Laboratories

Cell Test

Responsible researcher: Dr. Martin Frankenberger

Room: TZE - TM 005 / (incl. TM 004)

In the cell test laboratory single cells are examined. On cell level the following characterizations are performed:

  • Charge and discharge behavior at different C-rates.
  • Verification of the specified performance data
  • Determination of the usable capacity
  • Internal resistance measurement Rac and Rdc
  • Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
  • Cyclic voltammetry
  • Cycle tests
  • Temperature behavior
  • Other measurements within operating conditions
  • Standard charging methods such as CCCV, energy controlled or custom profiles


Equipment:

  • Basytec CTS-LAB battery test system each 3 A / +/- 6 V, 96 channels
  • Basytec CTS Battery Test System each 5 A / 0 - 6 V, 32 channels
  • Basytec XCTS battery test system 50 A / 0 - 6 V, 60 channels
  • Astrol Potentiostat 17 mA / 10 V
  • Potentiostat/Galvanostat Metrohm Autolab PGSTAT204, 400 mA/ 20 V, 1 channel
  • Various electronic loads and power supplies
  • Temperature chamber BINDER MK for heat and cold tests between -40 °C and 180 °C, volume 40 l

Electrode production

Responsible researcher: Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Pettinger

Room: TZE - TM 001 / TM 002

The Electrode Production Laboratory is equipped to produce electrode and separator slurries for lithium-ion batteries with all common active materials. A wide range of mixing and dispersing methods with different energy inputs is available for mixing and dispersing solvent- and water-based slurries in the low to high viscosity range (30 to 35,000 mPas). Substrates are coated with slurries using an industrially designed coater. Knife casters and slurry nozzles in roll-to-roll mode with integrated drying tunnel are available as application units. The coater allows constant coating of anodes, cathodes and separators over many meters.

Equipment:

  •     Planetary Centrifugal Mixer Thinky ARE-250 C3
  •     Small disperser IKA Ultratorrax T18 basic
  •     Rotor/stator shear unit IKA Magic Lab, volume 0.1 to 1.5 l
  •     High-performance dissolver shear unit Getzmann, volume 0, 2 to 1 l
  •     Planetary mixer Netzsch PMH 1
  •     Kneader Inoue Trimix TX-0,5, volume 0,5 l
  •     Kneader Inoue Trimix TX-2, volume 2 l
  •     Rheometer Brookfield DV3T
  •     Coater KMS Technology Center TC-10 with separating device, holder for various casting tools, web edge control, wrapping device
  •     Explosion-proof vacuum drying oven, volume 60 l
  •     Glass furnace Büchi B585
  •     Vacuum packaging machine Henkelman Boxer 42 XL (with protective gas Ar 5.0)

Electrical workshop

Responsible researcher: M.Sc. Barbara Poisl

Room: TZE - TZ 007

Labs Lithium-ion storage, measurement adapter construction, simulation computer.

Equipment:

  • 5 simulation computers
  • Multimeter
  • Isolating transformer
  • Storage oscilloscope
  • Volume meter
  • Data logger
  • Electronic load
  • Div. voltage sources
  • Function generator
  • Thermal imaging camera
  • Tachometer
  • Soldering station

Cell production

Responsible researcher: Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Pettinger

Room: TZE - TM 009

In the cell manufacturing laboratory, industry-standard cells in pouch format from 30 mAh to 2 Ah can be manufactured by hand. A hand sample line for the production of lithium-ion cells as single or bicells is available. The assembly of the cell composite is done by free stacking, roll lamination or, if required, by Z-folding.

As part of the CompStor project, semi-automated sub-assembly stations were added for trimming and arrester welding, package sealing, electrolyte filling, degassing and finalization, as well as a database system for digitization.

Combined with the resources of the electrode manufacturing/cell testing/analytics laboratories, comprehensive material and process testing can thus be performed on various components of lithium-ion cells.
Equipment:

Manual cell manufacturing

  • Manual punching machine
  • Mechanical toggle presses for strip steel separation Mäder presses EP 750-40
  • Ultrasonic welding machine Amtech Ultraweld 40
  • Laboratory sealer Kopp SGPE 3000 (jaw length 300 mm)
  • Vacuum drying oven BINDER VD 53 (up to 200 °C)
  • Glovebox MBraun MB20 (Ar 5.0, 2 gloves, H2O and O2 < 0.1 ppm)
  • Electrolyte filling unit FMS Systemtechnik (in room atmosphere)
  • Vacuum sealing device Komet Vacuboy



Semi-automatic cell production

  • Pneumatic toggle press for strip steel separation Mäder Presses APK 4 L
  • Roller laminator Manz Italy (former Arcotronics Italia) BLE 282 D
  • Station trimming and arrester welding Sovema UWT250
  • Station pouch case sealing Sovema PCS250
  • Glovebox MBraun MB200B (Ar 5.0, 8 gloves, H2O and O2 < 0.1 ppm, sluice heatable)
  • Electrolyte filling station (in glovebox) Sovema MFC250
  • Station degassing and finalization Sovema DSU 250


Other

  • Z-folder Harro Höfliger HH - 4428.001

Energy efficiency / systems engineering

Responsible researcher: Prof. Dr. Diana Hehenberger-Risse

Room: TZE - TM 104

Efficient Energy Systems, Systems Engineering, Thermal Processes

Laboratory to determine and test the efficiency of energy systems incl. storage systems and thermodynamic processes

Equipment:

  • Test stand for controlled aeration and ventilation with heat recovery
  • Heat pump trainer
  • Test stand for heating control
  • Measuring case for PV experiments

Analytics

Responsible researcher: Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Pettinger

