Lithium-Ion Battery Rate Capability
Application ID: 19129
A battery’s possible energy and power outputs are crucial to consider when deciding in which type of device it can be used.
A cell with high rate capability is able to generate a considerable amount of power, that is, it suffers from little polarization (voltage loss) even at high current loads. In contrast, a low rate-capability cell has the opposite behavior. The former type is often denoted to be power optimized, while the latter energy optimized.
Characteristic for energy-optimized cells is that these have more capacity, and are thus able to supply more energy, but only for mild loads. Accordingly, energy-optimized batteries are more suitable for portable electronics, for example, cell phones. The power energy-optimized ones fits, for example, power-demanding hybrid-electric vehicles better.
This tutorial example makes a basic rate capability investigation for a specific lithium-ion battery cell design using the Lithium-Ion Battery interface.
This model example illustrates applications of this type that would nominally be built using the following products:
however, additional products may be required to completely define and model it. Furthermore, this example may also be defined and modeled using components from the following product combinations:
The combination of COMSOL® products required to model your application depends on several factors and may include boundary conditions, material properties, physics interfaces, and part libraries. Particular functionality may be common to several products. To determine the right combination of products for your modeling needs, review the Specification Chart and make use of a free evaluation license. The COMSOL Sales and Support teams are available for answering any questions you may have regarding this.