Batteries & Fuel Cells Module

A new Single Particle Battery interface has been added. The interface offers a simplified approach for modeling various kinds of batteries, including lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydride batteries. The governing equations describing the battery, which are typically valid for low and medium current levels, can be defined either globally (resulting in a small computational load) or locally in the geometry.

Fast Assembly Option

A new fast assembly option is available in the Lithium-Ion Battery and Battery with Binary Electrolyte interfaces. By enabling fast assembly in the particle dimension in the node, the computational time for some battery models using particle intercalation may be significantly reduced. The effect is most pronounced in 1D models when the number of mesh elements in the battery elements are comparable to the number of elements in the particle dimension. When the option is used, it is, however, not possible to postprocess data from the solution along the particle dimension axis. Also, the use of varying material properties (such as the solid diffusion coefficient) in the particle dimension is not supported. The setting is found in the node in the Lithium-Ion and Battery with Binary Electrolyte interfaces.

Nernst-Planck-Poisson Equations Multiphysics Interface

A new Nernst-Planck-Poisson Equations predefined multiphysics interface is now available in the Model Wizard. The Nernst-Planck-Poisson Equations interface adds Electrostatics and Transport of Diluted Species interface to the model, together with new Multiphysics coupling nodes: and .

External Short Boundary Condition

A new External Short boundary condition has been introduced that allows for short circuiting of electrode surfaces, porous electrodes, and electrodes through an external lumped resistance. The feature is available as a separate boundary node, applicable to and domains, and as a boundary condition option in the surface node. The feature is available in the following physics interfaces: Primary Current Distribution; Secondary Current Distribution; Tertiary Current Distribution, Nernst Planck;, Lithium-Ion Battery; Battery with Binary Electrode; and Lead-Acid Battery.

Electrochemical Heat Source

A new is now available as a multiphysics coupling node. The multiphysics node offers an alternate way of coupling the electrochemical heat sources from any Electrochemistry interface into a Heat Transfer interface.

Thermodynamic Equilibrium in Electrode Reactions

The node now supports a new Thermodynamic Equilibrium (Primary Condition in the Secondary Current Distribution interface) electrode kinetics type that assumes zero overpotential (negligible voltage losses).

Far-field approximation in Current Distribution, BEM

The Current Distribution, BEM interface now supports a new far-field approximation assembly method. In combination with an iterative solver, the far-field approximation can significantly reduce the computational time and memory usage for large problems.

Porous Electrode and Edge Electrode Improvements

The and the nodes now support the addition of film resistances and dissolving-depositing species (previously, this was only supported in the feature).

Porous Media Transport Properties Feature

A feature has been added the Transport of Concentrated Species interface. This feature includes models for computing effective transport properties dependent on the porosity of the material.

Improved Solver Defaults in Battery Interfaces

The solver defaults in the Lithium-Ion Battery and Battery with Binary Electrolyte interfaces have been improved. In 2D and 3D, the intercalating concentrations are now put into separate groups in a segregated solver. This change reduces the memory requirements for large problems and reduces the computational time.

Pseudo Time Stepping for Transport of Concentrated Species

Pseudo time stepping can now be applied for the Transport of Concentrated Species interface. It can be used to improve the convergence of stationary simulations when the flow is dominated by convection — for example, when the flow is turbulent.

Improved Numerical Stability for high and low SOCs

Now, there is improved numerical stability for high and low SOCs in the Lithium-Ion Battery and Battery with Binary Electrolyte interfaces. The numerical stability when using Lithium Insertion kinetics in the node has been improved for SOC values close to 0 and 100%. The improved kinetics formulation is used by default for new models. In order to use the new kinetics expression in an old model, enable it in the section in the node (only shown when Advanced Physics Options is enabled).

Batteries & Fuel Cells Material Library

Concentration- and temperature-dependent parameters have been added for the LiPF6 in EC:DEC (1:1 by weight) electrolyte in the Batteries & Fuel Cells Material Library.