Open Access
Incremental capacity analysis of lithium-ion second-life batteries from electric vehicles under cycling ageing
(IEEE, 2021) Braco Sola, Elisa; San Martín Biurrun, Idoia; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Nowadays, the reuse of batteries from electric vehicles is considered a promising solution to benefit from their remaining energy and extend their lifespan. Yet, the economic viability of these second-life batteries is still uncertain, and the optimization of testing at their reconfiguration stage and during their lifetime is the key to ensure their success. This paper aims to assess Incremental Capacity Analysis technique in Nissan Leaf modules during their second-life use, in order to evaluate both its potential as an State of Health estimator and as a tool to identify underlying degradation mechanisms. Despite the different internal state and ageing rates observed between the tested modules, ICA is found to be consistent at similar SOH levels. The influence of ageing, current and temperature on ICA is evaluated through an accelerated cycling test. Results show that ICA is a promising alternative to estimate SOH during second life even at currents up to C/2 and testing temperatures of 45 °C. However, testing by accelerated currents and temperatures is not recommended for the identification of degradation mechanisms.
Open Access
Analysis and modelling of calendar ageing in second-life lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles
(IEEE, 2022) Braco Sola, Elisa; San Martín Biurrun, Idoia; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Gobierno de NAVARRA / Nafarroako Gobernua
The reuse of Li-ion batteries from electric vehicles is a promising alternative to recycling nowadays. However, the technical and economic viability of these second-life (SL) batteries is not yet clear. Degradation assessment plays a key role not only to analyse the impact of ageing factors in reused batteries, but also to quantify their durability. In this context, this contribution aims to analyse calendar ageing behaviour in SL cells. 16 reused Nissan Leaf modules are aged during 750 days under three temperatures and four State of Charge (SOC), covering a State of Health range from 72.2 % to 13 %. The impact of temperature and SOC as stress factors is firstly analysed, concluding that their increase accelerates ageing. Temperature rise is found to have a major impact, accelerating up to 27 times capacity fade and almost 6 times resistance increase when compared to light ageing conditions, while increasing SOC nearly doubles ageing rates. The worst ageing case is found to be the combination of 60 ◦C and 66 % of SOC. Regarding degradation trends, they are proven to be constant during all SL lifetime. This work also proposes and validates a calendar ageing model for SL cells. Accuracy of validation results show a fitting Rsq of 0.9941 in capacity fade and 0.9557 in resistance increase, thereby tracking the heterogeneous degradation of the SL cells under calendar ageing.
Open Access
Lithium-ion second-life batteries: aging modeling and experimental validation
(IEEE, 2024-08-30) Pérez Ibarrola, Ane; San Martín Biurrun, Idoia; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa, PJUPNA2023-11380; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Re-utilizing lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles reduces their environmental impact. To ensure their optimal sizing and safe use, identifying the current state of the battery and predicting its remaining useful life is essential. This work analyzes the degradation mechanisms involved and proposes an aging model that utilizes a semi-empirical approach to accurately reproduce the battery's state of health within a range of 75-45 %. Calendar aging includes dependencies on temperature and state of charge while cycling aging is modeled based on depth of discharge, medium SOC, temperature, and Crate. The model is validated against experimental data from 14 LMO/LNO cells previously used in actual Nissan Leaf vehicles and an RMSE bellow 2.5 % is achieved in every case.
