Preventing Thermal Runaway: Lithium-ion Cell Venting Risks and Detection

 

cell venting

 

In extreme conditions, an electric vehicle’s (EV) battery is no different than an internal combustion engine (ICE). Pushed to its limit, the battery is poised for malfunctions, just like an ICE vehicle’s motor seizing up. But an overstressed EV battery doesn’t react the same way as an overburdened internal combustion engine does. 

When going beyond its operating capacity, the cells in an EV battery pack may start to deteriorate and combust through the process of thermal runaway. Stopping this reaction before it overtakes an entire EV battery pack requires robust and reactive sensor technology that monitors for the earliest warning signs. 

In this presentation, “Li-ion Cell Venting Risks & Detection,” by Brian Engle, our Electrification Business Development Director, we explore sensor technology for fast thermal runaway intervention. We cover:  

  • Real-world examples of thermal runaway incidents 
  • What happens during thermal runaway
  • The science of cell venting 
  • The sensors needed for early thermal runaway detection 
  • & much more

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At a Glance: What is Thermal Runaway & Cell Venting 

Thermal runaway fireThough an extremely rare event, a thermal runaway is something every EV designer, manufacturer, and owner should be concerned about. 

Under the right conditions inside an electric car battery pack, the power unit’s cells can overheat, break down, and start a cascade failure that spreads. During the initial cell degradation, gases – such as hydrogen and carbon dioxide – are released as voltage drops. In addition, pressure and temperatures also build within the battery pack.  Without immediate intervention, the pack becomes engulfed in a fire that’s extremely difficult to put out. 

It doesn’t matter what size a battery pack is or the application it’s used for – an EV battery thermal runaway has the potential to total a vehicle in very short order. 

 

What You’ll Get From This Presentation

In looking at the risks of cell venting and how to effectively monitor for it, we dig into:

  • What makes Lithium-ion battery fire particularly dangerous
  • The cell venting byproducts to monitor for with sensor technology 
  • EV battery regulations and standards – including those on thermal runaway prevention 
  • Sensor technology solutions to integrate into EV design, including in-depth looks at hydrogen and CO2 sensors
  • Cell venting detection requirements 
  • & much more

 

Preventing Thermal Runaways With Sensor Technology

Stopping a thermal runaway from overtaking an EV battery takes a two-fold approach:

  1. Maintaining optimal conditions with a responsive battery thermal management system

  2. Monitoring for the earliest sign of thermal runaway and implementing immediate countermeasures

While the latter is reactive, robust, and reactive thermal runaway sensor technology throughout an EV increases the odds for effective intervention. As one of the earliest indicators of thermal runaway, monitoring for cell venting and its byproducts – such as smoke, heat, and pressure – make it possible to stop a thermal runaway from spreading. 

Having the appropriate sensor technology throughout your EV’s design is critical to its performance and safety. Our presentation helps you make the best decisions possible when evaluating sensors to monitor for thermal runaway.