journal article·2020-05-18Open access

Comprehensive Hazard Analysis of Failing Automotive Lithium-Ion Batteries in Overtemperature Experiments

Christiane Essl, Andrey W. Golubkov, Eva Gasser, Manfred Nachtnebel, Armin Zankel, Eduard Ewert, Anton Fuchs

Batteries· Volume 6· Issue 2

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are gaining importance in the automotive sector because of the potential of electric vehicles (EVs) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. However, there are serious hazards resulting from failing battery cells leading to exothermic chemical reactions inside the cell, called thermal runaway (TR). Literature of quantifying the failing behavior of modern automotive high capacity cells is rare and focusing on single hazard categories such as heat generation. Thus, the aim of this study is to quantify several hazard relevant parameters of a failing currently used battery cell extracted from a modern mass-produced EV: the temperature response of the cell, the maximum reached cell surface temperature, the amount of produced vent gas, the gas venting rate, the composition of the produced gases including electrolyte vapor and the size and composition of the produced particles at TR. For this purpose, overtemperature experiments with fresh 41 Ah automotive lithium NMC/LMO—graphite pouch cells at different state-of-charge (SOC) 100%, 30% and 0% are performed. The results are valuable for firefighters, battery pack designers, cell recyclers, cell transportation and all who deal with batteries.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advanced Battery Technologies Research · Advancements in Battery Materials · Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

VIRTUAL VEHICLE Research GmbH, Inffeldgasse 21a, 8010 Graz, Austria

Graz Centre for Electron Microscopy, Steyrergasse 17, 8010 Graz, Austria

Institute of Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis, NAWI Graz, Graz University of Technology, Steyrergasse 17, 8010 Graz, Austria

Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft, Porschestr. 911, 71287 Weissach, Germany

Funding

Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft

References (59)

