The production of EV-ready 21700 Li-ion batteries of accurate sorting quality is significant because to some extent the safety of an electric vehicle depends on the stable performance of the battery pack, which in turn depends on closely matched cells. Demand for electric vehicles has risen strongly of late, hence the need for effective cell sorting by a battery sorting machine in the EV battery pack is even more urgent. Why Sorting Accuracy Matters In the case of 21700s, sorting accuracy is for example the machine’s ability to accurately classify and sort the cells grouped by similar electrical and physical characteristics. E.g., voltage, capacity, internal resistance (IR) and so forth. If the sorting accuracy isn’t accurate, then you could wind up with:
Inconsistent performance of the battery: Cells with differing levels of capacities or internal resistance grouped together might lead to less than productive (or ‘fods’) charging/discharging cycles;
Shorter battery lifespan: increases in bad battery packs might mean earlier degradation of battery packs or shorten total lifespan
Safety: Random cells too close together could end up catching fire or in extreme cases, thermal runaway.[1] What effects sorting accuracy?There are multiple aspects that affect the accuracy of a sorting machine.Knowing about these factors, you can select the right system for 21700 cells:
Capacity and Voltage Consistency
The main factor towards taking rest of the vital pieces and put together in making 21700 cells voltages and capacity sorted components.
A high-accuracy sorting system will ensure cells all of which have similar characteristics and are grouped together, avoiding voltage imbalances in the battery pack.
Internal Resistance (IR) Testing
An important parameter when sorting is the Internal resistance of the lithium-ion cells.
Sorting machines which have in them, an IR tester, will take measure of the internal resistance of each cell.
Ensuring that all cells with similar IR will only be grouped together.
Essential in EV application, performing as it does severely and in a decisive manner.
Sorting Speed and Precision
Sorting Especially for big volumes, while a commonly desired factor in an automated sorting machines is speed, this shouldn’t be traded for precision if they are to offer the best performance.
The best sorting machines then come bridging precision with selectivity in mind.
Automation and Manual Adjustments!
Of course also excellent as per the above are automated entire sorting machines.
There are instances almost in every sorting application that needs the operator to sometimes take manual action, or make other grounding adjustments as per requirement in view of specific batches characteristics.
Types of sorting machines for 21700 cells
Though each battery sorting machine is unique to their purpose and as per some basic requirements.
For EV-grade 21700 cells, there are:
Semi-Automatic Battery Sorting Machines.
Complete automatic Battery Sorting Machines. These machines are as their name implies fully-automated capable of fast and accurately sorting cells by all types of criteria.
Multi-Channel Sorting Systems. In high throughput operations, several 21700 cells are catered for by the desired multi-channel sorting system.
How to ensure you get the most sorting accuracy for EV-grade batteries
Mobility how to ensure you get the most sorting accuracy for EV-grade batteries?
This is easy. The sorting machine must be capable of measuring the lightweight:
Voltage
Capacity
Internal Resistance (IR)
Conclusion
When you look through the types of sorting machine you can use for your 21700 cells, especially for EV, make and ensure they can guarantee sorting accuracy. It means your end product will be better performance, safe and enjoy a longer cycle life. Whether for a small sorting line, or a high throughput one, sorting machine for 21700 cells is an investment for general improvement on the final output.
