Battery knowledge · Aging and degradation

Cycle aging

Degradation caused by charging and discharging: mechanical strain in the particles, fresh SEI on cracked surfaces and, at high rate or low temperature, lithium plating. It scales with charge throughput and grows with depth of discharge and C-rate. [1]

Example

Capacity loss and resistance growth

At the illustrated endpoint: 80% initial capacity and 140% initial resistance.

Chosen qualitative trends. The exposure axis is not predicted cycles or years.

Explore the graph

Energy capability and power capability can degrade differently.

Chosen degradation trends
Chosen degradation trendsRelative life exposure versus Relative to beginning of life (%). Capacity retained; Resistance. Interpretation follows the graphs.50087.50.251250.51630.752001Relative life exposureRelative to beginning oflife (%)
Capacity retainedResistance (dashed)

At the illustrated endpoint: 80% initial capacity and 140% initial resistance.

Capacity ratio = Q_now/Q_initial; resistance ratio = R_now/R_initial

Illustrative model. Chosen qualitative trends. The exposure axis is not predicted cycles or years.

Use in Lemonergy

Design protocol or analysis tool

Repeat charge/discharge

Cycle aging block repeats charge, discharge and rest.

Equation or tool to use

  1. Repeat

    Repeats blocks

    Inputs & settings
    • count
  2. Discharge

    Removes charge

    Inputs & settings
    • mode: cc
    • a / s
  3. Rest

    Sets zero current

    Inputs & settings
    • s
  4. Charge

    Adds charge

    Inputs & settings
    • mode: cc
    • a / s

This overview identifies the components to use. Follow the example in Lemonergy for their connections and settings.

  1. Open Cycle aging block.
  2. Review currents and rests; compare throughput.

Example. Twenty 50%-depth discharges give ten discharge-equivalent full cycles at fixed nominal capacity.

Observe. Cycle count differs from throughput.

Scheduling cycles does not supply calibrated degradation or physical lifetime evidence.

Open Design → Protocol bench →

Learn it in Lesson 4 · Battery aging →

References & further reading

Technical references

  1. Lithium ion battery degradation: what you need to know

    Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics · 2021

    Technical reference · Degradation mechanisms, modes, operational effects and their interactions.