Tongzhou Weipu MCm Integrated Circulating Chiller for EV Battery Cell Testing

Overview

The Tongzhou Weipu MCm Integrated Circulating Chiller is an engineered thermal management solution specifically designed for electrochemical testing of lithium-ion battery components—including individual cells, modules, and full battery packs—under controlled, dynamic temperature conditions. Operating on a closed-loop refrigeration cycle with integrated heating and cooling capability, the MCm system delivers precise, bidirectional thermal regulation across a wide operational range (–20 °C to 95 °C). Its compact all-in-one architecture eliminates the need for external heat exchangers or auxiliary fluid reservoirs, enabling direct integration into automated battery test benches and environmental simulation chambers. The system employs a dual-stage refrigerant circuit combined with PID-controlled electric heating elements to achieve rapid thermal ramping, stable setpoint maintenance (±0.5 °C), and seamless transition between heating and cooling modes—critical for simulating real-world thermal stress profiles during abuse testing, cycle life validation, and safety qualification per UN 38.3, IEC 62660, and GB/T 31485.

Key Features

• Integrated design with built-in refrigeration compressor, expansion valve, heater, circulation pump, and PID controller—all housed in a single industrial-grade enclosure
• Wide operational temperature span (–20 °C to 95 °C) supporting both cryogenic characterization and high-temperature aging protocols
• Adjustable cooling capacity from 3 kW to 15 kW (at 25 °C ambient), scalable via modular refrigerant charge and pump flow optimization
• High-precision temperature stability of ±0.5 °C under steady-state load, verified per ISO/IEC 17025-accredited calibration procedures
• Stainless steel fluid reservoir and corrosion-resistant internal wetted parts compatible with common heat transfer fluids (e.g., water-glycol mixtures)
• Programmable ramp-soak profiles supporting cold/heat shock sequences, constant-power dissipation tests, and multi-step thermal cycling
• Front-panel touchscreen interface with real-time monitoring of outlet temperature, flow rate, pressure differential, and system fault codes

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The MCm chiller interfaces directly with standard battery test fixtures using 1/2″–3/4″ NPT or G-threaded ports and supports both internal recirculation (for thermal conditioning of sealed test chambers) and external open-loop configurations (for direct immersion or jacketed cell testing). It complies with CE marking requirements for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC Directive 2014/30/EU) and low-voltage safety (LVD Directive 2014/35/EU). Fluid-side construction meets ISO 8502-3 cleanliness standards for non-contaminating thermal systems. When deployed in regulated R&D environments, the MCm supports GLP-compliant data logging when paired with optional analog/digital I/O modules for traceable temperature and flow records.

Software & Data Management

The MCm includes native Modbus RTU and Ethernet/IP communication protocols for integration into LabVIEW, Python-based test automation frameworks, or commercial battery cyclers (e.g., Arbin, Bio-Logic, MACCOR). Optional firmware upgrade enables time-stamped CSV export of temperature, flow, and power consumption data at user-defined intervals (100 ms to 5 s resolution). Audit trail functionality—aligned with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 principles—can be enabled via external SCADA systems to record operator actions, parameter changes, and alarm events with electronic signature support.

Applications

• Dynamic thermal cycling of prismatic, cylindrical, and pouch cells under variable SOC/SOH conditions
• Calorimetric evaluation of heat generation during charge/discharge pulses (e.g., for ΔH estimation)
• Cold-start performance validation at –20 °C and high-rate discharge at 60–85 °C
• Thermal runaway propagation studies requiring rapid cooldown intervention post-trigger
• Environmental stress screening (ESS) of battery management systems (BMS) and cell interconnects
• Validation of thermal interface materials (TIMs) and cold plate designs under realistic thermal loads

FAQ

What types of heat transfer fluids are compatible with the MCm system?
Water-glycol mixtures (typically 20–30% propylene glycol by volume) are recommended for freeze protection and corrosion inhibition; deionized water may be used above 5 °C.
Can the MCm operate continuously at its maximum cooling capacity?
Yes—the system is rated for continuous duty at full 15 kW output under ambient conditions ≤30 °C and adequate ventilation (min. 500 m³/h airflow around condenser).
Does the MCm support remote control via Ethernet or USB?
Standard configuration includes RS-485 (Modbus RTU); Ethernet/IP and USB-to-serial adapters are available as factory-installed options.
Is NIST-traceable calibration documentation provided?
A factory calibration certificate (per ISO/IEC 17025) is included; full NIST-traceable calibration services are available upon request through Tongzhou Weipu’s authorized metrology partner network.
How is thermal uniformity ensured across multiple parallel test channels?
The MCm features a balanced manifold design with individual flow meters and proportional valves per outlet—enabling independent flow tuning to maintain ±1.0 °C inter-channel deviation under matched load conditions.