Abstract: A communication device includes a battery, a communication module, a first charging circuit between the battery and the communication module, a fast charge signal, a second charging circuit between the battery and the communication module, and a control module configured to route power from the battery to the communication module via the second charging circuit in response to the fast charge signal being enabled and to route the power via the first charging circuit in response to the fast charge signal being disabled.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for detecting a hydrogen leak in a fuel cell system including initiating a shutdown process of a fuel cell stack in the fuel cell system by a controller, measuring a volume of hydrogen in a reservoir, pulsing a volume of hydrogen into the reservoir or pulsing hydrogen directly into the fuel cell stack if the volume of hydrogen is insufficient to sustain a voltage discharge process during the shutdown process, making the fuel cell system enter a discharge state by the controller, wherein hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel cell stack are consumed in an electrochemical reaction to discharge voltage in the fuel cell stack, measuring a rate of the voltage discharge by the controller, and detecting the hydrogen leak based on the rate of the voltage discharge or via negative pressure measurements made at the anode inlet.

Abstract: A method and system for dispersing stored energy in an energy storage system to delay or arrest propagation of thermal runaway and thermally-induced cascading failures. The system includes a plurality of battery sub-assemblies and DC-DC converters connected to a shared DC bus through which energy may be exchanged. The system may be interfaced to an AC power grid or DC power system through an additional power converter. The method of dispersing stored energy uses this system to charge and discharge sub-assemblies such that the system is less susceptible to propagation of thermal runaway. The method determines, based on awareness of current system state, battery types, and electrical and thermal structure, the sequence of charging and discharging actions to best inhibit thermal runaway while preserving the system's ability to perform subsequent energy redistribution.

Abstract: A battery module which includes: a battery stack formed by stacking a plurality of battery cells respectively including electrode tabs on each other; bus bar assemblies located on both sides of the battery stack, from which the electrode tabs are drawn, to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells to each other through the plurality of electrode tabs; and a sensing module assembly disposed on one side of the battery stack, from which the electrode tab is not drawn out, to electrically connect the bus bar assemblies on both sides of the battery stack.

Abstract: A cell management module for a power supply module including a plurality of power cells includes at least one cell-sensing circuit and a current measurement circuit connected to the at least one cell-sensing circuit. The at least one cell-sensing circuit includes a transformer having a first winding and a second winding inductively coupled to the first winding. A first sub-circuit of the cell-sensing circuit includes the first winding of the transformer and is operable to selectively pulse a first signal through the first winding. A second sub-circuit of the cell-sensing circuit includes the second winding of the transformer and one of the power cells of the power supply module. The current measurement circuit is connected to the first sub-circuit of the at least one cell-sensing circuit and infers a voltage of the power cell based on a measured current of the first signal.

Abstract: A connector has a conductive main body with contact portions to compress a plurality of electrode leads of battery cells. The connector has two push members each with a level surface and an inclined surface on opposing sides of each push member, such that each push member is movable and spaced between the contact portions. and compress the plurality of electrode leads with a corresponding contact portion. The connector has a core member with a second inclined surface, such that the core member is movable in a parallel direction to the contact portion, is located between the two push members, and compresses the two push members against the conductive main body. The connector has a movement mechanism to move the core member in the parallel direction and compress the plurality of electrode leads between the conductive main body and the push members. A battery module may contain the connector.

Abstract: A vehicle includes first and second fuel-cell stacks, a first coolant circuit having conduit arranged to circulate coolant through the first fuel-cell stack, a second coolant circuit having conduit arranged to circulate coolant through the second fuel-cell stack, a heater in fluid communication with at least the first coolant circuit, and an isolation valve assembly configured to proportion a flow of coolant between the first and second coolant circuits. The isolation valve assembly includes valving. The valving has an isolation position in which the first and second circuits are isolated. The valving also has at least one mixing position in which the first and second circuits are in fluid communication.

Abstract: Pre-lithiation methods using lithium vanadium fluorophosphate (e.g., LiVPO4F and its derivatives) (“LVPF”) as a cathode active material in a lithium-ion secondary battery. The pre-lithiation methods include compensating for an expected loss of active lithium by selecting LVPF having a specific pre-lithiated chemistry (or a blend of LVPF selected to have a specific pre-lithiated chemistry) and selecting a total amount of the pre-lithiated LVPF. The pre-lithiation methods may include initially charging the lithium-ion secondary battery at the lower of the two charge/discharge plateaus of LVPF to release active lithium.

Abstract: To provide a fuel cell system configured to appropriately measure the AC impedance of a fuel cell. A fuel cell system wherein the controller controls ON and OFF of the switches of n phases; wherein the controller operates the switches of the n phases at different phases, and the controller operates the switches of the n phases at the same duty ratio; wherein the controller operates the switches of the n phases at different duty ratios, when the controller determines that a specific condition is met; and wherein the controller measures the AC impedance of the fuel cell from the current waveform and voltage waveform of the fuel cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composite multilayer carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction catalyst, comprising a catalyst layer comprising at least one metal compound, the catalyst layer having opposed first and second sides; a hydrophobic gas-diffusion layer provided on the first side of the catalyst layer; a current collection structure provided on the second side of the catalyst layer. The metal is preferably copper. The invention also relates to a method for electrochemical production of a hydrocarbon product, such as ethylene, using said catalyst.

