Test series 1: seismic-fragility tests of naturally-aged Class 1E Gould NCX-2250 battery cells
The seismic-fragility response of naturally-aged, nuclear station, safety-related batteries is of interest for two reasons: (1) to determine actual failure modes and thresholds; and (2) to determine the validity of using the electrical capacity of individual cells as an indicator of the end-of-life of a battery, given a seismic event. This report covers the first test series of an extensive program using 12-year old, lead-calcium, Gould NCX-2250 cells, from the James A. Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Station operated by the New York Power Authority. Seismic tests with three cell configurations were performed using a triaxial shake table: single-cell tests, rigidly mounted; multi-cell (three) tests, mounted in a typical battery rack; and single-cell tests specifically aimed towards examining propagation of pre-existing case cracks. In general the test philosophy was to monitor the electrical properties including discharge capacity of cells through a graduated series of g-level step increases until either the shake-table limits were reached or until electrical failure of the cells occurred. Of nine electrically active cells, six failed during seismic testing over a range of imposed g-level loads in excess of a 1-g ZPA. Post-test examination revealed a common failure mode, the cracking at the abnormally brittle, positive lead bus-bar/post interface; further examination showed that the failure zone was extremely coarse grained and extensively corroded. Presently accepted accelerated-aging methods for qualifying batteries, per IEEE Std. 535-1979, are based on plate growth, but these naturally-aged 12-year old cells showed no significant plate growth.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Ontario Hydro, Toronto (Canada)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USNRC; USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 6060342
- Report Number(s):
- NUREG/CR-3923; SAND-84-1737; ON: TI85003976
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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ELECTRIC BATTERIES
SEISMIC EFFECTS
AGING
FAILURE MODE ANALYSIS
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TESTING
BWR TYPE REACTORS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
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SYSTEM FAILURE ANALYSIS
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