Grid Storage Battery Testing
Similar to electric vehicles (EVs), the massive energy storage systems required for grid-scale applications need to operate for an extended 10+ years of life and withstand many thousands of cycles. Arbin provides battery test equipment for cells, strings/modules, and packs of all sizes to meet the demands of stationary storage applications ranging up to 1MW in power.
Arbin Industrie Highlights
- Battery test equipment for energy storage applications
- Discharge performance, endurance cycling, energy efficiency metrics, and more
- State-of-the-art regenerative circuitry designed for high-voltage/high-power applications
- Multiple testing solutions to provide thermal safety while testing
Energy Storage Systems and the Power Grid
Reliable energy storage systems benefit the power grid by supplementing peak capacity requirements and the use of micro-grids or distributed energy storage. Grid storage system operators must ensure that the grid has enough energy to meet demand during peak times. A battery energy storage system (BESS) that collects energy and releases it as needed can serve as a backup during peak usage. This eliminates the need to increase overall energy generation capacity to accommodate extreme demand.
Distributed energy storage allows smaller, more efficient power distribution networks at a local scale using microgrids. These microgrids can function autonomously or as part of a larger power grid system. They require sources of energy generation (typically renewables like solar and wind) and large battery packs to store the energy. Distributed energy storage systems:
- Provide support for renewable energy generation
- Allow frequency regulation and improve power quality
- Load shifting so power can be stored when costs are low and discharged when costs are higher
- Provide backup power during outages.
Read more from NREL.
Battery Testing for Grid Storage Applications
Batteries are the critical component in energy storage systems that determine performance under specific operating conditions. It is important for batteries to provide enough energy for the load, temperature conditions, and duration they will experience during their useful life. Battery manufacturers provide general specifications for their cell or module performance, but these need to be evaluated in combination with application-specific parameters.
Typical performance indicators will include discharge performance under various conditions, peak discharge current, internal resistance, endurance cycling, energy efficiency metrics, and more. These metrics will serve as a baseline performance comparison for different types of batteries being evaluated for a grid storage system.
Regenerative (Back-to-Grid) Testing
Arbin users state-of-the-art regenerative circuitry for all high-voltage/high-power applications. Energy storage systems for grid-scale applications commonly need to be tested at 100s of kW. Arbin’s regenerative “RBT” test equipment provides a range of 2.5kW to 1MW of power. High-efficiency circuitry and power density minimize the cost of operation compared to similar equipment.
- Power Factor > 0.99
- Regenerative Efficiency > 92%
The fully integrated, turn-key system from Arbin provides better performance and safer operation compared to rack-mounted e-load + power supply solutions.
- Control Accuracy < 0.05$ (industry-leading)
- Multiple Current Ranges per channel
- Current Rise Time < 10ms
- Synchronized data logging at 10ms
- Optional auxiliary inputs are fully customizable by the user and can be flexibly mapped with main I/V channels in any configuration. All data is integrated into a single Arbin database.
Thermal Safety and Arbin’s Battery Test Equipment
Thermal safety is a key factor that can affect battery stability and safety. Grid storage systems are often located outdoors and are thus exposed to the elements and changes in weather and ambient temperature. Arbin has created an innovative new temperature chamber for testing individual cells known as the “MZTC” Multi-Chamber.
Diese zellenisolierende Batterietestkammer isoliert jede Zelle oder jedes Zellenpaar (je nach Zellengröße und Stromstärke), um eine sicherere Testumgebung zu schaffen und eine höhere Temperaturstabilität zu gewährleisten. Jede der 8 Minikammern bietet einen eigenen Temperatursollwert und ist thermisch von den anderen isoliert, um ein thermisches Durchgehen oder kaskadierende Fehler zu verhindern. Die MZTC-Batterieprüfkammer von Arbin vereinfacht auch den Anschluss und die Verbindung mit den Zellen.
Arbin also has the option to interface with a variety of third-party temperature chambers from other manufacturers. The software is compatible with most major chamber controller models around the world, so the Arbin tester can automatically turn the chamber on and off, and adjust the temperature during the test.
Grid energy storage systems will become more and more widely adopted when the safety of the system can be assured. Battery test equipment must help determine the parameters within which batteries can operate safely while also maintaining a safe test environment.
Arbin MZTC Batterie-Testkammer
Grid Storage Testing Safety with Arbin Instruments
Arbin-Systeme verfügen über mehrere Ebenen und redundante Sicherheitsfunktionen, um eine ausfallsichere Testumgebung zu gewährleisten. Mit den Testlösungen von Arbin haben Sie eine präzise Kontrolle über die Sicherheitsgrenzen für einen gesamten Test, bestimmte Testschritte und mehrere KI-gesteuerte Sicherheitsüberwachungsgrenzen, die von den Arbin-Fachingenieuren entwickelt wurden. Arbin verwendet außerdem ein exklusives verteiltes Hochleistungs-Steuernetzwerk, das eine größere Anzahl von hocheffizienten Modulen verwaltet, so dass diese länger halten und einfacher zu warten sind.
Der Arbin-Vorteil bei der Prüfung von Elektrofahrzeugbatterien
Wir bei Arbin wissen um die wichtige Rolle, die die Energiespeicherung in unserem täglichen Leben spielt - und um ihre Bedeutung für unsere Zukunft. Deshalb arbeiten wir hart daran, den besten Service und die beste Prüfausrüstung als Werkzeug für Forschung und Industrie anzubieten. Die hochmoderne Technologie von Arbin, die leistungsstarke und flexible Software, die Datenfunktionen, die Hilfsmittel und die Unterstützung sind alle Teil des Arbin-Vorteils. Erfahren Sie mehr über die benefits of Arbin Instruments’ solutions.
Grid Storage Battery Testing with Arbin
Learn more about Arbin’s test equipment and features for energy grid storage battery testing and start creating your complete Arbin battery testing system today.