Internal Short Circuit and Accelerated Rate Calorimetry Tests of Lithium-Ion Cells: Considerations for Methane-Air Intrinsic Safety and Explosion Proof/Flameproof Protection Methods

Details

• Personal Author:
  Dubaniewicz, Thomas H. Jr. ; DuCarme, Joseph P.
• Description:
  Researchers with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) studied the potential for lithium-ion cell thermal runaway from an internal short circuit in equipment for use in underground coal mines. In this third phase of the study, researchers compared plastic wedge crush-induced internal short circuit tests of selected lithium-ion cells within methane (CH4)-air mixtures with accelerated rate calorimetry tests of similar cells. Plastic wedge crush test results with metal oxide lithium-ion cells extracted from intrinsically safe evaluated equipment were mixed, with one cell model igniting the chamber atmosphere while another cell model did not. The two cells models exhibited different internal short circuit behaviors. A lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) cell model was tolerant to crush-induced internal short circuits within CH4-air, tested under manufacturer recommended charging conditions. Accelerating rate calorimetry tests with similar cells within a nitrogen purged 353-mL chamber produced ignitions that exceeded explosion proof and flameproof enclosure minimum internal pressure design criteria. Ignition pressures within a 20-L chamber with 6.5% CH4-air were relatively low, with much larger head space volume and less adiabatic test conditions. The literature indicates that sizeable lithium thionyl chloride (LiSOCl2) primary (non rechargeable) cell ignitions can be especially violent and toxic. Because ignition of an explosive atmosphere is expected within explosion proof or flameproof enclosures, there is a need to consider the potential for an internal explosive atmosphere ignition in combination with a lithium or lithium-ion battery thermal runaway process, and the resulting effects on the enclosure. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Ferrous Compounds Fires Methane Mining Occupational Health Phosphoric Acids Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Batteries Batteries Calorimetry Coal Mines Electronic Circuits Explosion Prevention Explosion Proof Flameproof Flame Retardants Hazardous Areas Hazards Intrinsic Safety Iron Lithium Lithium-ion Lithium Compounds Metal Oxides Methanes Mine Safety Mining Industry Models Nitrogen Compounds Phosphates Standardization Underground Mines Underground Mining

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• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  0950-4230
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  PMRD - Pittsburgh Mining Research Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  43
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20048480
• Citation:
  J Loss Prev Process Ind 2016 Sep; 43:575-584
• Contact Point Address:
  Thomas H. Dubaniewicz Jr., National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh Mining Research Division, 626 Cochrans Mill Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA
• Email:
  tcd5@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Iron (CAS RN 7439-89-6) ; Lithium (CAS RN 7439-93-2) ; Methane (CAS RN 74-82-8) ; Nitrogen (CAS RN 7727-37-9) ; Phosphate (CAS RN 14265-44-2)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:671e53431c2532e1167698bf1eba1f103e42fb38f2151e133f541e9687219b0a6f6efb6084818e252e0601e310a767e8487e629dc593bc5b81f96392cfb476b3
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/228286/cdc_228286_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.67 MB ]