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6 Important Parameters for the Design-In of Lithium Polymer Batteries

LiPO-Battery

A standardized battery fits into any compatible compartment – after all, that’s why standards are defined. Depending on the application, however, button cells and cylindrical batteries reach their limits.

LiPo-battery-3.6V

A Smartwatch, for example, has a significantly higher energy consumption than an ordinary wristwatch. A simple button cell is therefore far from sufficient to cover the device’s power requirements. However, the case of the watch is far too small for a powerful lithium-ion battery. Only a lithium polymer battery is capable of meeting the specific requirements of a Smartwatch.

 

Flexible product design

Lithium polymer technology is a match to lithium ion batteries in terms of performance, but is much more flexible in terms of design and size. The reason for this is the absence of a solid metal housing, as is common with lithium-ion batteries. Instead, the cells are merely enclosed by a thin layer of plastic-laminated aluminum foil. Thanks to the sandwich-like structure of the battery cells, even curved or ultra-flat designs with a thickness of less than one millimeter are conceivable.

 

For product developers and designers, the great flexibility of Lithium-Polymer batteries is a blessing. Conversely, the new design freedom can also lead to uncertainty. It is therefore advisable to take battery developers such as Jauch Quartz GmbH on board at an early stage for new developments.

 

The following six parameters must be defined at an early stage if design-in is to be successful.

 

1) Voltage

The average single cell voltage for lithium polymer cells is 3.6 volts as standard. The switch-off voltage is 3.0 volts and the maximum charging voltage is 4.2 volts. If a higher voltage is required, several cells can be connected in series. A parallel connection of several cells also makes it possible to increase the capacity.

 

2) Currents

In addition to the voltage, the current requirement of the application must also be defined. The average continuous currents must be specified as well as the maximum pulse currents and pulse lengths. The inrush currents and their lengths must also be taken into account.

 

3) Temperature

In connection with the current power load profiles of the application, the temperatures at which they are used must also be taken into consideration. By default, lithium polymer cells are designed for a temperature range between -20 and 60 degrees Celsius. Temperatures between 0 and 45 degrees Celsius should prevail when charging the cells.

 

Special cells are available for use under extreme temperature conditions above or below this range.

 

4) Dimensions of the Battery Compartment

Of course, the dimensions of the battery compartment must also be defined in advance. It is important to remember that lithium polymer cells expand over time. This “swelling” phenomenon is responsible for the cells to become up to 10% thicker over time. Accordingly, the battery compartment should be generously dimensioned. In addition, sharp edges or the like in the immediate vicinity of the battery compartment must be avoided at all costs so that the battery is not damaged.

 

5) Capacity

The capacity of a battery indicates the amount of electrical charge that a battery can store or release. Capacity is determined by voltage, current consumption, temperature and the available space in the battery compartment.

 

6) Safety

To protect lithium polymer batteries from overcharging, deep discharge or short circuits, they are equipped with individually programmable protection electronics. In order to optimally adapt this so-called “battery management system” to the respective application, individual switch-off values for the system are defined.

 

In addition, batteries must meet certain norms and safety standards to ensure that the applications are approved. Strict regulations apply here – understandably – especially in the field of medical technology.

 

Based on these six parameters, Jauch’s battery experts will find the right lithium polymer battery solution for every application. In order to guarantee optimum results, however, contact should be made as early as possible in the design-in phase. Otherwise, the desired battery solution may not be available or feasible.

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Powerful and Flexible: The Lithium Polymer Battery

Lipo Battery

One thing is for sure: lithium battery technology is currently leading the way in the field of mobile power supply. Just look in your pocket: There is no smartphone that is not powered by a lithium polymer battery. Since the Swedish mobile phone provider Ericsson launched the first mobile phone with a lithium polymer battery in 1999, the technology has become an indispensable part of the industry. The reasons are manyfold.

 

Just like lithium ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries have a very high energy density compared to other cell chemistries and are therefore particularly powerful. At the same time, they are extremely durable thanks to the low self-discharge of the battery cells.

 

Same Performance, Higher Flexibility

The flexibility of their design makes lithium polymer batteries particularly attractive. While lithium ion cells always have a sturdy metal housing, lithium polymer cells are only enclosed in a thin layer of plastic-laminated aluminium foil. In addition, the sandwich like structure of the lithium polymer cells enables significantly flatter battery designs than what is possible with lithium-ion batteries. Thanks to these two factors, lithium polymer batteries are available in almost every imaginable size. Even curved designs, for example for fitness bracelets or smartwatches, as well as ultra-thin batteries with a thickness of less than one millimeter are feasible.

