SAE Paper “New Leak Detection Methodology to Protect Against Microscopic Leaks and Water Ingress in Battery Cells, Battery Packs and ADAS Sensors”

Ingress protection standards published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) classify and rate the degree of protection provided by mechanical casings and electrical enclosures against intrusion, dust, accidental contact and water. Preventing ingress of water is highly important for many automotive components, especially for any electric or electronic components, including:

• battery packs
• traditional automotive sensors like oxygen sensors, acceleration sensors, etc.
• ADAS sensors:LIDAR, radar, etc.
• Electric motors
• fuel cell stacks
• and many others

INFICON has done significant investigations on how to convert the requirements for preventing water ingress into quantifiable leak rate specifications.

All findings have now been summarized in a paper by our application engineer, Marc Blaufuss, which been published by the Society of American Engineers (SAE). The paper provides empirical results to show leak sizes that allow either water ingress or egress at typical operating pressures and translate these results into test gas leakage rates. The paper titled "New Leak Detection Methodology to Protect against Microscopic Leaks and Water Ingress in Battery Cells, Battery Packs and ADAS Sensors" is available for download here:

https://www.sae.org/publications/technical-papers/content/2021-01-0754/

For more information on leak testing of battery cells, battery packs and ADAS sensors, contact your local sales office, or email us at reachus@inficon.com or download our new e-book on "E-Mobility – Leak Testing for Electric and Fuel Cell Vehicles"