5. 5
Battery Features
Battery Chemistry
Lithium Ion (Secondary)
Drawbacks
•Considerable fire potential
•Requires safety circuitry
•Questionable tolerance for aging
•Transportation and storage restrictions
6. Battery Features
6
Lithium (Ion) Focus
They have a negatively charged Carbon anode,
a positively-charged Metal Oxyde Cathode and Lithium
Ion Compound as electrolyte.
Lithium Ion Batteries run down and require recharging.
Lithium Ion Automotive batteries hold a large amount
of potential energy!
11. 11
Battery Failure
Lithium metal deposits
Lithium Ion cellEnergetic Battery Failure
Electrical Abuse
•Lithium plating
a) A chemical/electrical
process that basically
transforms free lithium
ions into lithium metal
(deposits).
a) Fire and explosion risks
grow substantially
13. 13
Battery Fire Behavior
Battery Fire Classes
Batteries can be “multi-classed”
with some fitting comfortably into
ALL four common classes!
14. 14
Battery Fire Behavior
Battery Fire Classes
Lithium (Primary)
•Combustible build materials (A)
•Combustible metals (D)
•Possibly energized (C)
15. 15
Battery Fire Behavior
Battery Fire Classes
Lithium Ion (Secondary)
•Combustible build materials (A)
•Flammable Electrolyte (B)
•Possibly energized (C)
Question:
Can Lithium Plating add a
“Combustible metals”
component?
16. 16
Battery Fire Behavior
Battery Fire Classes
Class A – Water works Best
Class B- Smother Effects on
flammable liquid, venting
gases, N2 possible
Class C - Non Conductive
Agent, CO2
Class D – Metals, Dry
Powder, Sand
17. 17
Battery Fire Behavior
Composed of many
“ordinary
combustible”
materials
Battery Fire Classes
Question: Why are lithium (ion) batteries not limited
to any one class of fire?
18. 18
Battery Fire Behavior
Battery Fire Classes
Question: Why are lithium (ion) batteries not limited
to any one class of fire?
Contain flammable
liquids in electrolyte
form
19. 19
Battery Fire Behavior
Battery Fire Classes
Question: Why are lithium (ion) batteries not limited
to any one class of fire?
May possess an
electrical shock
hazard
20. 20
Battery Fire Behavior
Battery Fire Classes
Question: Why are lithium (ion) batteries not limited
to any one class of fire?
Lithium (primary)
cells possess
combustible metals
21. 21
Battery Fire Behavior
Battery Fire Properties
Question: What are the properties of
Lithium (ion) cell burn?
Gas release (burn and no burn)
Severe:
•Skin burn
•Eye irritation
•Respiratory issues
•Disorientation
22. 22
Battery Fire Behavior
Battery Fire Classes
Question: What are the properties of
Lithium (ion) cell burn?
•Hydrogen
•Carbon dioxide
•Carbon monoxide
•Methane
•Ethylene
•Ethane
•Propylene
Source: Sandia National Labs. Gas
release during cell venting.
23. 23
EUCAR Hazard Levels
(European Council for Automotive Research)
Hazard
Level
Description Classification Criteria
0 No effect No effect. No loss of functionality
1
Passive protection
activated
No defect; no leakage; no venting fire or flame;
no rupture; no explosion; no exothermic reaction or thermal runaway.
Cell irreversibly damaged. Repair is needed.
2 Defect / Damage
No leakage; no venting fire or flame; no rupture; no explosion; no exothermic
reaction or thermal runaway. Cell irreversibly damaged. Repair is needed.
3
Leakage
Δ mass < 50%
No venting, fire or flame*; no rupture; no explosion.
Weight loss < 50% of electrolyte weight (electrolyte = solvent + salt)
4
Venting
Δ mass ≥ 50%
No fire or flame*; no rupture; no explosion.
Weight loss ≥ 50% of electrolyte weight (electrolyte = solvent + salt)
5 Fire or Flame No rupture; no explosion (i.e., no flying parts)
6 Rupture No explosion, but flying parts of the active mass
7 Explosion Explosion (i.e., disintegration of the cell)