Show source-provided references
1. Wagner, I. (2020, March 02). 2017—Statista-Statistic_id264754_Worldwide-Vehicle-Sales-by-Propulsion-Technology-2017-2030 (1).pdf. Statista. Available online: https://www.statista.com/statistics/264754/worldwide-vehicle-sales-by-propulsion-technology-2025/.
2. Ahlswede, A. (2020, March 02). 2020—Statista-Statistic_id681259_Absatz-von-Elektroautos-in-Ausgewaehlten-Maerkten-Weltweit-Bis-2019.pdf. Statista. Available online: https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/681259/umfrage/absatz-von-elektroautos-in-ausgewaehlten-maerkten-weltweit/.
3. Sun, P., Bisschop, R., Niu, H., and Huang, X. (2020). A Review of Battery Fires in Electric Vehicles, Springer.10.1007/s10694-019-00944-3 ↗
4. Pfrang, A., Kriston, A., Ruiz, V., Lebedeva, N., and di Persio, F. (2017). Safety of Rechargeable Energy Storage Systems with a Focus on Li-Ion Technology, Elsevier Inc.10.1016/B978-0-323-42977-1.00008-X ↗
5. Abuse behavior of high-power, lithium-ion cells10.1016/S0378-7753(02)00488-3 ↗
6. A Critical Review of Thermal Issues in Lithium-Ion Batteries10.1149/1.3515880 ↗
7. Thermal Behavior of Lithiated Graphite with Electrolyte in Lithium-Ion Batteries10.1149/1.2139955 ↗
8. The development and future of lithium ion batteries10.1149/2.0251701jes ↗
9. Thermal stability of LiPF6 salt and Li-ion battery electrolytes containing LiPF610.1016/j.jpowsour.2006.03.058 ↗
10. Thermal runaway potential of LiCoO2 and Li(Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)O2 batteries determined with adiabatic calorimetry methodology10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.05.064 ↗
11. Orendorff, C.J., Lamb, J., Steele, L.A.M., Spangler, S.W., and Langendorf, J. (2016). Quantification of Lithium-Ion Cell Thermal Runaway Energetics, Sandia Report.10.2172/1236109 ↗
12. The combustion behavior of large scale lithium titanate battery10.1038/srep07788 ↗
13. Thermal runaway features of large format prismatic lithium ion battery using extended volume accelerating rate calorimetry10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.01.005 ↗
14. In-operando high-speed tomography of lithium-ion batteries during thermal runaway10.1038/ncomms7924 ↗
15. A combustion chemistry analysis of carbonate solvents used in Li-ion batteries10.1016/j.jpowsour.2009.04.030 ↗
16. Mikolajczak, C., Michael Kahn, P., White, K., and Thomas Long, R. (2011). Lithium-Ion Batteries Hazard and Use Assessment Final Report, Fire Protection Research Foundation.10.1007/978-1-4614-3486-3 ↗
17. Roth, E.P., Doughty, D.H., and Franklin, J. (2004). DSC investigation of exothermic reactions occurring at elevated temperatures in lithium-ion anodes containing PVDF-based binders. J. Power Sources.10.1016/j.jpowsour.2004.03.074 ↗
18. A comparative investigation of aging effects on thermal runaway behavior of lithium-ion batteries10.1016/j.etran.2019.100034 ↗
19. Thermal runaway of large automotive Li-ion batteries10.1039/C8RA06458J ↗
20. Thermal runaway caused fire and explosion of lithium ion battery10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.02.038 ↗
21. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry as a suitable tool for the li-ion battery electrolyte degradation mechanisms study10.1021/ac101948u ↗
22. Thermal stability of LixCoO2, LixNiO2 and λ-MnO2 and consequences for the safety of Li-ion cells10.1016/0167-2738(94)90415-4 ↗
23. Gas generation mechanism due to electrolyte decomposition in commercial lithium-ion cell10.1016/S0378-7753(98)00234-1 ↗
24. Kenichiroh, K. (2020, February 23). Journey to a New Regulatory Option. OICA Submission to IWG for GTR 20, Phase 2 2019(IWG#19). Available online: https://wiki.unece.org/download/attachments/86311372/EVS19-E1TP-0300 %5BOICA%5DJourney to a New Regulatory Option.pdf?api=v2.
25. Nedjalkov, A., Meyer, J., Köhring, M., Doering, A., Angelmahr, M., Dahle, S., Sander, A., Fischer, A., and Schade, W. (2016). Toxic Gas Emissions from Damaged Lithium Ion Batteries—Analysis and Safety Enhancement Solution. Batteries, 2.10.3390/batteries2010005 ↗
26. Considerations on the Chemical Toxicity of Contemporary Li-Ion Battery Electrolytes and Their Components10.1149/2.0171606jes ↗
27. How electrolytes influence battery safety10.1149/2.F04122if ↗
28. Larsson, F. (2014). Assessment of Safety Characteristics for Li-Ion Battery Cells by Abuse Testing, Chalmers University of Technology.
29. Hollmotz, L., and Hackmann, M. (2011). Lithium Ion Batteries for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles—Risks, Requirements and Solutions out of the Crash Safety Point of View.
30. Thermal runaway mechanism of lithium ion battery for electric vehicles: A review10.1016/j.ensm.2017.05.013 ↗
