Abstract: A method for fabricating an anode for a lithium ion battery cell is described and includes forming a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on a raw anode prior to assembly into a battery cell by applying a first SEI-generating electrolyte to the raw anode to form a first intermediate anode, applying a second SEI-generating electrolyte to the first intermediate anode to form a second intermediate anode, and applying a third SEI-generating electrolyte to the second intermediate anode to form a cell anode, wherein the cell anode includes the raw anode having the SEI layer. Thus, a cell anode is formed by sequentially applying SEI-generating electrolytes to a raw anode to form the cell anode with an SEI layer, and a lithium ion battery cell is formed by assembling the cell anode into a cell pack, with a cathode, and a separator, and adding a cell electrolyte prior to sealing.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include degas equipment and degassing process schemes for providing high throughput extraction of battery cell formation gas. An exemplary method can include loading a battery cell in a sampling chamber of a degas station and creating an opening in the battery cell to release formation gas. A first portion of the formation gas can be routed to a collection chamber of the degas station while the formation gas is prevented from venting. After routing the first portion of the formation gas to the collection chamber, a second portion of the formation gas can be vented until degassing is complete. The first portion of the formation gas can be diluted with a dilution fluid and the diluted first portion of the formation gas can be routed to a cell quality control gas manifold configured to measure battery cell formation gas compositions.

Abstract: A method of analyzing the quality of a battery cell includes performing a high-throughput quality check on the battery cell with a quality control system, assessing a quality score to the battery cell, with quality score identifying the battery cell as low-quality or high-quality, and performing a comprehensive quality check on the battery cell if identified as low-quality. The method further includes assessing an enhanced quality score to the battery cell superseding the quality score of the quality control system identifying the battery cell as confirmed low-quality or confirmed high-quality and providing revised production instructions for manufacturing successive battery cells if confirmed low-quality.

Abstract: A device for simulating a battery condition includes a plurality of electrically conductive plates, the plurality of electrically conductive plates including a set of opposing plates having a first plate and a second plate. The device also includes an electrically conductive material extending between the first plate and the second plate, the electrically conductive material in electrical contact with the first plate and the second plate and defining at least part of an electrical path from the first plate to the second plate, the electrically conductive material having a resistance selected to simulate the battery condition in response to activating the device.

Abstract: A system for testing a battery cell includes a test fixture configured to enclose the battery cell, a battery cycler configured to alternately charge and discharge the battery cell, an antenna mounted on a surface of the test fixture, the antenna configured to detect an electromagnetic signature of the battery cell and generate a signal indicative of the electromagnetic signature, and a detection module configured to receive the signal and detect characteristics of the battery cell based on the signal.

Abstract: A system for testing a battery cell includes a test fixture configured to enclose the battery cell, a battery cycler configured to alternately charge and discharge the battery cell, an antenna mounted on a surface of the test fixture, the antenna configured to detect an electromagnetic signature of the battery cell and generate a signal indicative of the electromagnetic signature, and a detection module configured to receive the signal and detect characteristics of the battery cell based on the signal.

Abstract: A quality control system analyzes the quality of a battery cell, with the battery cell defining a gas pouch configured to expand from a deflated configuration to an inflated configuration when filled with a gas formed during a cell formation process. The system comprises a computational system comprising a processor and a memory and a measurement instrument in electronic communication with the computational system. The measurement instrument is arranged to measure a distance defined by the gas pouch and transmit a signal to the computational system corresponding to the distance. The computational system is arranged to analyze the distance with the processor and determine a volumetric measurement of the gas within the gas pouch and compare the volumetric measurement to a threshold in the memory to assess a quality score for the battery cell. A corresponding method analyzes the quality of the battery cell with the quality control system.

