Capacity degradation of Lithium-ion batteries at subzero temperatures, especially in high altitude drones, portable energy storage devices of military personnel etc., leads to increased system weight or frequent disposal of batteries. Large energy storage systems such as electric vehicles have external sources such as heat coils, which raise the temperature of the battery packs to a desired value by circulating the hot air or heat conducting liquid through the packs. However, such arrangements are not always feasible especially in weight and volume constrained environments. A GaN-based power electronic preheater converter, as an add-on to the portable battery packs, is being developed that heats the batteries from its core and minimizes the heat lost in the surroundings/environment in the conventional heating arrangements.
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