Virtual instrumentation based laboratory for batteries testing

This paper presents a new virtual instrumentation based laboratory used for electrical processes occurring during charging and discharging phases of batteries cells. After a short presentation of the current solutions on the market in the batteries field, measured quantities and their variation ranges are determined. It proposes a block diagram of the laboratory and presents the hardware and software elements of the equipment. The charger/discharger is a computer pending current /voltage source and sink aimed to test the charging/ discharging properties of various battery types, voltage and capacity. The experimental results indicate a correct data acquisition and processing capabilities specific of virtual instrumentation.