Combustion calorimetry of carbonate electrolytes used in lithium ion batteries

Abstract

In this article, some of the combustion properties of three carbonate solvent mixtures commonly used as the electrolytes of lithium ion batteries are considered by means of the ISO 5660 cone calorimeter. Experimental findings reveal that the heat release rate, the most important parameter in fire science, exhibits a significant variation among the carbonate mixtures. Other key parameters governing the fire-induced hazards such as total heat release, mass loss rate, combustion efficiency, and concentration of the major exhaust gases are also determined and analyzed. Furthermore, as some researchers argue that oxygen consumption calorimetry is likely to overpredict the chemical heat release for lithium ion cells, another thermal chemistry method based on stoichiometry for heat release rate calculation is adopted. Heat release rate results of the three carbonate solvent mixtures obtained by these two separate methods are found to be in good agreement. Thus, oxygen consumption calorimetry is considered to be an appropriate technique to determine the heat release in fires in relation to electrolytes of lithium ion batteries.

Combustion Characteristics of Electrolyte Pool Fires for Lithium Ion Batteries

“…Heat release rate and heat of combustion.-The HRR is defined as the rate at which energy is released from a fire. 15 The HRR from an electrolyte flame can determine whether a nearby LIB can be ignited, which is also one of the important parameters to evaluate the fire hazard. Fig.…”

“…Although the fire behaviors of electrolytes were also investigated utilizing the calorimeters, [14][15][16] a comprehensive study on the combustion characteristics of the electrolyte is missing, especially for those relationships among the HRR, flame height, and gas release rate. Eshetu et al 14 stated that the burning behavior of mixtures of carbonate solvents in a developing fire was clearly driven by the more volatile component till its full consumption.…”

“…Eshetu et al 14 stated that the burning behavior of mixtures of carbonate solvents in a developing fire was clearly driven by the more volatile component till its full consumption. Zhang et al 15 evaluated the fire hazards of three electrolytes and demonstrated that the ethylene carbonate (EC) and diethyl carbonate (DEC) sample showed the highest fire risk because of its high HRR and CO 2 release rate. All these studies have undertaken a qualitative investigation of the burning behaviors of electrolytes.…”

Revisiting flexible polyurethane foam flammability in furniture and bedding in the United States

“…Specifically, the ignition threat presented by a lithium‐ion battery that overheats or goes into thermal runaway. Li‐Ion battery failure events can be quite intense in heat release, 98‐100 and these batteries are commonly present in consumer goods (laptops, cellphones, tablets, toys) which are often placed on top of mattresses and furniture when in use or while charging. Understanding the intensity of this ignition threat against fire protected mattresses under CPSC 1633 levels of protection will be useful to see if this is a threat that needs to be addressed.…”

Improving thermal stability of sulfide solid electrolytes: An intrinsic theoretical paradigm

“…), LEs and their by-product SEI have been found to be the heat generation source and safety boundary of LIBs. 2 Moreover, the gases generated during the electrochemical process of electrode materials and from the volatilization/ decomposition of LEs are also susceptible to violent exothermic reactions and may also promote the risk of other combustion reactions, which will further weaken the safety boundary of the battery. [3][4][5] If the stability of the material can be effectively improved, the safety boundary of LIBs will also be greatly enhanced.…”