BEST – Battery and Electrochemistry Simulation Tool

The Battery and Electrochemistry Simulation Tool (BEST) is our software environment for the physics-based three-dimensional Multiscale Simulation of lithium-ion batteries.

In contrast to phenomenological surrogate models, »physics-based« means we describe ion, charge and energy transport by physical laws formulated as partial differential equations, see Workflow.

We provide more information on the simulation model in the following publications:

• G. Less, J. H. Seo, S. S. Han, A. M. Sastry: Micro-Scale Modeling of Li-Ion Batteries: Parameterization and Validation, J. Electrochem. Soc. 159 (2012) A697-A704
• A. Latz and J. Zausch: Thermodynamic consistent transport theory of Li-ion batteries, Journal of Power Sources 196 (2011) 3296–3302

Our strength is to combine this kind of modelling with specifically developed, efficient numerical solvers that are implemented in C++ in our own software product BEST.

With BEST we Provide a Simulation Tool for:

• Predicting cell performance
• Virtual cell design on microscopic electrode scale ( e.g. optimization of binder content and distribution) and macroscopic cell level (e.g. cell format or tab-size and placement)
• Optimizing charging strategies
• Analysis of limiting factors using e.g. rate tests or electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)
• Investigating aging and degradation phenomena, e.g. Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) growth, mechanical aging, lithium plating
• and more

The usage of BEST is not limited to the above applications. BEST is constantly extended and adapted to the needs of our customers.

Special Features and Projects

• Silicon-based anodes: voltage hysteresis, electrode expansion and mechanical degradation (Projects DEFACTO and ALIB)
• Prediction of heat production (Project TopBat) and analysis of internal resistances
• Electrochemical degradation (Projects structur.e  and MULTIBAT)
• Electrode structuring and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (Projects ABBA-VEEB, structur.e, and Cell-Fi)
• Coupling to virtual vehicle simulation (Project MultiskalenBEV)
   

Coupling to Other Software Tools

• To describe the mechanical cell behaviour and the state-of-charge dependent electrode expansion we combine the strengths of BEST and our efficient structural mechanics solver FeelMath.
• BEST is also available in the module BatteryDict of the GeoDict software of Math2Market. There it integrates completely with GeoDicts capabilities for microstructure generation, import of micro-computed tomographies, and structure analysis.
• By providing a library interface we use BEST in the virtual vehicle simulation environment VMC.