 

Due to their flexibility and performance, lithium polymer batteries are in demand not only in mobile communications and consumer applications, but also in other industries such as medical technology. At the same time, however, the high voltage and the absence of a protective metal housing pose new challenges.

 

Safe Handling of Lithium Polymer Batteries

First, it must be considered that the cells of a lithium polymer battery expand while charging. If the battery is discharged, the cell reduces its thickness. This phenomenon, known as “swelling”, can cause lithium polymer cells to expand by up to ten percent of their original thickness over several cycles. Manufacturers of battery powered products should take this into account and calculate the size of the battery compartment accordingly. In addition, no sharp edged components should be placed in the immediate vicinity of the battery compartment, as they could potentially damage the battery.

 

Finally, lithium polymer cells require protective electronics for safe operation. This “Protection Circuit Module” (PCM) interrupts the circuit in critical operating conditions such as overcharging, short circuit or deep discharge.

 

As you can see: lithium polymer batteries are as powerful as they are demanding. For this reason, Jauch supports its customers throughout the entire project phase: from planning to developing the right battery pack and programming the right protective electronics. An overview of the entire Jauch portfolio of lithium polymer batteries can be found here.

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How lipo battery’s performance affected by temperature?

How lipo battery’s performance affected by temperature?

Himax lipo battery

I think everyone here must have the similar experience with me, your smartphone will consume very fast, your phone will dead for only half a day. In fact, the lithium-ion polymer batteries are the vast majority used of smartphones, and a variety of factors will affect the performance of the lipo battery. These factors are similar to RC devices such as our drones and RC car. Especially for temperature factors, so let’s talk about how temperature affects the performance of the battery and why it affects it.

Does temperature affect lipo battery’s performance?

Battery in high temperature or low-temperature environment affect the performance of the battery? Let’s first look at the following chart:

I think everyone here must have the similar experience with me, your smartphone will consume very fast, your phone will dead for only half a day. In fact, the lithium-ion polymer batteries are the vast majority used of smartphones, and a variety of factors will affect the performance of the lipo battery. These factors are similar to RC devices such as our drones and RC car. Especially for temperature factors, so let’s talk about how temperature affects the performance of the battery and why it affects it.

Does temperature affect lipo battery’s performance?

Battery in high temperature or low-temperature environment affect the performance of the battery? Let’s first look at the following chart:

We can see that during the battery used, the higher electric current, faster voltage decay speed, and overload of the high current is more likely causing the battery to be over-discharged and damaged (safety level reduced, life decay is too fast). Therefore, the ambient temperature has a great influence on the performance of the battery, and the lower the temperature, the lower the discharge platform and efficiency.

Low temperature harm battery capacity

The optimal level of operating temperature for lithium batteries is 0 to 35℃. The low-temperature environment will reduce the activity of lithium ions, the lipo battery discharge capacity will be weak, and the use time will be shortened. If the lithium battery using in a low-temperature environment for a short period of time, the damage is only temporary and does not damage the battery capacity. The performance will recover when reinforcing the temperature.

However, if the battery is charged and discharged in a low-temperature environment for a long time, metal lithium will be separated out on the surface of the “battery anode”. This process is irreversible and permanently damage to the battery capacity. Like sometimes, at low temperatures, our smartphone will automatically shut down. It is for the purpose of protecting the battery, on the other side, it is also caused by the unqualified and aging of the self-battery.

So, how to use batteries in an extreme environment?

Recommendations in Summer, or High temperature environment:

– Charging

The charging temperature range from 5 to 45°C;

The upper limit voltage of charging shall not exceed 4.22V. The temperature at the period of charging shall not exceed 45 °C;

Charging needs to be charged at room temperature (≤35 °C), used within 48 hours after charging, if not used, timely discharge to the storage voltage (3.8-3.9V);

The battery cannot be charged immediately after high-temperature discharge or high temperature, and the battery surface temperature can be charged below 40 °C.

Must use the manufacturer’s matching charger for charging, can not illegally use other equipment to carry out large current on the battery (≥1.5C)

The upper limit voltage of charging shall not exceed 4.22V. The temperature during charging shall not exceed 45 °C.

– Discharge

The temperature range during discharge is within 45 ° C;

The discharge current shall not exceed the maximum current identified in the specification;

The lower limit alarm voltage of discharge shall not be lower than 3.6V, the rebound voltage shall not be lower than 3.65V, and the surface temperature of the battery after high current discharge shall not exceed 70°C;

The battery should not be exposed to the sun before and after discharge. The surface temperature of the battery before discharge should not exceed 45 °C.