31. Larsson, F., Andersson, P., and Mellander, B.E. (2016). Lithium-Ion Battery Aspects on Fires in Electrified Vehicles on the Basis of Experimental Abuse Tests. Batteries, 2.10.3390/batteries2020009 ↗
32. Identification and quantification of gases emitted during abuse tests by overcharge of a commercial Li-ion battery10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.03.034 ↗
33. Quantification of Combustion Hazards of Thermal Runaway Failures in Lithium-Ion Batteries10.4271/2014-01-1857 ↗
34. Comprehensive gas analysis on large scale automotive lithium-ion cells in thermal runaway10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.07.051 ↗
35. Thermal runaway hazards investigation on 18650 lithium-ion battery using extended volume accelerating rate calorimeter10.1016/j.est.2020.101232 ↗
36. Toxic fluoride gas emissions from lithium-ion battery fires10.1038/s41598-017-09784-z ↗
37. Essl, C., Golubkov, A.W., Planteu, R., Rasch, B., and Fuchs, A. (2018, January 16–19). Transport of Li-Ion Batteries: Early Failure Detection by Gas Composition Measurements. Proceedings of the 7th Transport Research Arena (TRA), Vienna, Austria.
38. Size distribution and elemental composition of vent particles from abused prismatic Ni-rich automotive lithium-ion batteries10.1016/j.est.2019.100991 ↗
39. Feng, X., Zheng, S., Ren, D., He, X., Wang, L., Liu, X., Li, M., and Ouyang, M. (2019). Key characteristics for thermal runaway of Li-ion batteries. Energy Procedia, 158.10.1016/j.egypro.2019.01.736 ↗
40. Thermal-runaway experiments on consumer Li-ion batteries with metal-oxide and olivin-type cathodes10.1039/C3RA45748F ↗
41. Reducing Li-ion safety hazards through use of non-flammable solvents and recent work at Sandia National Laboratories10.1016/j.electacta.2012.09.065 ↗
42. Gas generation measurement and evaluation during mechanical processing and thermal treatment of spent Li-ion batteries10.1016/j.wasman.2018.11.029 ↗
43. Thermal runaway of commercial 18650 Li-ion batteries with LFP and NCA cathodes—Impact of state of charge and overcharge10.1039/C5RA05897J ↗
44. State of charge influence on thermal reactions and abuse tests in commercial lithium-ion cells10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.07.112 ↗
45. Waldmann, T., and Wohlfahrt-Mehrens, M. (2017). Effects of rest time after Li plating on safety behavior—ARC tests with commercial high-energy 18650 Li-ion cells. Electrochim. Acta.10.1016/j.electacta.2017.02.036 ↗
46. Investigating the thermal runaway mechanisms of lithium-ion batteries based on thermal analysis database10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.04.009 ↗
47. Quantitative identification of emissions from abused prismatic Ni-rich lithium-ion batteries10.1016/j.etran.2019.100031 ↗
48. Thermal Runaway Propagation Assessment of Different Battery Pack Designs Using the TF5 Draft as Framework10.1149/2.1081908jes ↗
49. Kovachev, G., Schröttner, H., Gstrein, G., Aiello, L., and Hanzu, I. (2019). Analytical Dissection of an Automotive Li-Ion Pouch Cell. Batteries, 5.10.3390/batteries5040067 ↗
50. Golubkov, A.W., Planteu, R., Rasch, B., Essl, C., Thaler, A., and Hacker, V. (2018, January 16–19). Thermal runaway and battery fire: Comparison of Li-ion, Ni-MH and sealed lead-acid batteries. Proceedings of the 7th Transport Research Arena (TRA), Vienna, Austria.
51. Gasser, E. (2019). Characterization of Gas and Particle Released during Thermal Runaway of Li-Ion Batteries. [Master’s Thesis, Graz University of Technology].
52. Goldstein, J.I., Newbury, D.E., Michael, J.R., Ritchie, N.W.M., Scott, J.H.J., and Joy, D.C. (2017). Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Microanalysis, Springer. [4th ed.].10.1007/978-1-4939-6676-9 ↗
53. Survey of Gas Expansion in Li-Ion NMC Pouch Cells10.1149/2.0081506jes ↗
54. Identification of the Source of Evolved Gas in Li-Ion Batteries Using [sup 13]C-labeled Solvents10.1149/1.2969947 ↗
55. Investigation on gas generation of Li4Ti5O 12/LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 cells at elevated temperature10.1016/j.jpowsour.2013.03.057 ↗
56. Gachot, G., Grugeon, S., Jimenez-Gordon, I., Eshetu, G.G., Boyanov, S., Lecocq, A., Marlair, G., Pilard, S., and Laruelle, S. (2014). Gas chromatography/Fourier transform infrared/mass spectrometry coupling: A tool for Li-ion battery safety field investigation. Anal. Methods, 6120–6124.10.1039/C4AY00054D ↗
57. An experimental and kinetic modeling study on dimethyl carbonate (DMC) pyrolysis and combustion10.1016/j.combustflame.2015.11.019 ↗
58. Spangl, W., Kaiser, A., and Schneider, J. (2006). Herkunftsanalyse der PM10-Belastung in Österreich—Ferntransport und Regionale Beiträge.
59. The Combination of Electron Microscopy, Raman Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy for the Investigation of Polymeric Materials10.1002/masy.201800237 ↗