storage device (105) and a switching device (106). The switching device switches the circuit between a first state in which charge is discharged from the at least one battery cell and directed to the charge storage device and a second state in which charge is discharged from the charge storage device and directed to the at least one battery cell. The switching device is arranged to repeatedly switch the circuit between the first state and the second state to cause the at least one battery cell to undergo pulsed charging and discharging to and from the charge storage device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accurately determining the state of health (including state of charge and relative age) of a Lithium Sulfur battery, module or cell. The invention uses an operational model of a Lithium Sulfur cell or battery to predict model parameters under a range of conditions related to state of charge and state of health. Operational models include the memory effect due to the unique chemistry of a Lithium Sulfur cell that precludes the user of other methodologies for State of health determination for Lithium Sulfur batteries. Model parameters are identified in real life applications and parameters are compared to those of the operational Lithium Sulfur model employing Kalman filtering. The output includes an estimate of state of health and other key performance indicators. Key performance indicators are compared with measured values of for example resistance to provide feedback to the estimate process in order to improve accuracy.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accurately determining the state of health (including state of charge and relative age) of a Lithium Sulfur battery, module or cell. The invention uses an operational model of a Lithium Sulfur cell or battery to predict model parameters under a range of conditions related to state of charge and state of health. Operational models include the memory effect due to the unique chemistry of a Lithium Sulfur cell that precludes the user of other methodologies for State of health determination for Lithium Sulfur batteries. Model parameters are identified in real life applications and parameters are compared to those of the operational Lithium Sulfur model employing Kalman filtering. The output includes an estimate of state of health and other key performance indicators. Key performance indicators are compared with measured values of for example resistance to provide feedback to the estimate process in order to improve accuracy.

Abstract: There is provided a battery comprising an electrochemical unit comprising at least one electrochemical cell. The at least one electrochemical cell comprises a cell anode, a cell cathode and an electrolyte in contact with said cell anode and cell cathode. The electrochemical unit further comprises a first contact electrode mounted on a surface of the electrochemical unit. The battery further comprises a second contact electrode positioned adjacent to the electrochemical unit, whereby the first and second contact electrodes face each other to allow a contact resistance between the first contact electrode and second contact electrode to be measured.

Abstract: There is provided a Lithium-Sulfur battery management system for determining a state of charge of a Lithium-Sulfur battery (LS1). The management system comprises a first circuit having at least one reactive element (Cb), and the first circuit is configured to discharge and charge fixed amounts of charge from and to the battery (LS1) via the at least one reactive element (Cb). The management system also comprises a second circuit (DA1, MC1) for monitoring the discharging and charging, and the second circuit is configured to measure the discharge time and the charge time of the fixed amounts of charge, and determine the state of charge based on those times. There is further provided a method for determining the state of charge of the Lithium-Sulfur battery.

Abstract: A metal foil electrode comprising i) a reinforcement layer formed from a porous substrate, and ii) first and second layers of metal foil formed comprising lithium and/or sodium, wherein the reinforcement layer is disposed between the first and second metal foil layers and bonded (preferably pressure bonded) together to form a composite structure having a thickness of 100 microns or less.

Abstract: There is provided a Lithium-Sulfur battery management system for determining a state of charge of a Lithium-Sulfur battery (LS1). The management system comprises a first circuit having at least one reactive element (Cb), and the first circuit is configured to discharge and charge fixed amounts of charge from and to the battery (LS1) via the at least one reactive element (Cb). The management system also comprises a second circuit (DA1, MC1) for monitoring the discharging and charging, and the second circuit is configured to measure the discharge time and the charge time of the fixed amounts of charge, and determine the state of charge based on those times. There is further provided a method for determining the state of charge of the Lithium-Sulfur battery.

Abstract: There is provided a battery comprising an electrochemical unit comprising at least one electrochemical cell. The at least one electrochemical cell comprises a cell anode, a cell cathode and an electrolyte in contact with said cell anode and cell cathode. The electrochemical unit further comprises a first contact electrode mounted on a surface of the electrochemical unit. The battery further comprises a second contact electrode positioned adjacent to the electrochemical unit, whereby the first and second contact electrodes face each other to allow a contact resistance between the first contact electrode and second contact electrode to be measured.

Abstract: A method for charging a lithium-sulphur cell, said method comprising: monitoring the voltage, V, of a cell during charge as a function of time, t, or capacity, Q, determining, in a voltage region in which the cell transitions between the first stage and second stage of charge, the reference capacity, Qref, of the cell at which dV/dt or dV/dQ is at a maximum, terminating charge when the capacity of the cell reaches a.Qref, where a is 1.1 to 1.4.

