Cleaning and maintenance methods and skills for lithium battery packs

First, in terms of cleanliness

(1) Preparations before cleaning

Safe power-off: Before cleaning the lithium battery pack, it is essential to ensure that the battery pack has been completely powered off. This can be achieved by turning off the power switch of the battery pack and unplugging the connection wires to external devices. This step is of vital importance because cleaning while powered on May lead to electric shock accidents and also potentially damage the electronic components inside the battery pack. For instance, when cleaning the battery pack of an electric vehicle, it is necessary to first turn off the vehicle and disconnect the battery pack from the drive system.

Prepare tools and protective equipment: Get ready with tools suitable for cleaning lithium battery packs, such as soft brushes, vacuum cleaners, and clean microfiber cloths, etc. At the same time, personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and goggles should be worn properly to prevent accidents during the cleaning process.

(2) External cleaning

Remove dust and debris: Use a soft brush to gently brush off the dust and debris on the surface of the battery pack's casing. For some crevices and corners, a vacuum cleaner can be used for cleaning. Avoid using sharp tools or excessive force to prevent scratching the battery pack casing. For instance, when cleaning industrial energy storage battery packs, a brush can be gently brushed along the texture direction of the battery pack to gather the dust together, which can then be sucked away by a vacuum cleaner.

Wipe the casing: Use a microfiber cloth dipped in an appropriate amount of cleaner (note that the cleaner should be neutral to avoid corroding the battery pack casing) and gently wipe the battery pack casing. When wiping, apply force evenly to ensure that the surface of the shell is clean and tidy. After cleaning is completed, dry the outer shell with a clean microfiber cloth to prevent water residue. For instance, when cleaning a household solar energy storage battery pack, you can first spray the cleaner onto a microfiber cloth, then gently wipe the battery pack's outer shell, and finally dry it with a dry cloth.

(3) Internal cleaning (If necessary and with professional conditions)

Ventilation and heat dissipation component cleaning: If there are ventilation and heat dissipation components inside the battery pack, such as fans and heat sinks, they need to be cleaned regularly. For fans, compressed air can be used to blow away the dust on the blades. For heat sinks, you can use a soft brush or vacuum cleaner to clean the dust between them. During the cleaning process, be careful not to damage the heat dissipation components. For instance, in high-performance server battery packs, the cleaning of cooling fans and heat sinks is crucial for ensuring the heat dissipation effect of the battery pack.

Inspection and cleaning of electrical connection parts: Check the electrical connection parts inside the battery pack, such as battery terminals and connection wires, for any dust, oxides, etc. If available, you can use a dedicated cleaner or sandpaper for cleaning. After cleaning, make sure the connection parts are dry and clean, and apply an appropriate amount of conductive paste to ensure a good electrical connection. However, it should be noted that non-professionals are not advised to clean and operate the interior by themselves to avoid safety issues.

Second, regarding maintenance

(1) Regular inspection

Visual inspection: Regularly inspect the appearance of the battery pack to check for any damage, deformation, cracks or other conditions on the casing. If any damage to the casing is found, it should be repaired or replaced in a timely manner to prevent moisture, dust and other substances from entering the battery pack, which could affect the battery's performance and safety. For instance, the battery packs of mobile power banks used outdoors are more prone to shell damage due to long-term exposure to harsh environments, and it is necessary to enhance the appearance inspection.

Electrical parameter inspection: Use professional battery testing equipment to regularly check the electrical parameters such as voltage, current and internal resistance of the battery pack. By comparing it with the normal parameter range of the battery pack, determine whether the working state of the battery pack is normal. If abnormal electrical parameters are found, timely investigation and handling should be carried out. For instance, in the maintenance of electric vehicle battery packs, by detecting the voltage and internal resistance of the battery pack, one can understand the health status and remaining capacity of the battery.

Inspection of connection points: Check whether the electrical connection points inside the battery pack are loose or have poor contact. You can use tools such as a wrench to tighten the connecting bolts appropriately, but be careful not to apply excessive force to avoid damaging the connecting components. At the same time, check whether the connecting wires are damaged or aged. If so, replace them in time.

(2) Battery balancing maintenance

Understand the principle of equalization: During the charging and discharging process of a battery pack, due to the differences among individual batteries, some batteries may experience overcharging or overdischarging, which can affect the overall performance and lifespan of the battery pack. Battery balancing technology is to balance the voltage and capacity of each cell in a battery pack through certain methods.

Regularly perform balancing operations: Based on the usage of the battery pack and the manufacturer's recommendations, regularly carry out balancing operations on the battery pack. The balancing operation can be automatically completed through the Battery management system (BMS), or it can be manually balanced using dedicated balancing equipment. During the balancing process, it is necessary to closely monitor the voltage and temperature changes of the battery pack to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the balancing operation.

(3) Storage and transportation maintenance

Storage environment requirements: If lithium battery packs need to be stored for a long time, a dry, well-ventilated and temperature-appropriate environment should be selected. The storage temperature is generally recommended to be between -20℃ and 40℃. Avoid storing the battery pack at excessively high or low temperatures to prevent affecting the battery's performance and lifespan. At the same time, the battery pack should be stored in a place far away from fire sources, flammable materials and corrosive substances.

Storage power control: When storing battery packs, the power of the battery packs should be controlled at around 40% to 60%. This power range can reduce the self-discharge and aging speed of the battery. Regularly check the battery pack's power in storage. If the power is too low, charge it in time.

Transportation precautions: When transporting lithium battery packs, dedicated packaging materials should be used to ensure that the battery packs are not subject to collision, compression or vibration during transportation. At the same time, relevant transportation regulations must be followed, such as clearly marking the type, capacity and other information of the battery pack to avoid safety accidents during transportation.

(4) Maintenance of usage habits

Avoid overcharging and overdischarging: Strictly follow the battery pack's user manual for charging and discharging operations to prevent overcharging or overdischarging of the battery pack. Overcharging can lead to an increase in internal pressure and temperature of the battery, and even cause safety accidents such as explosions. Over-discharging can damage the positive and negative electrode materials of the battery, reducing its capacity and lifespan. For example, when using the battery pack of a mobile phone, do not wait until the battery is completely drained before charging, nor overcharge it for a long time.

Control the charging and discharging current: Operate according to the rated charging and discharging current of the battery pack, and avoid using too large or too small current for charging and discharging. Excessive current can cause the battery to heat up severely, affecting its performance and safety. A current that is too small will prolong the charging and discharging time and reduce the utilization efficiency.