Open Access
Methodology for comparative assessment of battery technologies: experimental design, modeling, performance indicators and validation with four technologies
(Elsevier, 2025-01-15) Irujo Izcue, Elisa; Berrueta Irigoyen, Alberto; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa, PJUPNA2023-11380; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
An increasing number of applications with diverse requirements incorporate various battery technologies. Selecting the most suitable battery technology becomes a tedious task as several aspects need to be taken into account. Two of the key aspects are the battery characteristics under temperature variations and their degradation. While numerous contributions using tailored assessment methods to evaluate both aspects for a particular application exist in the literature, a general methodology for analysis is necessary to enable a quantitative comparison between different technologies. We propose in this paper a novel methodology, based on performance indicators, to quantify the potential and limitations of a battery technology for diverse applications sharing a similar operational profile. A quantification of phenomena such as the influence of high and low temperatures on the battery, or the effect of cycling and state of charge on battery aging is obtained. In pursuit of these indicators, an experimental procedure and the fitting of aging model parameters that allow their calculation are proposed. As an additional outcome of this work, a general aging model that allows comprehensive analysis of aging behavior is developed and the trade-off between experimental time and accuracy is analyzed to find an optimal experimental time between 2 and 4 months, depending on the studied battery technology. Finally, the proposed methodology is applied to four battery technologies in order to show its potential in a real case-study.
Open Access
Energy management for an electro-thermal renewable based residential microgrid with energy balance forecasting and demand side management
(Elsevier, 2021) Pascual Miqueleiz, Julio María; Arcos Avilés, Diego; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Marroyo Palomo, Luis; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
This paper proposes an energy management strategy for a residential microgrid comprising photovoltaic (PV) panels, a small wind turbine and solar thermal collectors. The microgrid can control the power exchanged with the grid thanks to a battery and a controllable electric water heater, which provide two degrees of freedom to the control strategy. As input data, the proposed control strategy uses the battery state of charge (SOC), the temperature of the hot water tank, the power of each microgrid element as well as the demand and renewable generation forecasts. By using forecasted data and by controlling the electric water heater, the strategy is able to achieve a better grid power profile while using a smaller battery than previous works, hence reducing the overall cost of the system. The strategy is tested by means of simulation with real data for one year and it is also experimentally validated in the microgrid built at the Renewable Energy Laboratory at the UPNA.
Open Access
Dynamic modeling of a pressurized alkaline water electrolyzer: a multiphysics approach
(IEEE, 2023) Iribarren Zabalegui, Álvaro; Elizondo Martínez, David; Barrios Rípodas, Ernesto; Ibaiondo, Harkaitz; Sánchez Ruiz, Alain; Arza, Joseba; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
In this paper a dynamic model for the simulation of pressurized alkaline water electrolyzers is presented. The model has been developed following a multiphysics approach, integrating electrochemical, thermodynamic, heat transfer and gas evolution processes in order to faithfully reproduce the complete dynamical behavior of these systems. The model has been implemented on MATLAB/Simulink and validated through experimental data from a 1 Nm3/h commercial alkaline water electrolyzer. Validations have been performed under real scenarios where the electrolyzer is working with power profiles characteristic from renewable sources, wind and photovoltaic. The simulated results have been found to be consistent with the real measured values. This model has a great potential to predict the behavior of alkaline water electrolyzers coupled with renewable energy sources, making it a very useful tool for designing efficient green hydrogen production systems.
Open Access
Onset of irreversible reactions in overcharging lithium-ion cells: an experimental and modeling approach
(IEEE, 2023) Irujo Izcue, Elisa; Berrueta Irigoyen, Alberto; Lalinde Sainz, Iñaki; Arza, Joseba; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
Lithium-ion batteries are energy storage systems used in an increasing number of applications. Due to their flammable materials, their use entails risks of fire and explosion. The study of the abuse operation of these batteries before reaching the thermal runaway is a relevant research topic to prevent safety issues. There are various studies in the bibliography providing exhaustive thermal studies of the safe operating area, as well as concerning the thermal runaway. However, the onset irreversible reactions, that take place at a SOC around 110%, have not been properly analyzed. We present in this contribution an experimental study of this onset reaction measured in pouch Li-ion cells under various conditions of charge current and temperature. We also propose a lumped-parameter thermal model for the cell, which allows a detailed characterization of this exothermic reaction. The results achieved in this contributions can be a key tool to prevent overcharge accidents that may arise due to malfunctioning of the battery charger or battery management system.
