Articles

Demystifying the Rechargeable Power System

September 16, 2011 – ICCNexergy’s article Published In Product Design and Development discusses how the total system approach to design is critical for the IT industry.

Lithium Ion Battery Assembly Challenges

January 14, 2011 – This article, published in ECN Magazine, compares the capacity, cycle life and energy densities of various battery chemistries. This article also discusses design considerations for balancing system load demands with reliability and safety.

Charging Forward With Lithium-Ion Battery Technology

November 12, 2010 – In this Medical Design Technology cover story, we outline the benefits of lithium-ion battery technology for wireless medical devices. The article explains how design engineers can achieve a compact design and extended battery life through proper cell selection and improved battery management.

Safety and Protection for Advanced Lithium Batteries

November 10, 2010 – Originally written for Battery Power, this ICCNexergy article explains the subtle, but important difference between the battery pack and battery cell. The article also explains the different layers of safety and protection needed to incorporate lithium-ion technology.

Charging System Design: Custom Versus Off-The-Shelf

Advances in lithium-ion battery technology have created new opportunities for the development of portable devices. As these new devices demand more performance and longer battery life, newer and more innovative methods of battery management must be developed and adopted. While efficient charging is a key element of battery management, proper charging methods and charging management…

Headlines In Battery Technology

Headlines about “new battery technology” are more frequent because of renewable energy, electric vehicles and energy storage for the power grid. Actually, such headlines have been commonplace for some time. Of course, this is not to contend that MIT scientists haven’t developed a battery that will allow charging in 10-30 seconds. The real issue is…

Elpac Brand 80 Watt Open Frame Power Supply Recognized for Its Green and Energy Efficient Design

Chicago, IL — International Components Corporation (ICC) recently introduced 2 new series of 80 watt open frame power supplies marketed under the Elpac Power Systems brand. The 80 watt series, designed for both medical (MTB080) and industrial (FTB080) applications, provides: A power density of 12.5 watts per cubic inch. Converter efficiencies up to 91 percent….

What are some of the most common mistakes engineers make when designing in batteries?

Among the most common mistakes that are made in the selection of batteries is not properly identifying the applicable regulatory requirements related to lithium ion battery safety and ignoring the impact those requirements have on the battery and host design in the early design stages. Environmental regulations have become rather well known, but battery-related safety…

Iron Phosphate Builds a Better Battery

Lithium ion (Li-ion) has become the battery chemistry of choice for most medical devices. Its main advantage is its high energy density by weight and volume. It is greater than older chemistries such as nickel cadmium (NiCd), nickel metal hydride (NiMH), and lead-acid (Pb-acid). This has pushed Li-ion batteries into a wide range of medical…

Building a Better Battery Pack

Battery-powered medical devices have advantages for medical practitioners. For instance, devices immediately power-up, work indoors and out, in sterile rooms as needed, and of course without attaching to power or pneumatic supplies. It is no wonder manufacturers are turning out battery-powered equipment for emergency care, combat zones, surgical departments, and for in-home use. Regardless of…