BTDCinsider
An ANDRITZ Bitrode Digital Cycler
The BTDC™ Insider
By: Pierre-Jean Arvers
From the lab to leadership
Smart Design, Reliable Performance
First and foremost, our ANDRITZ Bitrode digital cycler is designed with compactness in mind—allowing engineers to achieve the perfect balance of circuit density:
- 4 circuits per module and 28 circuits per cabinet.
By limiting the system to 28 circuits, we effectively mitigate potential issues like excess heat generation and added weight that could make the system difficult to move.
Additionally, the 28-circuit configuration provides users with 56 large, durable cables to route 300A to their temperature chamber. This setup is not only practical and efficient but also ensures reliable performance without obstructing airflow. This thoughtful design strikes an ideal balance, keeping the system optimized for both functionality and durability.
Beyond its compact design, the BTDC™ is fully modular, making maintenance straightforward. If a circuit requires hardware servicing, the module can be easily removed without disturbing the rest of the system—allowing for quick, focused repairs with minimal downtime.
The Art of Balance:
Fast, Clean, and Reliable Power
While the system’s design is impressive, it’s the electrical characteristics that truly stand out. Battery test systems must balance several competing factors:
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- A fast rise time, below 1 ms, to measure DCIR (DC Internal Resistance) accurately
- Minimal or no overshoot in current or voltage during large transitions
- A clean signal to ensure the acquired data is neither noisy nor distorted by over-filtering
The challenge lies in striking the perfect balance—filtering just enough to achieve clean data without compromising rise time, while avoiding excessive filtering that could introduce overshoot. The BTDC™ excels in this regard, delivering an inherently clean signal that requires minimal filtering. As a result, it achieves an impressive rise time of just 0.75 ms with no overshoot.
Efficiency:
The BTDC™ is a fully regenerative, bidirectional inverter system with exceptional performance. Efficiency varies depending on load, with a worst-case scenario of around 85% when converting a battery DC signal to a grid AC signal. This is particularly notable given the difficulty of regenerating energy from a cell voltage of 3–4V to grid voltages in the hundreds of volts.
Additionally, discharged energy is first reused within the cabinet for charging operations, boosting overall efficiency to over 90%. For laboratories, this can translate to a 75% reduction in air conditioning requirements.
Accuracy:
The BTDC™ also sets a new standard for accuracy. For years, the industry benchmark for cell testing has been 0.05%. But with larger cells outputting 300A, that equates to a margin of 150 mA. The BTDC™ achieves remarkable accuracy—0.02% in current and 0.015% in voltage. These conservative figures represent an unprecedented leap in precision for high-current systems.
Reliability:
For over 70 years, Bitrode has been renowned for building battery testing systems that are not only reliable, but often described as virtually indestructible or even “bulletproof.” The BTDC™ continues this legacy, engineered with Bitrode’s proven principles of reliability, serviceability, and long-term durability.
Build to Last:
ANDRITZ Bitrode has been known for decades as the maker of “bulletproof” battery testing equipment. The BTDC proudly continues this legacy, built with the same reliability, serviceability, and long-term durability the industry has trusted for over 70 years.
From Vision to Validation:
The BTDC™ Delivers!
Now you know—the ANDRITZ Bitrode BTDC™ isn’t just another battery test system. It’s the result of decades of engineering experience, deep industry insight, and a relentless commitment to quality. From the smallest detail in its design to its unmatched electrical performance, the BTDC™ delivers reliability and accuracy you can count on—day in and day out.
Whether you’re scaling up R&D, improving validation accuracy, or optimizing your energy lab’s efficiency, the BTDC™ offers the right mix of performance, serviceability, and long-term ROI. It reflects Bitrode’s promise: to engineer systems that power innovation—not limit it.
When you’re ready to test smarter and scale further—Bitrode’s BTDC™ will be ready.
