any experience with Outlast phase-change material?

[MJSfoto1956]

I'm hoping someone on this list has had some experience (either good or bad) with these guys:

https://outlastlhs.com/battery-matrix/

Seems to be an interesting way to build a battery pack with the additional benefit of longer battery life.

Thoughts?

M

 

[amberwolf]

only reference i know of

https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=84857&p=1241253&hilit=Outlast+phase#p1241253

As far as longer life goes, it will only matter if you are overheating your cells to the phase-change point regularly; otherwise it doesn't really do much for the temperature in the pack, as I understand it.

If you have a large enough pack (or a small one built of cells with low enough internal resistance) to not heat up while under the load your system applies to it, it's better than using any form of pack cooling, because you're using the cells well within their design limits and not losing energy to waste heat in the first place.

If you have cost and space constraints that require using a small pack with cells with higher Ri, the PCM stuff might help the cells' longevity (but they're still wasting energy as heat, so you won't get as much capacity out of them as you could).


If you need cell holders anyway, and the cost difference beween the PCM and regular ones is negligible, not much reason to not use the PCM instead.

 

[PaulD]

No experience with that material, but keep in mind it softens up at phase change temperature. The datasheet says shore 45A at 70c, which is like pencil eraser stiffness. You'll need to have cell support structure other than this.

 

[jonescg]

I have their brochure on my desk right now. As others have stated, it's great for absorbing heat but if it goes through a phase change, it's clearly not designed to be structural.

 

[MJSfoto1956]

No experience with that material, but keep in mind it softens up at phase change temperature. The datasheet says shore 45A at 70c, which is like pencil eraser stiffness. You'll need to have cell support structure other than this.

Yeah, I assume that a battery box is required, not only for support but to keep things water tight. Still, given the benefit it seems to me that if the cost is reasonable it might be better than using the typical plastic cell spacers.

Michael

 

[fechter]

The fact that it prevented propagation when a cell shorted is a pretty big benefit. There may be other (cheaper) materials that would have the same effect.

I wonder how expensive it is?

 

[MJSfoto1956]

As far as longer life goes, it will only matter if you are overheating your cells to the phase-change point regularly;

Lord knows that nobody on this list ever overheats their cells!

M

 

[MJSfoto1956]

I wonder how expensive it is?

I have just been in touch with their sales department. They don't sell to consumers. But they did provide the following insight: "10,000’s sleeves is affordable and in the cents/sleeve range."

So in theory, battery "bricks" could be fabricated with extra thermal protection for around the same price we currently pay for battery bricks fabricated with inexpensive plastic battery spacers.

Michael