This week, Honeywell unveiled two new initiatives to improve manufacturing for gigafactories and driver safety when using electric vehicles (EVs).The technologies provided by Honeywell Sensing Solutions and Honeywell Process Solutions enable the business to align its portfolio with three significant megatrends, one of which is the energy transition.
To be more precise, Honeywell is enabling giga-factories to produce high-quality batteries by incorporating ultrasound scanning-based comprehensive battery cell testing into its Battery Manufacturing Excellence Platform (MXP) software system. Additionally, new safety sensors are being introduced that can identify thermal runaway indicators in EV batteries prior to a possible fire.
General Manager of Electrification at Honeywell Industrial Automation Victor Verissimo stated, “As the world moves at full speed toward electrification, a number of challenges have arisen, including how to make EV batteries safely, efficiently, and at high volume.” He added, “Our most recent innovations in the EV space are meant to lower safety concerns for this industry, increase battery lifecycle transparency, and streamline the manufacturing process. We are advancing the transition to a more sustainable future by taking this action.”
Comprehensive battery cell testing on production floor
Titan Advanced Energy Solutions, a leader in ultrasound-based battery interrogation systems, and Honeywell Process Solutions are collaborating to incorporate Titan’s cutting-edge scanning technology into the Honeywell Battery Manufacturing Excellence Platform (MXP).
Honeywell Battery MXP is a software solution driven by artificial intelligence (AI) that helps manufacturers quickly establish their facilities and improves battery cell yields, all while optimizing gigafactory operations from the outset.
Real-time, in-line battery quality analysis is made possible by the integration of Titan’s ultrasonic scanning technology with Battery MXP. This allows for the detection of production flaws that are not visible using conventional techniques. Particularly for early-stage gigafactories, the comprehensive testing of each battery cell by Titan technology facilitates faster defect-tracing and overall process efficiency increases. Battery producers will have complete end-to-end insight over the batteries they are making by incorporating the technology into the Honeywell Battery MXP. This will allow for the large-scale, high-quality, and reasonably priced manufacturing of batteries needed to meet today’s electrification demands.
New safety sensors for EV batteries
For use in electric vehicles, Honeywell Sensing Solutions is introducing a cutting-edge lithium-ion battery safety sensor. The battery safety electrolyte sensor (BES) utilizes Li-ion Tamer electrolyte gas detecting technology to identify ‘first vent’ events, which are very early symptoms of a potential battery fire. Five to twenty minutes before a fire starts, the indicators may sound a warning.
The BES solution functions as an early-warning tool in an EV supervisory system by detecting the gases emitted by a malfunctioning battery cell before thermal runaway occurs. With the use of technology, operators can then put out the battery fire, possibly saving lives and averting serious property damage. Additionally, the sensors help automakers adhere to new battery safety regulations as well as Global Technical Regulation No. 20, which addresses the safety of electric vehicles.
