Evaluation_Engineering_October_2020 - 26

AUTOMATED TEST

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Screen options of Synergy Nano Advanced Temperature controller

of field conditions. Conductive heat transfer, as with thermal
platforms, also facilitates a spark-free environment with easy
provision for battery venting as needed along with the improved
heat transfer.
A proper test environment should combine the benefits of
conductive heat transfer of a thermal platform with traditional
chamber-type convection heat transfer. An additional desired
capability is being able to drive two independent temperatures
at one time for other purposes. This functionality is useful for
example, simulating cold start conditions where operation with
large temperature differentials need to be verified.
For example, the majority of TotalTemp products use Liquid
Nitrogen as a coolant. L-N2 quickly provides cooling at nearly
any rate or load capacity needed to accomplish testing as specified, or otherwise as quickly as required. Liquid Nitrogen is very
cost effective in heat removal per BTU plus a couple of hidden
factors. The simplicity of liquid nitrogen cooling systems with
just one moving part is hard to beat for initial cost savings and
long term reliability.

Addressing the issue of thermal control, the company's
Synergy Nano temperature controller simplifies and automates
many testing functions, using a bus interface with remote functionality, GPIB, RS232, RS485, and web server control. The controller also supports Telnet and FTP protocols, with sample code
and drivers for LabVIEW, C++ and Python available. Intelligent
multiple point temperature control (Cascade control) is also
very useful and can be easily implemented to increase the effectiveness in getting parts to temperature faster.
This function allows the user to specify a controlled maximum
amount of temperature overshoot, while monitoring key device
locations to allow faster approach to the desired temperature
without overstressing batteries. Multipoint logging capabilities provide useful test data and easily save the big costs of
independent temperature logging gear. Additional data storage
is automatically correlated with the setpoint temperatures or
other data. Detailed options of which and how much data to be
logged are provided. Logging configurations are easily managed
for logging durations and buffer management to prevent lost
or overwritten data.
Additionally, the Synergy supports alarm inputs and outputs
for sensors such as open door, gas detection, and out-of-range
conditions, to name a few. Further capabilities include automated transfer of test data to a server location to keep results
safe (cloud features) and organized without technician intervention. Test results can even be automatically emailed as a
PDF or plotted on a network printer. Alarm conditions can be
programmed to halt with requirement of user intervention or
to just resume if error conditions subside.
Audible, visual, email or text message alerts can be easily
configured to report end-of-test or error conditions that require
operator attention. Other customization features for battery
testing include regulated gas purge systems with multiple flowmeters, as previously mentioned CO and H2 detection, hold down
clamping and special exhaust or muffler provisions.

Display of
controlled
overshoot to
get device to
temperature
faster.

EVALUATION ENGINEERING OCTOBER 2020

Evaluation_Engineering_October_2020

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