September 23, 2024

How Do Lithium Batteries Manufacturers Support IoT in Water Metering?

Lithium battery manufacturers play a vital role in powering IoT-based smart water metering systems by providing long-lasting, high-energy-density battery solutions that ensure reliable operation for up to 10–20 years.

These manufacturers design specialized primary lithium batteries, such as Li-SOCl₂ cells, to meet the ultra-low power consumption and wide temperature range required by NB-IoT and LoRa communication modules.

They also offer customized battery packs with features like low self-discharge rates, high pulse capability, and robust sealing to support continuous data transmission, remote monitoring, and leak detection in harsh outdoor environments.

Who Are The Top 10 Lithium Battery Manufacturers?

    • CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited):

A leading global lithium battery manufacturer, especially lithium-ion batteries.

    • LG Energy Solution:

A major South Korean producer of batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems.

    • Panasonic:

A Japanese company known for its long history in battery production, supplying to various industries, including electric vehicles.

    • Samsung SDI:

A South Korean company that provides high-performance lithium battery solutions for EVs, energy storage, and consumer electronics.

    • BYD:

A Chinese company that manufactures lithium-ion and LiFePO4 batteries.

    • A123 Systems:

An American company specializing in advanced lithium-ion batteries.

    • EVE Energy:

A Chinese manufacturer with a strong presence in the global lithium battery market.

    • SK Innovation:

A South Korean company also involved in lithium battery production.

    • Tesla:

While known for its electric cars, Tesla also produces its own batteries and has a significant role in the lithium battery industry.

    • Long Sing:

A Hong Kong company with lithium ion factory in mainland China, has a significant presence in the battery market, particularly in China.

    • QuantumScape:

A company focused on developing solid-state lithium-metal battery technology.

What About Battery for Water Metering

In the rapidly evolving world of water metering, the role of lithium battery manufacturer cannot be overstated.

The water metering market has witnessed a significant transformation in recent years, with a growing demand for reliable, efficient, and long-lasting power sources.

One of the prominent lithium ion battery manufacturers in the water metering market is Long Sing Technology Group (Hong Kong) Limited.

With years of experience and a strong R&D department, Long Sing Technology Group (Hong Kong) Limited has been able to develop lithium batteries specifically tailored for water meters.

Their batteries offer high energy density, ensuring that water meters can operate for extended periods without the need for frequent battery replacements.

This not only reduces maintenance costs for water utilities but also enhances the overall reliability of the metering system.

Water utilities are transitioning from conventional metering to smart metering by leveraging IoT connectivity enables by LPWAN technologies such as LoRa, NB IoT, LTE-M, etc.

Take NB-IoT as an example, the typical range of input voltage of a NB-IoT module is from 3 V to 4.2 V, with a typical voltage of 3.6 V.

The current consumption is similar to Figure 1-1. The typical peak current is about 250 mA.

Water meter with integrated LoRa/NB-IoT connectitiy and remote valve control is a compelling solution for modernizing water management systems.

Features include real time water consumption monitoring, leak detection, remote valve control and tamper detection. Smart Water Valve utilises LoRa/NB-IoT technology to offer a battery operated shut off valve.

Smart Water Valve utilises LoRa/NB-IoT technology to offer a battery operated shut off valve.

A LiSOCl2 battery can better support a 3V electromagnetic valve, which is a more popular choice for smart meter applications.

The weakness of a LiSOCl2 battery from lithium ion factoryis that the maximum continuous current and pulse current capability is limited.

Take an 8.5 Ah LiSOCl2 battery (Long Sing ER26500) as an example, the maximum recommended continuous current is 100mA and the maximum 1 sec, pulse capability is 200mA.

Because of this, it is common to parallel the hybrid pulse capacitor (HPC) or the supercapacitor with the LiSOCl2 battery to support the high pulse current for data transmission.

Another characteristic of the LiSOCl2 battery is that the battery capacity is related to the discharging current and the working temperature.

The battery capacity is about 8.5 Ah with 3mA discharging current at 25 °C.

However, the capacity drops to 2Ah (a 76% reduction) with a 100 mA load as shown in Figure 1-2.

It is better to control the discharge current of a LiSOCl2 battery to get a higher capacity and thus, increase the working lifetime.

To address this growing need, Long Sing developed the IOT battery, which combines a standard bobbin-type LiSOCL2 battery with a Hybrid Pulse Capacitor(aka hybrid supercapacitor).

This combination allows advanced metering devices to operate continuously with low background current, periodically drawing high current pulses for data transmission, then returning to a low current “sleep” or “standby” state.

The batteries are available in a 3.6V system that indicates when approximately 95% of the battery’s capacity has been exhausted, and a 3.9V system that indicates when approximately 90% of available battery capacity has been used up.

They have focused on improving the safety features of their lithium batteries.

In the context of water meters, which are often installed in various environments, including potentially damp or corrosive areas, the safety of the battery is of utmost importance.

Long Sing’s primary lithium batteries have passed IEC60086-4 and ATEX test reports. This ensures the safety of both the water meter and the surrounding environment.

The manufacturing process of lithium battery manufacturer involves strict quality control measures.

From the selection of raw materials to the final assembly and testing, every step is carefully monitored from lithium ion factory.

This guarantees that the batteries meet the high standards required for use in water meters.

For instance, they need to be able to withstand temperature variations, as water meters may be exposed to both extreme heat in summer and cold in winter.

The competition among lithium ion battery manufacturers in the water metering market is intense.

This has led to continuous innovation.

Some manufacturers are working on developing batteries with even longer lifespans, while others are focusing on reducing the size and weight of the batteries without sacrificing performance.

This innovation is crucial for meeting the diverse needs of the water metering industry.

Furthermore, lithium ion battery manufacturers are collaborating with water meter manufacturers to optimize the integration of batteries into the meters.

This collaboration ensures that the batteries are seamlessly incorporated into the design of the water meters, maximizing their performance and efficiency.

They also work together to address any compatibility issues that may arise.

The future of lithium battery manufacturer in the water metering market looks promising.

With the increasing adoption of smart water meters and the growing demand for efficient water management, the need for reliable lithium batteries will continue to rise.

Manufacturers will need to keep up with the technological advancements and evolving market requirements to stay competitive.

Conclusion

Lithium battery manufacturers play a vital role in the water metering market.

Their efforts in developing high-quality, safe, and efficient batteries have a direct impact on the performance and reliability of water meters.

Through continuous innovation and collaboration, they are shaping the future of the water metering industry.

Li ion factory ensures water utilities can provide accurate and efficient water metering services to consumers.

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