Abstract: A lithium-sulphur electrochemical cell comprising a laminate comprising: a lithium anode comprising a layer of lithium metal foil or lithium metal alloy foil; a cathode comprising an active sulphur material; a porous separator disposed between the lithium anode and the cathode; and an electrolyte; wherein: the laminate is folded in a zigzag configuration; and the cathode is offset relative to the lithium anode in the laminate, such that the cathode is accessible from one side of the laminate and the lithium anode is accessible from an opposite side of the laminate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accurately determining the state of health (including state of charge and relative age) of a Lithium Sulfur battery, module or cell. The invention uses an operational model of a Lithium Sulfur cell or battery to predict model parameters under a range of conditions related to state of charge and state of health. Operational models include the memory effect due to the unique chemistry of a Lithium Sulfur cell that precludes the user of other methodologies for State of health determination for Lithium Sulfur batteries. Model parameters are identified in real life applications and parameters are compared to those of the operational Lithium Sulfur model employing Kalman filtering. The output includes an estimate of state of health and other key performance indicators. Key performance indicators are compared with measured values of for example resistance to provide feedback to the estimate process in order to improve accuracy.

Abstract: A method for cycling a lithium-sulphur cell, said method comprising discharging a lithium-sulphur cell, terminating the discharge when the voltage of the cell reaches a threshold discharge voltage that is in the range of 1.5 to 2.1V, charging the lithium-sulphur cell, and terminating the charge when the voltage of the cell reaches a threshold charge voltage that is in the range of 2.3 to 2.4V, wherein the lithium-sulphur cell is not fully charged at the threshold charge voltage, and wherein the lithium-sulphur cell is not fully discharged at the threshold discharge voltage.

Abstract: An electrolyte for a lithium sulphur cell comprising at least one lithium salt and at least one organic solvent; and a surfactant, wherein the concentration of surfactant in the electrolyte is 0.5-3 weight %.

Abstract: A method for charging a lithium-sulphur cell, said method comprising: •determining the discharge capacity, Qn, of the cell during a charge-discharge cycle, n, •calculating the value of a*Q n, where a=1.05 to 1.4, and, •in a later charge-discharge cycle, n+x, where x is an integer of 1 to 5, charging the cell to a capacity Qn+x that is equal to a*Qn.

Abstract: Solid composite electrodes with electrode active layers that include an electrode active material, an optional electron conductive material, an optional binder and other optional additives for batteries which are not fuel cells are provided. The solid composite electrodes are formed by the deposition of an electrode composition (slurry) onto a current collector in one or many layers. The electrode structure may be characterized by a porosity of the electrode composition layer that decreases in a direction from the back side of the layer (close to the current collector) towards the outer side of the layer. The electrode structures can be used in for example chemical sources of electric energy such as primary (non-rechargeable) as well as secondary (rechargeable) batteries.

Abstract: There are disclosed electrolytes comprising solutions of lithium salts with large anions in polar aprotic solvents with a particular concentration of background salts. The concentration of the background salts is selected to be equal or close to the concentration of a saturated solution of these salts in the aprotic solvents used. The electrolytes disclosed can be used in chemical sources of electric energy such as secondary (rechargeable) cells and batteries comprising sulphur-based positive active materials. The use of such electrolytes increases cycling efficiency and cycle life of the cells and batteries.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of discharging a chemical source of electric energy in two stages. The chemical source of electric energy comprises a positive electrode (cathode) including sulphur or sulphur-based organic compounds, sulphur-based polymeric compounds or sulphur-based inorganic compounds as a depolarizer, a negative electrode (anode) made of metallic lithium or lithium-containing alloys, and an electrolyte comprising a solution of at least one salt in at least one aprotic solvent. The method comprises the steps of configuring the chemical source of electric energy to generate soluble polysulphides in the electrolyte during a first stage of a two stage discharge process, and selecting the quantity of sulphur in the depolarizer and the volume of electrolyte in a way that after the first stage discharge of the cathode, the concentration of the soluble polysulphides in the electrolyte is at least seventy percent (70%) of a saturation concentration of the polysulphides in the electrolyte.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of connecting a lithium electrode to a contact lead in a rechargeable battery. The electrode comprises a sheet or foil of lithium or lithium alloy with a tab protruding from an edge of the sheet or foil. The contact lead comprises an electrically conductive lead with an end portion made of a second metal that does not alloy with lithium and has a plurality of through holes. The end portion of the contact lead and the tab of the electrode are positioned so that there is substantial overlap between the end portion and the tab. The metal of the tab is then caused, for example by pressing and welding, to penetrate through the through holes of the end portion so as to join the electrode to the contact lead. A combination electrode/contact lead assembly made by this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of discharging a chemical source of electric energy in two stages. The chemical source of electric energy comprises a positive electrode (cathode) including sulphur or sulphur-based organic compounds, sulphur-based polymeric compounds or sulphur-based inorganic compounds as a depolarizer, a negative electrode (anode) made of metallic lithium or lithium-containing alloys, and an electrolyte comprising a solution of at least one salt in at least one aprotic solvent. The method comprises the steps of configuring the chemical source of electric energy to generate soluble polysulphides in the electrolyte during a first stage of a two stage discharge process, and selecting the quantity of sulphur in the depolariser and the volume of electrolyte in a way that after the first stage discharge of the cathode, the concentration of the soluble polysulphides in the electrolyte is at least seventy percent (70%) of a saturation concentration of the polysulphides in the electrolyte.