Tadiran lithium batteries survive -80°C for transport of Covid-19 vaccines

To ensure the proper storage and distribution of cold-chain products, Tadiran offers bobbin-type lithium thionyl chloride (LiSOCl2) batteries that have been modified for use in the cold chain and can survive at temperatures as low as -80°C. This enables wireless sensors to continuously monitor the transport of foods, medicines, vaccines, and tissue specimens that are frozen or packed in dry ice, said the company.

For the transportation of the Covid-19 vaccines, “constant temperature control is needed end-to-end from the manufacturing site to the inoculation sites,” according to an ABI Research report. “Another concern is the need to seamlessly track temperatures and provide alerts for any out-of-spec loads. This involves integrated software, sufficient compute and sensor capabilities throughout, and the cooperation of both public and private entities across multiple modes and likely competitors.”

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The bobbin-type LiSOCl2 batteries feature a non-aqueous electrolyte that can withstand extended operating temperature ranges. These cold-chain batteries also offer 2× the energy density of other leading chemistries, a higher voltage of 3.6 V, and a service life of 20+ years.

The LiSOCl2 batteries are available in 1/2AA, 2/3AA, AA, C, D and DD cylindrical cells; wafer cells, and custom battery packs. Other features include a small form factor and a glass-to-metal hermetic seal. The batteries are ISO-9001 certified and UL recognized.

Other applications for the batteries include GPS asset tracking, RFID, environmental monitoring, and other applications that require long life, high capacity, and high energy density.