Simulating Acoustic Battery Testing for High-Volume Battery Production

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At the moment, AMTE Power has a facility in Thurso, Scotland, but is looking to establish a Gigafactory in the near future, which would be able to accommodate the increased demand for batteries as more electric vehicles fill our streets. As the new AMTE Power facility is currently at concept level, HSSMI’s simulation model envisioned a balanced 2GWh cell manufacturing line.

The key focus of the AcouBat project was on validating the introduction of UCL’s newly developed acoustic battery testing processes, for high volume manufacturing within the facility. The project envisioned virtual testing in a simulation developed by HSSMI, as well as in-person testing at the AMTE Power facility in Thurso. The overall objective was to analyse what impact the acoustic testing method would have on production, whether any bottlenecks would be created as a result, and in which stage of battery manufacture it would be most beneficial to conduct the testing.

As part of the project, UCL observed the acoustic testing method at AMTE’s facility in Thurso. The objective of those tests was to validate the acoustic testing in different, real-life production stages such as pre-filling, after cell formation etc. This is something that UCL has not been able to do until now. Previous testing was conducted at laboratory scale and with fully finished cells rather than ones being manufactured.

The simulation tested similar criteria as were set out for the real-life tests.  As scaling up the production of a cell manufacturing facility requires a lot of planning and investment, the simulation also enabled AMTE Power to tweak variables and explore the optimal factory layout, resource and personnel requirements, process development, and the costs involved.

Initial results of the simulation determined the operator, machine, and material requirements of a 2GWh facility, and illustrated the effect that each variable had on the product output. The simulation highlighted potential bottlenecks in the process and provided data-driven insights in order to achieve maximum efficiency.

HSSMI was able to obtain an optimal number of operators and machines per process, machine loading information and correct shift pattern selection.

Based on JW Froehlich’s high-volume testing equipment design, the simulation successfully validated the placement and implementation of the acoustic testing process within the facility and demonstrated that the acoustic testing method would not create bottlenecks in the production line. The design, based on a prototype machine built by JW Froehlich, envisioned a conveyor belt system with an estimated cycle time of 5 seconds per cell.

The live trials of the acoustic testing solution successfully demonstrated implementation with completed cells from the cell assembly process. This presents a strong case as an end-of-line quality check before releasing cells to the lengthy and expensive formation, aging and testing stage. UCL is working to understand the suitability of using the test in other locations of the production line, to complement and replace existing test procedures.