Room: TZE - TM 103

Analytics Laboratory
EquipmentDigital microscope

  •     Stereomicroscope
  •     Tensile adhesion test rig
  •     Karl Fischer measuring station for moisture determination
  •     Analytical weighing station
  •     Capacitive thickness measurement and surface characterization (height resolution nm range)

Test bench decentralized energy systems

Responsible researchers: Prof. Dr. Tim Rödiger, M.Sc. Barbara Poisl

Room: TZE - TM 003

The test bench for decentralized energy systems offers the possibility to consider combinations of combined heat and power plants with electrical and thermal storage systems. Defined thermal load profiles can be run via a heating load simulator and a separate hot water load simulator. In combination with the integrated photovoltaic system and the condensing boiler, as a second thermal supplier, novel operating strategies are developed and tested at the plant. For this purpose, all energy flows can be recorded and controlled at the test stand.
Outside of the test stand operation, the plant represents a part of the electrical and thermal energy supply of the technology center.


Equipment:

  • Gas engine µBHKW, operable in the power stages 2, 3, 4 kW electric.
  • Modulable condensing boiler with 24 kW nominal thermal capacity
  • Electric storage tank with 10 kWh capacity
  • Electric storage tank with 12 kWh capacity
  • Heating load and hot water load simulator for the discharge of defined loads
  • Thermal storage tank with 960 l capacity
  • Measurement data acquisition and system control with 128 measurement and control channels for voltage, current and temperature signals
  • Various flow meters, energy meters and active power transmitters for recording energy flows and power in the system

Green Gas Lab

Responsible researchers: Dr. Maria Bieringer, M.Sc. Maximilian Mock

Room: TZE - TM 108

Chemical / microbiological laboratory. Research and testing of processes for the conversion of hydrogen and carbon dioxide into methane using microbiological methanation.

  • Microscopic observation of microbiological samples (validation and evaluation of metabolic processes for methane production by fluorescence; qualitative and quantitative evaluation of microorganisms).
  • Qualitative and quantitative measurement of gas samples
  • Anaerobic atmosphere for handling anoxic samples or processes requiring anaerobic conditions
  • Sterile environment for handling microorganisms
  • Incubation of microbiological samples at different temperatures and temperature profiles, with different media and gas atmospheres
  • Saturated steam sterilization of laboratory glassware, samples and laboratory waste with automatic batch documentation



Equipment:

  • Microscope
  • Incident light fluorescence (LED)
  • Fluorescence filter set (420/40 BP, 458, 458 LP)
  • Transmitted-light brightfield (LED)
  • Objectives (10x/0.3 Ph1; 40x/0.75 Ph2; 100x/1.4 Oil Ph3 Apochromat)
  • Partially motorized (Z-drive, camera mirror, reflector turret, shutter, condenser)
  • 2/3" monochrome camera (4.54 µm x 4.54 µm)
  • Expandable with additional camera, DIC condenser modules, fluorescence filter sets
  • Gas chromatograph (S/SL injector, TCD detector; measurement of CO, CO2, H2, CH4; expandable by additional measurement method)
  • Anaerobic chamber (Plexi glass, gas purging system with forming gas, airlock, measuring system for oxygen, humidity and pressure with respective control unit, data logger for recording the measured data)
  • Autoclave (40 l, automatic deionized water supply, air cooling, batch documentation via network)
  • Gas supply in the laboratory (forming gas, argon, test gas, etc.)
  • Microbiological safety cabinet (class II)
  • Incubators (112 l each, natural air exchange, USB port for data acquisition, execution of self-created temperature programs)
  • Drying cabinet
  • Pressure, redox, conductivity, pH and temperature measuring instruments
  • Analytical balance (maximum load 120 g, resolution 0.1 mg)

Redox flow

Responsible researchers: Dr. Christina Schubert, M.Sc. Dominik Wenzke

Room: TZE - TZ 009

Research and development in the field of vanadium redox flow storage, especially electrode stability.
Equipment:

  • Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
  • Cyclic voltammetry
  • Cycle tests
  • Material characterization
  • Charge and discharge behavior at different current densities
  • Temperature behavior
  • Thermal stability of the electrolyte
  • Lifetime tests/long-term stability

Electro spinning

Responsible researcher: M.Sc. Hans-Konrad Weber

Room: TZE - TZ 010

Electrospinning is used in many different research areas. In this process, fibers with a thickness in the nanometer range are directly produced from a polymer solution using a strong electric field.

The Electrospinning Laboratory allows research and development of the electrospinning process under optimal conditions. Spinning concepts for different application speeds can be tested, formulations and machine settings can be changed and thus the result can be optimized for the respective application.

Equipment:

  • Electrospinning plant with needle emitter
  • Electrospinning plant with yarn emitter
  • Peripheral equipment for control of environmental parameters, e.g. temperature

Cell pack and electrical system test

Responsible researcher: M.Sc. Barbara Poisl

Room: TZE - TM 012

In the cell pack test laboratory, not only the individual cell but also the cell network and, based on this, entire energy storage systems are examined. Essential test processes are thereby.


Equipment:

  • Verification of the specified performance data
  • Determination of the usable capacity within the voltage limits
  • Charge and discharge behavior at different C-rates
  • Self-discharge (capacity maintenance and recovery) of battery packs (with and without BMS)
  • Self-consumption of battery packs and systems
  • Internal resistance measurement Rac and Rdc
  • Cycle tests
  • Temperature behavior
  • Functionality of the interaction between battery and inverter
  • Functionality of the interaction between BMS and electrochemical storage system
  • Standby consumption of storage systems
  • Other measurements within the operating conditions
  • Standard charging methods such as CCCV, energy-controlled or customer-specific profiles