Experimental evaluation of aging indicators for lithium–iron–phosphate cells

Degradation mechanism of batteries has to be carefully studied when considering their utilization in electrical power systems. This paper presents the results of an extensive experimental campaign, through which three different lithium–iron–phosphate (LFP) cells were subjected to different electrical cycling stresses. The purpose of the campaign was to evaluate the cells’ aging, as well as to try to find parameters on the cell behavior before its end of life, able to act as state-of-life (SOL) (or aging) indicators. The considered stress consists of the cyclic repetition of fixed-duration discharge steps, followed by full charge phases. The three cells under study were subjected to the very same stress pattern but with three different discharge and charge power levels: low, medium, and high. The results showed that the end-of-discharge voltage and the cell internal resistance can be used as good SOL indicators. However, both are significant functions of the cell conditions, such as the state of charge (SOC) and the cell temperature.