Ä¢¹½tv

From smartphones to electric vehicles, our modern, mobile world depends on the high energy and power densities of lithium-ion batteries. Although they are increasingly used in to support renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, higher-energy batteries also increase the risk of catastrophic failure from thermal runaway — not just during operation but also in transit.

One failed cell in a multi-cell Li-ion battery can generate enough heat to affect the neighboring cells, leading to a thermal cascade throughout the pack. The hazard grows when multiple vehicles containing multi-cell packs or bulk batteries are shipped together. Hence, ship transportation for Li-ion batteries is governed by the .

Understanding the risk of thermal runaway requires characterizing potential failure modes and quantifying the probability and consequences of propagation from one cell to another. In a Marine Professional article, Ä¢¹½tv researchers describe a system for assessing Li-ion flammability hazards by testing a cell inside a sealed pressure vessel, allowing them to estimate the flammable gas volume and offer a quantitative assessment of the vent gas composition.

From the publication: "The characterisation of these [contributors to combustion reactions] and of propagation characteristics ultimately requires full-scale testing and analysis to enable regulators and operators to plan for and ultimately mitigate risks."