Journal Article Investigates Explosion Hazards from Lithium-Ion Battery Thermal Runaway Gas
The new peer-reviewed journal article, Experimental Investigation of Explosion Hazard from Lithium-Ion Battery Thermal Runaway has been published in FUEL. The paper was authored by Nate Sauer and Adam Barowy from the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes, as well as Benjamin Gaudet from UL Solutions. As part FSRI’s Impact of Batteries on Fire Dynamics research project, the paper investigates the explosion hazards of lithium-ion battery thermal runaway gas.
Investigating the Explosion Hazards from Lithium-Ion Battery Thermal Runaway Effluent Gas
As adoption of lithium-ion battery technology increases worldwide, safety hazards from fire and explosions present a real concern to the fire service. To better understand the hazards, 21 experiments were conducted within a full-scale garage structure designed based on demographic data and modern North American construction. The experiments included two flammable gas mixtures derived from commercial testing of nickel cobalt aluminum oxide and lithium iron phosphate cathode cells with the UL 9540A methodology including gas chromatography to determine gas composition. Experiments were designed to simulate:
- prompt-ignition of flammable off-gas emanating from an energy storage system (ESS) lithium-ion battery experiencing propagating thermal runaway; and
- delayed-ignition deflagration occurring after ESS lithium-ion battery off-gas accumulates and mixes within the garage volume
During tests, pressure rise within the enclosed garage was measured using high-speed piezoelectric pressure transducers. Overpressure data was compared to known ranges for structural damage and bodily injury thresholds while time-resolved overpressure was compared to vented explosion models. Correlations were developed between gas volume and measured impulse and overpressure.
“As we see more incidents related to explosions of lithium-ion batteries, there is a clear need for concrete data to characterize the associated hazards. This data can facilitate conversations about how to mitigate the risks associated with thermal runaway.”
—Nate Sauer, post-doctoral researcher, FSRI
The Impact of Explosions Resulting from Lithium-Ion Battery Thermal Runaway Gas
Data shows that when lithium-ion batteries fail and go into thermal runaway, the accumulation of thermal runaway gas poses an explosion hazard. This study finds that battery sizes such as those found in electric lawn mowers, electric vehicles, and e-mobility devices may produce enough gas during thermal runaway to damage a residential structure and risk injury to first responders or occupants. Report findings summarize the relationship between battery size and potential explosion severity. The data is freely available to the public through an online repository.
About FUEL:
Research into energy sources is a critical area of study. For nearly 90 years, FUEL has been the leading source of research in fuel science. The research scope is broad and includes many topics of increasing interest such as environmental aspects and pollution.
