Novel AI method sharpens 3D x-ray vision

Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a new X-ray tomography method called the perception fused iterative tomography reconstruction engine (PFITRE), a novel approach that combines the physics of X-rays with the power of artificial intelligence (AI).

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$11.5 million sponsorship creates new research institute

Epsilon Group, India, a leading innovator in carbon black and advanced battery materials for electric vehicles and energy storage, is partnering with Tufts University in Massachusetts to launch the Tufts Epsilon Materials Institute-a new research center made possible by an $11.5 million sponsorship and dedicated to advancing materials science and engineering for global energy and sustainability solutions.

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Novel x-ray technique of functional materials maps their architecture

Researchers at the Swiss Light Source (SLS) recently developed a pioneering x-ray technique to probe the 3D orientation of a material’s building blocks at the nanoscale. Applied to a polycrystalline catalyst, the technique allows the visualization of crystal grains, grain boundaries and defects—key factors dictating catalyst performance. Beyond catalysis, the innovation unlocks previously inaccessible details about the structure of diverse functional materials in numerous applications.

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TESCAN Group acquires EXpressLO LLC

TESCAN Group, a.s, Czech Republic, a leading global manufacturer of electron microscopes and advanced scientific instruments, has acquired EXpressLO LLC, Lehigh Acres, Fla., a provider of innovative FIB lift-out solutions for specimen preparation in STEM and other analytical techniques.

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Hours needed to mill forming tools? A thing of the past!

The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, Germany, is pioneering a new approach in fuel cell production by using extreme high-speed laser material deposition to create wear-resistant functional metal layers on low-cost structural steel, replacing traditional milling methods and significantly reducing costs, construction time, and tool wear.

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Artificial intelligence helped scientists create a new type of battery

Researchers at Microsoft, Redmond, Wash., and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Wash., used artificial intelligence to identify 23 promising battery materials from more than 32 million candidates in just 80 hours, creating a working prototype that could significantly reduce lithium use and advance sustainable energy storage solutions.

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Pinpointing why promising cathodes fail

Researchers at the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory have discovered why and how one of the more promising cathode materials in lithium ion batteries – single crystalline nickel-rich lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide – degrades with use.

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One Minute Mentor: Indirectly heated fluidized-bed furnace

Most fluidized-bed furnaces are used at temperatures below 1095 °C (2000 °F), although some manufacturers have furnaces capable of treating components to temperatures through 1205 °C (2200 °F). Initially, the gas flows upward through the permeable base to agitate the particles as the pressure is gradually increased. (b) Eventually, the gas flow is sufficient to lift the small particles of refractory materials and to transform the particle movement into a violent turbulent motion.

In the early 1980s, this furnace technology seemed to be on the right track as an alternative to salt bath technology, showing similar advantages and applications but without the environmental hazard of salt compounds, waste disposal, recycling of salts, and so on. Nowadays it can be concluded that salt bath technology was partially substituted by vacuum technology, but especially for bainitic hardening (austempering processes), salt baths are still commonly used and show a slightly growing tendency, whereas fluidized beds are hardly used any more.

This temperature limitation is related to the wear and tear on the retort materials at high temperatures, which was one of the reasons for the reduced interest in this furnace type after the initial hype.

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 8.

R Schneider; R. Mesquita; W Schützenhöfer, Distortion in Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014, https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005958

Intertek opens new state-of-the-art Battery Center of Excellence Italy, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable transport and energy solutions worldwide

Intertek, England, a leading total quality assurance provider to industries worldwide, unveiled its new Battery Xcellence Center in Mestre, Italy. Featuring the latest technologies for battery and energy storage systems testing, paired with unrivalled industry expertise, this new center of excellence will meet industry’s increasing need for fast and reliable testing, certification, and assurance services.

The 500 sqm facility is equipped with state-of-the-art battery cyclers, climatic and salt spray chambers, vibration plans, and mechanical testing equipment as well as two ATEX certified anti-fire containers and a dedicated altitude test chamber, enabling it to meet testing needs for transportation and storage safety, functional safety, and performance for a wide range of cells and battery packs.

As one of the world’s fastest growing industry sectors, the battery market is estimated to reach €135 billion globally and €35 billion in the EU by 2030. A pioneer in this space with specialist battery capabilities strategically located in the USA, China, Taiwan, India, Hong Kong, and Europe, Intertek is working at the forefront of the industry, helping its customers to shape the future of energy storage and mobility.

This new state-of-the-art facility in Italy complements Intertek’s existing European battery centers of excellence in the Nordics, UK, and Germany, allowing the company to bring its expertise from more mature battery markets to Italy and the wider South Europe region. The Italian team will be supporting businesses across a range of sectors, including automotive, transportation, energy, and consumer goods, to successfully take their products from initial design phases through to compliance evaluation and global market access.

At the official opening of the Mestre Battery Xcellence Centre, André Lacroix, Chief Executive Officer of Intertek, said: “Sustainability is the movement of our time, and we at Intertek are pioneering the global Quality Assurance industry to help our clients on their sustainability journeys. On the road to Net Zero, we know energy storage is more critical than ever, and with the electrification of society moving at pace we are continuously investing in the future of electrification. This new state-of-the-art-facility enables our customers in this exciting region to benefit from our cutting-edge technology and industry-leading experts, helping them navigate the rapidly evolving regulatory environment for batteries and battery-operated products.”

Arianna Fogar, General Manager for Italy’s Electrical business, said: “Italy is the second largest market in the EU for domestic energy storage systems, as well as a key hub for the European automotive supply chain. We are delighted to be able to meet the industry’s need for local assurance, testing and certification services in this dynamic region with the opening of our pioneering battery and energy storage laboratory.”

Understanding battery thermal runaway propagation

As the energy density of battery packs for vehicles and grid energy storage increases, how can we make high-density energy systems less hazardous and more reliable? That’s the question explored by scientists at Exponent Inc., Menlo Park, Calif.

Their new technical paper, “Understanding the Fundamental Mechanisms of Battery Thermal Runaway Propagation and Mitigation” published by the Society of Automotive Engineers, explains how severe thermal runaway scenarios can occur and outlines the tenets of successful mitigation to reduce these hazards.

Thermal runaway events often begin with the failure of a single battery cell or group of cells, cascading to other neighboring cells, and increasing in severity as the stored energy of the battery pack is released. To reduce the likelihood and severity of these scenarios, the scientists discuss design strategies that can impede propagation of thermal runaway events between cells.

To implement these design strategies and moderation measures, the authors suggest that design engineers first develop a deep understanding of the mechanisms that drive battery thermal runaway propagation. To start, the authors outline a number of the factors that drive many cell failures and runaway events such as acute exposure of a cell to high temperatures, mechanical abuse, and flaws in the construction of either individual cells or the battery pack.

The paper then discusses the mechanisms by which thermal runaway propagation can occur between cells and provides details on the fundamentals of these methods. In addition, the authors provide an overview of potential mitigation approaches to prevent thermal runaway propagation that are currently used in industry and commentary on pathways for developing an effective protection strategy.

 

For more information:

Exponent, Inc.

https://www.exponent.com