Evaluating
performance through data collection and analysis
is a significant element of battery development.
Through the ESS Program, Sandia serves as
an independent test facility for both industry
and government, and has the staff and facilities
to test and evaluate electrochemical power
sources and distributed energy resources (DER).
In addition to testing, we can design unique
testers that meet custom specifications.
Nearly 50 highly trained and experienced engineers,
scientists, and technicians work in our well-equipped,
state-of-the-art laboratories:
- 23,000
sq. ft. of research, development and testing
laboratories that allow us to evaluate battery
performance and support our comprehensive
failure analysis and diagnostic capabilities;
- Two
dry rooms (3,500 sq. ft.) suitable for developing
prototype batteries and with modest production
capability; and
- Six
test bays for abuse testing.
In
addition to all of these direct, DER-related
facilities, the ESS Program has access to
other, highly sophisticated Sandia departments,
which include testing, analysis, basic materials
development and processing, and complex modeling.
Computerized environmental testing, (e.g.,
vibration, shock, or spin), abnormal testing,
such as fire or crash, and safety testing
are also available.
At
Sandia, the ESS Program has designed and tested
thermally-activated batteries, active and
reserve ambient-temperature primary batteries,
rechargeable batteries, and other power sources
for specific ordnance, aerospace, and commercial
applications. Commercial applications range
from advanced batteries for electric vehicles
and consumer use to large battery systems
used by electric utilities for load leveling
and other applications.
Sandia
facilities can fabricate developmental and
prototype thermal and ambient-temperature
lithium batteries. The staff is experienced
in processing electrochemical active materials
and fabricating piece parts, and we build
developmental batteries for evaluating new
designs, plus the effects of material or process
variations.
DOE has approved Sandia as a back-up supplier
of thermal batteries, and we have successfully
used this capability. It stands ready if the
need arises.
Sandia's
Distributed Energy Technology Laboratory (DETL)
tests techniques and technologies that will
enable clean, reliable and abundant distributed
energy generation and transmission, including
extensive inverter test capability. The DETL
is a fully instrumented, configurable, controlled,
utility-interconnected test bed for study
of a variety of issues that might be raised
by utilities concerning the interactions of
multiple, distributed sources of various technologies.
Currently,
in partnership with electric utilities, Sandia
is developing detailed utility modeling at
the distribution level (~10kV), where new
DER will have its most immediate effect. Models
of power-electronics-based DER are also being
developed to be compatible with the distribution
system analysis tools presently used by utilities.
The
behavior of DER when grid power is lost is
a major concern for utilities. Sandia addressed
this issue during the development of IEEE
Std. 929-2000 "Recommended Practice for
Utility Interface of Photovoltaic (PV) Systems".
We provided laboratory test support for the
development of this standard, which is being
used by Underwriters Laboratory as a test
protocol for "non-islanding inverters."
Sandia's
extensive capabilities and facilities for
evaluating government and commercial advances
in battery performance and storage capabilities,
plus DER applications, place our ESS Program
in the forefront for addressing the ever-increasing
importance of energy reliability on both the
national and global fronts.