Abstract: A method of analyzing the quality of a battery cell includes performing a high-throughput quality check on the battery cell with a quality control system, assessing a quality score to the battery cell, with quality score identifying the battery cell as low-quality or high-quality, and performing a comprehensive quality check on the battery cell if identified as low-quality. The method further includes assessing an enhanced quality score to the battery cell superseding the quality score of the quality control system identifying the battery cell as confirmed low-quality or confirmed high-quality and providing revised production instructions for manufacturing successive battery cells if confirmed low-quality.

Abstract: A quality control system analyzes the quality of a battery cell, with the battery cell defining a gas pouch configured to be filled with a gas. The quality control system includes a computational system including a processor and a memory, a manifold defining a passageway extending between an inlet port for receiving the gas and an outlet port, and at least one sensor in electronic communication with the computational system. The sensor is arranged to measure a physical property of the gas and transmit a signal to the computational system corresponding to the physical property of the gas. The computational system analyzes the physical property of the gas, accesses a threshold value corresponding to the physical property, compares the physical property to the threshold value, and assess a quality score for the battery cell. A corresponding method analyzes the quality of the battery cell with the quality control system.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an anode for a lithium ion battery cell is described and includes forming a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on a raw anode prior to assembly into a battery cell by applying a first SEI-generating electrolyte to the raw anode to form a first intermediate anode, applying a second SEI-generating electrolyte to the first intermediate anode to form a second intermediate anode, and applying a third SEI-generating electrolyte to the second intermediate anode to form a cell anode, wherein the cell anode includes the raw anode having the SEI layer. Thus, a cell anode is formed by sequentially applying SEI-generating electrolytes to a raw anode to form the cell anode with an SEI layer, and a lithium ion battery cell is formed by assembling the cell anode into a cell pack, with a cathode, and a separator, and adding a cell electrolyte prior to sealing.

Abstract: A pressure-based latching switch includes a shuttle valve, a first valve and a second valve. The shuttle valve may switch a fuel through one of a first port and a second port in response to a greater pressure of the fuel at the ports. The first valve may switch a fuel to the first port while a second pressure of the fuel at the second port is less than a second threshold pressure. The second valve may switch the fuel to the second port while a first pressure of the fuel at the first port is less than a first threshold pressure. The pressure-based latching switch may change the fuel supplied to the fuel cell system automatically from a first fuel tank to a second fuel tank in response to the first pressure of the fuel falling below the first threshold pressure.

Abstract: A pressure-based latching switch includes a shuttle valve, a first valve and a second valve. The shuttle valve may switch a fuel through one of a first port and a second port in response to a greater pressure of the fuel at the ports. The first valve may switch a fuel to the first port while a second pressure of the fuel at the second port is less than a second threshold pressure. The second valve may switch the fuel to the second port while a first pressure of the fuel at the first port is less than a first threshold pressure. The pressure-based latching switch may change the fuel supplied to the fuel cell system automatically from a first fuel tank to a second fuel tank in response to the first pressure of the fuel falling below the first threshold pressure.

Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system for an internal combustion engine includes a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device, an injection system disposed to inject reductant into the exhaust pipe upstream of the SCR device. A single ammonia sensor is disposed to monitor an exhaust gas feedstream downstream of the SCR device. A controller is in communication with the single ammonia sensor and the internal combustion engine and operatively is connected to the injection system. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to monitor, via the single ammonia sensor, a magnitude of ammonia in the exhaust gas feedstream downstream of the SCR device and determine NOx efficiency of the SCR device based upon the magnitude of ammonia in the exhaust gas feedstream downstream of the SCR device. A fault is detected in the SCR device based upon the NOx efficiency.

Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system for an internal combustion engine includes a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device, an injection system disposed to inject reductant into the exhaust pipe upstream of the SCR device. A single ammonia sensor is disposed to monitor an exhaust gas feedstream downstream of the SCR device. A controller is in communication with the single ammonia sensor and the internal combustion engine and operatively is connected to the injection system. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to monitor, via the single ammonia sensor, a magnitude of ammonia in the exhaust gas feedstream downstream of the SCR device and determine NOx efficiency of the SCR device based upon the magnitude of ammonia in the exhaust gas feedstream downstream of the SCR device. A fault is detected in the SCR device based upon the NOx efficiency.