Abstract: Systems and methods for real-time continuous monitoring of fuel cell membrane degradation are provided. At least one microsensor can be used as an inline sensor integrated at the cathode exhaust and/or the anode exhaust of a fuel cell, such as a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)). The microsensor can monitor the PEMFC degradation status by sensing the emission of fluoride.

Abstract: A battery arrangement for a motor vehicle, with a battery which has a battery housing and a plurality of battery cells. The battery cells are arranged in the battery housing. A protective plate is arranged at least on one side of the battery. A damage detection apparatus has a damage indicator. The damage indicator is arranged on the protective plate. The damage indicator is embedded into the protective plate.

Abstract: A recovery method for a secondary battery having a structure in which positive electrodes and negative electrodes are laminated. The recovery method includes a first compression for compressing at least a part of the secondary battery; a second compression for compressing the secondary battery by applying a load from an outside of the secondary battery when an amount of decrease in electrical resistance of the secondary battery by the first compression is greater than a predetermined value; and a recovery for charging the secondary battery, while the load that compresses the secondary battery is applied to the secondary battery, upon determining that the increase in electrical resistance due to the distortion of at least one of the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes occurs in the secondary battery.

Abstract: A safety mechanism of a rechargeable battery for light electric vehicles. The rechargeable battery may include a housing containing a battery management system and at least one battery cell, and a communication system communicatively coupled to the battery management system, to communicate information received from the battery management system to a device external to the rechargeable battery. The rechargeable battery may include a housing formed of a first clamshell member and a second clamshell member. The rechargeable battery may include a first protrusion portion extending from an interior surface of the first clamshell member and a second protrusion portion extending from the interior surface of the second clamshell member toward the first protrusion portion such that the first and second protrusion portions physically contact one another when a force is applied to an external surface of the housing.

Abstract: Flow batteries can include a first half-cell containing a first aqueous electrolyte solution. a second half-cell containing a second aqueous electrolyte solution, and a separator disposed between the first half-cell and the second half-cell. The first aqueous electrolyte solution contains a first redox-active material, and the second aqueous electrolyte solution contains a second redox-active material. At least one of the first redox-active material and the second redox-active material is a nitroxide compound or a salt thereof. Particular nitroxide compounds can include a doubly bonded oxygen contained in a ring bearing the nitroxide group, a doubly bonded oxygen appended to a ring bearing the nitroxide group, sulfate or phosphate groups appended to a ring bearing the nitroxide group, various heterocyclic rings bearing the nitroxide group, or acyclic nitroxide compounds.

Abstract: Improvements in the structural components and physical characteristics of lithium battery articles are provided. Standard lithium ion batteries, for example, are prone to certain phenomena related to short circuiting and have experienced high temperature occurrences and ultimate firing as a result. Structural concerns with battery components have been found to contribute to such problems. Improvements provided herein include the utilization of thin metallized current collectors (aluminum and/or copper, as examples), high shrinkage rate materials, materials that become nonconductive upon exposure to high temperatures, and combinations thereof. Such improvements accord the ability to withstand certain imperfections (dendrites, unexpected electrical surges, etc.) within the target lithium battery through provision of ostensibly an internal fuse within the subject lithium batteries themselves that prevents undesirable high temperature results from short circuits.

Abstract: A lithium battery cell with an internal fuse component and including needed tabs which allow for conductance from the internal portion thereof externally to power a subject device is provided. Disclosed herein are tabs that exhibit sufficient safety levels in combination with the internal fuse characteristics noted above while simultaneously displaying pull strength to remain in place during utilization as well as complete coverage with the thin film metallized current collectors for such an electrical conductivity result. Such tabs are further provided with effective welds for the necessary contacts and at levels that exhibit surprising levels of amperage and temperature resistance to achieve the basic internal fuse result with the aforementioned sufficient conductance to an external device. With such a tab lead component and welded structure, a further improvement within the lithium battery art is provided the industry.

Abstract: A personal tactical system including a load-bearing garment, a pouch with one or more batteries enclosed in the pouch, at least one power distribution and data hub, and at least one camera. The camera is incorporated into or removably attachable to the load-bearing garment, the pouch is removably attachable to the load-bearing garment and the one or more batteries are operable to supply power to the at least one power distribution and data hub. The at least one power distribution and data hub is operable to supply power to at least one peripheral device. A plurality of personal tactical systems is operable to form an ad hoc network to share images and other information for determining object direction, location, and movement.

Abstract: A structural component of a primary structure for a vehicle, the structural component including a fiber composite laminate with a plurality of fiber composite sublayers. The plurality of fiber composite sublayers includes an electric energy store which is configured as a multilayer electrochemical fiber composite battery to store electric energy in a rechargeable manner; and an electrothermal temperature regulation sublayer which is configured to supply thermal energy to the electric energy store and conducting thermal energy away from the electric energy store as required to regulate a temperature. A control device, which is connected to the electric energy store and the electrothermal temperature regulation sublayer, is configured to control a temperature regulation of the electric energy store by means of the electrothermal temperature regulation sublayer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the atmosphere of a multizone calcination (firing) furnace for production of high-quality nickel-rich cathode material for lithium-ion and solid-state batteries. A high-quality oxygen-rich atmosphere is maintained to ensure the quality of the cathode material. An atmosphere control system continuously measures and analyzes the composition of the calcination furnace atmosphere in different zones and adjusts the flowrate of oxygen-rich atmosphere into the furnace to optimize the calcination process.