Open Access
Characterization and capacity dispersion of lithium-ion second-life batteries from electric vehicles
(IEEE, 2019) Braco Sola, Elisa; San Martín Biurrun, Idoia; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Nowadays, electric vehicle batteries reutilization is considered such as a feasible alternative to recycling, as it allows to benefit from their remaining energy and to enlarge their lifetime. Stationary applications as self-consumption or isolated systems support are examples of possible second life uses for these batteries. However, the modules that compose these batteries have very heterogeneous properties, and therefore condition their performance. This paper aims to characterize and analyze the existing capacity dispersion of Nissan Leaf modules that have reached the end of their lifetime on their original application and of new modules of this Electric Vehicle, in order to establish a comparison between them.
Open Access
Health indicator selection for state of health estimation of second-life lithium-ion batteries under extended ageing
(Elsevier, 2022) Braco Sola, Elisa; San Martín Biurrun, Idoia; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Stroe, Daniel-Ioan; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Nowadays, the economic viability of second-life (SL) Li-ion batteries from electric vehicles is still uncertain. Degradation assessment optimization is key to reduce costs in SL market not only at the repurposing stage, but also during SL lifetime. As an indicator of the ageing condition of the batteries, state of health (SOH) is currently a major research topic, and its estimation has emerged as an alternative to traditional characterization tests. In an initial stage, all SOH estimation methods require the extraction of health indicators (HIs), which influence algorithm complexity and on-board implementation. Nevertheless, a literature gap has been identified in the assessment of HIs for reused Li-ion batteries. This contribution targets this issue by analysing 58 HIs obtained from incremental capacity analysis, partial charging, constant current and constant voltage stage, and internal resistance. Six Nissan Leaf SL modules were aged under extended cycling testing, covering a SOH range from 71.2 % to 24.4 %. Results show that the best HI at the repurposing stage was obtained through incremental capacity analysis, with 0.2 % of RMSE. During all SL use, partial charge is found to be the best method, with less than 2.0 % of RMSE. SOH is also estimated using the best HI and different algorithms. Linear regression is found to overcome more complex options with similar estimation accuracy and significantly lower computation times. Hence, the importance of analysing and selecting a good SL HI is highlighted, given that this made it possible to obtain accurate SOH estimation results with a simple algorithm.
Open Access
Impact of micro-cycles on the lifetime of lithium-ion batteries: an experimental study
(Elsevier, 2022) Soto Cabria, Adrián; Berrueta Irigoyen, Alberto; Mateos Inza, Miren; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Experimental aging studies are commonly conducted on lithium-ion batteries by full charge and discharge cycles. However, such profiles may differ from the actual operation of batteries in electric vehicles and stationary applications, where they are subjected to different partial charges and discharges. These partial cycles, which take place during a main charge or discharge process, are called micro-cycles if their depth of discharge is <2 %. A number of authors have pointed out the relevance of the time resolution to estimate the energy throughput of a battery due to these micro-cycles in applications such as renewable microgrids. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no experimental studies in the literature that assess the impact of these micro-cycles on battery degradation. In this article, the impact of micro-cycles on the loss of performance of a lithium-ion battery is experimentally studied. The results show that micro-cycles have a negligible, or even positive effect on the aging of lithium-ion cells compared to the aging caused by full cycles. In fact, if charge throughput or equivalent full cycles are used to measure the use of a battery, then cells subjected to micro-cycles exhibit a 50 % extended lifetime compared to cells only subjected to full cycles. More precisely, cells including micro-cycles with depth of discharge of 0.5 % lasted for nearly 3000 equivalent full cycles, whereas cells aged under standard deep cycles lasted for no >1500. Nevertheless, if the number of deep cycles, disregarding micro-cycles, is the unit to measure battery use, then the degradation of cells with and without micro-cycles is similar. Based on this result, the number of cycles can be identified as a more accurate variable to measure the use of a cell, in comparison to charge throughput.