What is Thermal Runaway? An Overview
Current Li-ion battery technology utilizes volatile electrolytes and metals that under certain extreme and rare conditions, can fail to control internal electrolytic reactions, resulting in the cell venting. In severe cases, this reaction evolves into a thermal runaway at temperatures that can result in a cascade failure of the pack in a deflagration event.
Left unchecked, thermal runway starts a fire within the battery pack that not only spreads quickly, but also is difficult to extinguish.
Thermal runaways do not discriminate. Regardless of battery application, cell size, electrochemistry and/or pack design, an overly stressed Li-ion battery is a candidate for experiencing this thermal event.
Battery Thermal Runaway Prevention & Sensor Technology
Preventing thermal runaway from starting and spreading inside a Li-ion battery back starts with constant monitoring at the earliest signs.
It takes a variety of vehicle sensors strategically integrated into design to detect the warning signs for thermal runaway, primarily electrolyte leakage, gas, and temperature sensors.
With quick intervention triggered by alerts from sensitive & robust sensors, it’s possible to limit the spread thermal runaway and accompanying cell degradation from becoming a bigger – and more dangerous – event.
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