Recommendations in Winter, or Low temperature environment:

– Charging

Charging should be carried out at room temperature (5 ° C or above, 20 ° C is best), such as indoors, cars, etc., and can not be charged in high ≥ 40 °C environment;

Retrieving the battery from the outside cannot be charged immediately, and then charging the battery after the surface temperature of the battery reaches the room temperature environment;

must use the manufacturer’s matching charger for charging, can not illegally use other equipment to carry out large current on the battery (≥1.5C)

– Discharge

After discharge, the battery should be effectively insulated (such as using a thermos cup, incubator, etc.) to ensure that the temperature of the battery body is kept above 10 °C, 20 °C is best.

After the battery is loaded into the aircraft, it is necessary to check the remaining battery power from the APP, and whether the voltage information is abnormal;

When the battery temperature does not reach 20 °C or above, it is not suitable for large maneuvering.

Compared with the room temperature (about 20 °C), the battery life of the battery will be significantly shortened in the low-temperature environment. After the low battery alarm, the drone should be returned immediately for charging.

Use high temperature, Low-temperature resistant lithium batteries

In order to ensure the life and safety of the lithium battery, the protection management system (BMS system) is adopted in the battery pack of the high-temperature lithium battery to prevent overcharging, over-discharging, high-temperature operation, low-temperature charging, or short circuit, and even safety problem. Such as Himax fast-charge battery, the temperature will rise steadily during the fast charging process. The surface temperature of the fast charge battery must not exceed 65 degrees Celsius. During the fast charging process, the temperature will rise stably. The surface temperature of the battery will not exceed 65 degrees Celsius.

Other battery option: LiFePO4 Battery

In other application areas, like e-bike, camping portable power station, usually choose Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery (LiFePO4 Battery), also called LFP battery. It is a type of rechargeable battery. LiFePO4 technologies offer high-powered cell performance compatible with lots of lithium-ion application to deliver more power and extend life, also has these six advantages:

Good high-temperature resistance.

No memory effect

Higher-capacity compare with same size lead acid battery

Longer cycle life than other lithium-ion batteries

Good safety characteristics and Eco-friendly

Ideal drop-in replacement for lead-acid batteries

If you have more opinions and ideas, please feel free to comment below. If you want to know more, you can keep following our website.

 

 

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Which battery is better polymer or lithium?

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Lithium Ion vs. Lithium Polymer Batteries – Which Is Better?

Lithium-ion or lithium-polymer? The (what seems like) endless debate on batteries in modern consumer electronics. Today, we’re going to talk about the differences between these battery types. While we may not be able to settle the score once and for all on which is better. we hope to give you the information you need to make the best possible choice!

What’s the Difference?
A lithium-ion battery is a rechargeable battery format that first grew in popularity thanks to their adoption by major electronics companies in the early 1990s. They are essentially a group of very rigid electricity generating compartments, which consists of three pieces: a positive electrode; a negative electrode; and an electrolyte, or liquid chemical compound between them. Most lithium-ion batteries, unlike more traditional ones, also include an electronic controller, which regulates power and discharge flows so your battery doesn’t overheat or explode.

The most significant difference between lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries is the chemical electrolyte between their positive and negative electrodes. In Li-Po batteries it isn’t a liquid. Instead, Li-Po technology uses one of three forms: a dry solid, which was largely phased out during the prototype years of lithium polymer batteries; a porous chemical compound; or, a gel-like electrolyte. The most popular among these is the last one, which is the type of battery you’ll find in newer laptop computers and electric cars. The catch is that plenty of companies are not actually selling you a true Li-Po battery, instead it’s a lithium-ion polymer battery, or a Li-ion in a more flexible casing.

Is One Better than the Other?
Both lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries have their pros and cons. Typically, the advantages of a lithium-ion is their high power density, lack of what’s called the memory effect (when batteries become harder to charge over time), and their significantly lower cost than lithium-polymer. In the words of Wired, “Lithium-ion batteries are incredibly efficient. They stuff freakish amounts of energy in a tiny package.” But, as anyone might have seen with the recent saga of a certain cellphone brand being banned from flights, lithium-ion batteries are inherently unstable, suffer from aging, and are potentially dangerous. If the barrier that separates the positive and negative electrode is ever breached, the chemical reaction can cause combustion (fire). As Li-ion batteries have become more popular in consumer electronics, businesses have tried to lower costs by cutting corners. While quality batteries are perfectly safe, you should always be careful when buying no-name brands.

Lithium-polymer batteries, on the other hand, are generally robust and flexible, especially when it comes to the size and shape of their build. They are also lightweight, have an extremely low profile, and have a lower chance of suffering from leaking electrolyte. But lithium-polymer batteries aren’t perfect either: they are significantly more costly to manufacture, and they do not they have the same energy density (amount of power that can be stored) nor lifespan as a lithium-ion.