Lithium battery secondary helium inspection

How do you test a lithium ion battery?

Common lithium‐ion battery types. Testing for leak tightness requires some form of leak detection. Although various leak detection methods are available, helium mass spectrometer leak detection (HMSLD) is the preferred and is being used broadly to ensure low air and water permeation rates in cells.

How do you know if a lithium ion cell is leaking?

Over a given period of time, a leak rate can be determined. For this type of test, a leak rate of 10-6 mbar∙l/s is normally used. Depending on cell type, five percent or more of the lithium-ion cells currently produced for the auto industry may have undetected leaks.

Why do we need industry standards for testing lithium-ion battery cells?

Implementing industry standards for testing lithium-ion battery cells is needed for a variety of reasons: Leaking battery cells can dramatically shorten battery life, increase warranty costs, affect customer satisfaction and damage product reputation, as well as create safety-and-drivability problems.

What happens if a lithium ion battery leaks?

Leaks in lithium-ion battery cells can shorten battery life and deplete energy capacity. Leaks also can allow moisture to enter the battery system. Water ingress can lead to a complete failure of the battery or create a potential fire hazard.

How does a helium leak detector work?

The most common method used with parts that are pressurized is to scan them with a sniffer probe attached to the inlet of the leak detector, paying special attention to areas prone to leaks such as welds, seams, seals, or feedthroughs. When a leak is encountered, helium is captured through the probe and detected by the sensor.

What is hmsld helium leak detector?

HMSLD is a clean, dry test method. It provides 100‐times greater sensitivity, can be used to locate and measure leaks, and is not compromised by temperature fluctuations. Agilent leak detectors may be used in any of several ways to find or measure leaks. When a leak is encountered, helium is captured through the probe and detected by the sensor.