Failure propagation in multi-cell lithium ion batteries

Lamb, Joshua; Orendorff, Christopher J.; Steele, Leigh Anna M.; Spangler, Scott W.

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.10.081

Failure propagation in multi-cell lithium ion batteries

Journal Article · Wed Oct 22 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Journal of Power Sources

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.10.081· OSTI ID:1235277

Lamb, Joshua ^[1]; Orendorff, Christopher J. ^[1]; ^[1]; Spangler, Scott W. ^[1]

Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Traditionally, safety and impact of failure concerns of lithium ion batteries have dealt with the field failure of single cells. However, large and complex battery systems require the consideration of how a single cell failure will impact the system as a whole. Initial failure that leads to the thermal runaway of other cells within the system creates a much more serious condition than the failure of a single cell. This work examines the behavior of small modules of cylindrical and stacked pouch cells after thermal runaway is induced in a single cell through nail penetration trigger [1] within the module. Cylindrical cells are observed to be less prone to propagate, if failure propagates at all, owing to the limited contact between neighboring cells. However, the electrical connectivity is found to be impactful as the 10S1P cylindrical cell module did not show failure propagation through the module, while the 1S10P module had an energetic thermal runaway consuming the module minutes after the initiation failure trigger. Modules built using pouch cells conversely showed the impact of strong heat transfer between cells. In this case, a large surface area of the cells was in direct contact with its neighbors, allowing failure to propagate through the entire battery within 60-80 seconds for all configurations (parallel or series) tested. This work demonstrates the increased severity possible when a point failure impacts the surrounding battery system.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Vehicle Technologies Program (EE-2G)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000

OSTI ID:: 1235277

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1432131

Report Number(s):: SAND--2014-17489J; PII: S0378775314016905

Journal Information:: Journal of Power Sources, Journal Name: Journal of Power Sources Journal Issue: C Vol. 283; ISSN 0378-7753

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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