Abstract: A method of managing a selective catalytic reduction system of a motor vehicle. During a first predetermined time period, a plurality of functionality checks of the sensor are performed for identifying if the sensor is able to provide a reliable measurement of the ammonia concentration. During the same first predetermined time period, a plurality of values of the ammonia concentration in the diesel exhaust fluid is measured by the sensor. A maintenance inducement strategy of the selective catalytic reduction system is activated if each of the values of the ammonia concentration measured during the first predetermined time period is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, and if each of the functionality checks of the sensor performed during the same first predetermined time period identifies that the sensor is able to provide a reliable measurement of the ammonia concentration.

Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment device includes a housing having a wall. The wall of the housing defines an interior chamber. A substrate is supported by the housing within the interior chamber of the housing. The substrate extends along a longitudinal axis. The substrate includes a flow through structure that allows the flow of exhaust gas to flow through the substrate. The substrate includes a catalytic composition disposed thereon for reacting with the flow of exhaust gas. The substrate includes a cavity, extending along a cavity axis, which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the substrate. A sensor is attached to the housing. The sensor includes a probe that at least partially extends into the cavity of the substrate, for sensing a gaseous component in the flow of exhaust gas. The cavity mixes the flow of exhaust gas and directs the exhaust gas toward the probe of the sensor.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the reductant delivery performance of a selective catalytic reduction component of a vehicle exhaust system, includes operating a diesel exhaust fluid pump until a reductant delivery performance pressure setpoint is reached. Calculating an average pump duty cycle and commanding the calculated pump duty cycle to be used in the open loop control phase. Calculating an initial average pressure. Injecting a controlled diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). Calculating a final average pressure. Calculating a pressure drop ?P and determining if the calculated pressure drop ?P is less than an expected pressure drop calculated as a function of the average pump duty cycle.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the reductant delivery performance of a selective catalytic reduction component of a vehicle exhaust system, includes operating a diesel exhaust fluid pump until a reductant delivery performance pressure setpoint is reached. Calculating an average pump duty cycle and commanding the calculated pump duty cycle to be used in the open loop control phase. Calculating an initial average pressure. Injecting a controlled diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). Calculating a final average pressure. Calculating a pressure drop ?P and determining if the calculated pressure drop ?P is less than an expected pressure drop calculated as a function of the average pump duty cycle.

Abstract: A method for controlling an exhaust after-treatment system connected to a diesel engine via a gas passage and having a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and a “diesel-exhaust-fluid” (DEF) injector arranged downstream of the DOC and upstream of a selective catalytic reduction catalyst (SCR) includes detecting a flow of exhaust gas emitted by the engine into the gas passage. The method also includes detecting a level of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the exhaust gas downstream of the SCR. The method additionally includes activating the DEF injector for a period of time to reduce the level of NOx to a predetermined NOx value. Furthermore, the method includes regulating an injection of fuel upstream of the DOC to clean the DEF injector via a stream of superheated exhaust gas if the period of time used to reduce the level of NOx to the predetermined NOx value is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A method for controlling an exhaust after-treatment system connected to a diesel engine via a gas passage and having a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and a “diesel-exhaust-fluid” (DEF) injector arranged downstream of the DOC and upstream of a selective catalytic reduction catalyst (SCR) includes detecting a flow of exhaust gas emitted by the engine into the gas passage. The method also includes detecting a level of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the exhaust gas downstream of the SCR. The method additionally includes activating the DEF injector for a period of time to reduce the level of NOx to a predetermined NOx value. Furthermore, the method includes regulating an injection of fuel upstream of the DOC to clean the DEF injector via a stream of superheated exhaust gas if the period of time used to reduce the level of NOx to the predetermined NOx value is greater than a predetermined threshold value.