Stibine/arsine monitoring during EV operation: summary report on preliminary tests at ANL and at LILCO

Technical Report · Sun Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6600240· OSTI ID:6600240

Loutfy, R. O.; Graczyk, D. G.; Varma, R.; Hayes, E. R.; Williams, F. L.; Yao, N. P.

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., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6600240
• Report Number(s): ANL/OEPM-81-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250902 -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Performance & Testing
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330300 -- Advanced Propulsion Systems-- Electric-Powered Systems
500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
ANTIMONY COMPOUNDS
ANTIMONY HYDRIDES
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
ARSENIC HYDRIDES
BATTERY CHARGING
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
DATA
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GASEOUS WASTES
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
KINETICS
LEAD-ACID BATTERIES
MONITORING
NUMERICAL DATA
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE
POLLUTION CONTROL
PUBLIC HEALTH
REACTION KINETICS
RECOMMENDATIONS
VEHICLES
VENTILATION
WASTES