Estimation of the critical external heat leading to the failure of lithium-ion batteries

Published

June 29, 2020

Author(s)

Wei Tang, Andy Tam, Liming Yuan, Thomas Dubaniewicz, Richard Thomas, John Soles

Abstract

A detailed experimental investigation on the critical external heat leading to the failure of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries was conducted using an Accelerating Rate Calorimeter (ARC) at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Several types of commercial Li-ion batteries were selected, including iron phosphate Li-ion battery (LFP), lithium-titanate battery (LTO) and lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt-oxide battery (NMC). Each battery was placed in a specially designed sealed steel canister and heated in the ARC. Battery voltage throughout the test was monitored and used to indicate the time to a battery failure. Three thermocouples, one attached to the battery surface, one measuring air temperature inside the canister, and one attached to the canister's internal surface, were used to record temperature changes during the heating tests. Different thermal behaviors were observed for the various battery types. An analytical model was developed to estimate the total external heat received by the battery using the measured temperatures. Experimental data ordered the batteries tested in terms of the heat to failure: LFP 26650 (11 kJ) > LFP 18650 (4.3 kJ) > NMC 18650 MH1 (3.6 kJ) ≈ LTO 18650 (3.6 kJ) > NMC 18650 HG2 (3 kJ). Total heat normalized to the battery nominal energy capacity was also calculated and ordered: LTO 18650 ≈ LFP 26650 ≈ LFP 18650 > NMC 18650 MH1 ≈ NMC 18650 HG2. The test and analysis method developed can be extended to other types of batteries with a cylindrical shape. Results from this work provide insights to the thermal safety of Li-ion batteries and can help enhance battery thermal design guidance.

Citation

Applied Thermal Engineering

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

Lithium-ion battery, Accelerating Rate Calorimetry, Heat to failure, Radiative heat transfer, Convective heat transfer

Citation

Tang, W. , Tam, A. , Yuan, L. , Dubaniewicz, T. , Thomas, R. and Soles, J. (2020), Estimation of the critical external heat leading to the failure of lithium-ion batteries, Applied Thermal Engineering, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=930032 (Accessed April 19, 2024)