Thin-Film Temperature Sensors for Batteries

Thin-Film Temperature Sensors for Batteries


Program:
AMPED
Award:
$3,122,076
Location:
Niskayuna, New York
Status:
ALUMNI
Project Term:
01/01/2013 - 12/31/2016

Technology Description:

General Electric (GE) Global Research is developing low-cost, thin-film sensors that enable real-time mapping of temperature and surface pressure for each cell within a battery pack, which could help predict how and when batteries begin to fail. The thermal sensors within today's best battery packs are thick, expensive, and incapable of precisely assessing important factors like temperature and pressure within their cells. In comparison to today's best systems, GE's design would provide temperature and pressure measurements using smaller, more affordable sensors than those used in today's measurement systems. Ultimately, GE's sensors could dramatically improve the thermal mapping and pressure measurement capabilities of battery management systems, allowing for better prediction of potential battery failures.

Potential Impact:

If successful, GE's thin-film sensors would provide more accurate measurement of temperature and strain within battery packs, offering a substantial improvement over today's best temperature and surface pressure measurement tools.

Security:

Advances in energy storage management could reduce the cost and increase the adoption of electric vehicles and renewable energy storage technologies, which in turn would reduce our nation's dependence on foreign sources of energy.

Environment:

Improving the reliability and safety of electric vehicles and renewable energy storage facilities would enable more widespread use of these technologies, resulting in a substantial reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

Economy:

Enabling alternatives to conventional sources of energy could insulate consumers, businesses, and utilities from unexpected price swings.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Patrick McGrath
Project Contact:
Aaron Knobloch
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
knobloch@research.ge.com

Partners

University of Michigan
Ford Motor Company

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Release Date:
04/02/2012