Stibine/arsine monitoring during EV operation: summary report on preliminary tests at ANL and at LILCO
A series of tests was performed to monitor the evolution and dispersal of stibine and arsine from the lead-acid propulsion batteries in three different Electra-Van Model 600 vehicles operated by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) and by the Long Island Lighting Company (LILCO). Ambient air was sampled at several locations inside the vehicles and in the garages where testing was done during charge, equalization charge, and on-the-road discharge operations. In addition, direct sampling of cell off-gases was performed with the ANL van. Interpretation of the individual test results was carried out in the context of vehicle characteristics, sampling protocol, and operating conditions. The test results demonstrated that under the test conditions only small concentrations of stibine and arsine accumulated in occupiable work areas. Measured concentrations in the vehicles and in the garages never exceeded 25% of the Threshold Limit Value-Time Weighted Average (TLV-TWA) standards. A threshold voltage for hydride production, at about 2.45 V per cell, was reflected in the results of the experiments performed during charging of the batteries. Hydride evolution rates were lower during equalization charge than during the overcharge portion of a charge cycle when the on-board charger was used in a normal operating mode. A delayed release of the metal hydrides from the battery cells was observed during on-the-road operation of the vehicles. The implications of these observations for electric vehicle (EV) operation are discussed. An engineering analysis of the generation and dispersal of the metal hydrides is presented, and equations are derived for estimating minimum ventilation requirements for the EV battery compartment and for garages housing EV operations. Recommendations are made regarding safe handling procedures for battery off-gases, procedures for conducting stibine/arsine monitoring tests and future work.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 6600240
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/OEPM-81-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
25 ENERGY STORAGE
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
ANTIMONY HYDRIDES
MONITORING
ARSENIC HYDRIDES
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
LEAD-ACID BATTERIES
GASEOUS WASTES
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
BATTERY CHARGING
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE
PUBLIC HEALTH
RECOMMENDATIONS
VENTILATION
ANTIMONY COMPOUNDS
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
DATA
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
KINETICS
NUMERICAL DATA
POLLUTION CONTROL
REACTION KINETICS
VEHICLES
WASTES
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
250902 - Energy Storage- Batteries- Performance & Testing
330300 - Advanced Propulsion Systems- Electric-Powered Systems