The critical role of dehumidification technology in energy storage
Lithium-ion batteries are responsible for the exemplary performance of the storage system but utmost care must be taken to manufacture the highest quality Li-ion batteries that meet the industry standards.
With the ever-increasing population, conservationists have been showing great concern for the depleting state of natural resources. To compensate for the lost resources and to be self-sufficient in the future, the world is heavily investing in energy storage space.
Initiatives are underway to inculcate a culture of judiciously utilizing available energy which is giving the desired impetus to the adoption of 'green technology.'
Considering that the energy storage sector offers renewable energy storage solutions, it can easily supply exhausting resources naturally. As a tremendous amount of energy and resources are required to run the various operations across the sectors, it finds irrevocable applications in a wide range of industries like solar, electric vehicles, telecom, data centers, power, defense, space/ satellite, healthcare, etc.
Finding an alternative for exhausting natural resources, today industries are shifting towards renewable energy which stores energy with the help of Li-ion batteries. Among the various sectors, in recent years, as the world has been unanimously undergoing digitization, the need for data centers has escalated profoundly. The data centers require a huge amount of energy to keep the various operations running. Here, the energy storage sector in the form of Li-ion battery technology fulfills the power backup demand of the data centers.
Lithium-ion batteries giving a boost to the storage sector
Li-ion batteries are preferred for their great stability, longer service life, smaller footprint, lower load bearing requirements, low maintenance, and green solution which is lacking in the lead-acid batteries. Li-ion battery is the most essential factor aiding the adoption of the energy storage sector. It is required to store the energy harnessed from natural resources like solar, wind, thermal, etc. It is the medium where the power generated from renewable resources can be conserved. Hence, Li-ion batteries are crucial for giving the desired boost to the energy storage sector. It is responsible for the exemplary performance of the storage system. Therefore, utmost care must be taken to manufacture the highest quality Li-ion batteries that meet the industry standards.
Need for controlled environmental conditions
Considering that the various chemical components in the lithium battery are highly hygroscopic in nature and tend to absorb moisture from the surrounding air, it is critical to conduct the manufacturing process in acutely controlled dry room environmental conditions. As excess humidity can cause costly quality errors in humid-sensitive applications, the manufacturing facility must have a stable environment with humidity always less than 1%.
To achieve the above-stated conditions, Low Dew Point Desiccant Dehumidification Systems must be installed that is adept at providing advanced solutions to control the environment within the dry room. This moisture control technology ensures that the desired RH is constantly maintained at <1% for lithium cell manufacturing and <10% at the time of battery assemblage. The dry rooms achieve ultra-low dew point of up to (-) 80°C for the processing of hygroscopic and moisture-sensitive material like lithium, etc.
Consequences of uncontrolled humidity
In case there is a failure in achieving stable environmental conditions, it can give rise to severe consequences. Humidity is responsible for the production of incompetent batteries that portrays substandard performance. It can impair the quality of the batteries and in the worst case can pose a serious threat to life with its increased probability to explode. As a result, Li-ion battery manufacturing is not feasible in the absence of dehumidification technology.
As Li-ion batteries are vital for driving the growth of the energy storage industry, the sector must invest in desiccant dehumidification products and solutions to revolutionize the way batteries are manufactured. It will help in the production of highly durable and consistent batteries. Given that the government is actively undertaking initiatives to amplify the adoption of the energy storage sector, manufacturers are readily installing dry room technology to achieve the lowest humidity level, ideal for the highest quality Li-ion battery production.The article is authored by Deepak Pahwa, Managing Director, Bry Air, exclusively for ETN.
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