Modeling thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries with a venting process

He，C. X.1; Yue，Q. L.1; Chen，Q.2; Zhao，T. S.1,3

2022-12-01

10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.120110

APPLIED ENERGY   Impact Factor & Quartile

0306-2619

1872-9118

Thermal runaway poses a critical challenge for the safety of electric vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries. A series of drastic exothermic reactions take place with gas generation during thermal runaway, making it challenging to accurately model the process. In this work, we present a reliable lumped thermal runaway model by incorporating heat transfer and gas generation reactions based on an experimentally kinetic analysis. The proportions of reactants in 18,650 lithium-ion batteries are determined by disassembling the batteries and weighing the components, while the reaction frequencies and activation energies of gas generation reactions are identified through the thermal gravity analysis tests on the anode and cathode components using Kissinger's method. The reaction kinetic equations are then combined with energy and mass conservation equations to form the thermal runaway model, which is validated against accelerating rate calorimeter tests. Simulation results show that it is the pressure rather than temperature that triggers the ejection. Therefore, gas generation that can depict the internal gas change should be included in the model to accurately predict the time of the battery venting. Moreover, it is revealed that when the safety pressure increases from 1600 to 2400 kPa, although the venting moment delays from 4294 to 4465 s, the thermal runaway takes place 54 s earlier. Hence, an appropriate safety pressure design range is suggested to be 1800–2200 kPa. This work develops a robust thermal runaway model and offers new insights into the mechanisms of thermal runaway, which provides valuable guidance for the thermal safety design of lithium-ion batteries.

Gas generation Lithium-ion batteries Safety pressure Thermal gravity analysis Thermal runaway

SCI

English

Corresponding

[16202119]

Energy & Fuels ; Engineering

Energy & Fuels ; Engineering, Chemical

WOS:000877785800008

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

ENGINEERING

2-s2.0-85139824747

Scopus

1.Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology,Kowloon,Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong SAR,China
2.Thrust of Sustainable Energy & Environment,The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou),Nansha,Guangzhou,China
3.Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China

He，C. X.,Yue，Q. L.,Chen，Q.,et al. Modeling thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries with a venting process[J]. APPLIED ENERGY,2022,327.

He，C. X.,Yue，Q. L.,Chen，Q.,&Zhao，T. S..(2022).Modeling thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries with a venting process.APPLIED ENERGY,327.

He，C. X.,et al."Modeling thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries with a venting process".APPLIED ENERGY 327(2022).