Fire Hazard Assessment of Lithium Ion Battery Energy Storage Systems

Blum, Andrew; Long, Richard Thomas

doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-6556-4

Cited by 25 publications

(24 citation statements)

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“…Heat generation inside the battery is mainly caused by charge transport and chemical reactions during normal charging and discharging. A fire study by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) on one type of commercial-scale Li-ion battery found that thermal runaway could be induced by high temperatures, but did not find evidence of explosions in their study [69]. No existing work points to grid-connected battery fires being triggered by cyberattacks, but it is good practice to identify all possible consequences, however unlikely, as part of a threat assessment.…”

Section: Thermal Runawaymentioning

confidence: 99%

Cybersecurity Considerations for Grid-Connected Batteries with Hardware Demonstrations

Culler

Burroughs

2021

Energies

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The share of renewable and distributed energy resources (DERs), like wind turbines, solar photovoltaics and grid-connected batteries, interconnected to the electric grid is rapidly increasing due to reduced costs, rising efficiency, and regulatory requirements aimed at incentivizing a lower-carbon electricity system. These distributed energy resources differ from traditional generation in many ways including the use of many smaller devices connected primarily (but not exclusively) to the distribution network, rather than few larger devices connected to the transmission network. DERs being installed today often include modern communication hardware like cellular modems and WiFi connectivity and, in addition, the inverters used to connect these resources to the grid are gaining increasingly complex capabilities, like providing voltage and frequency support or supporting microgrids. To perform these new functions safely, communications to the device and more complex controls are required. The distributed nature of DER devices combined with their network connectivity and complex controls interfaces present a larger potential attack surface for adversaries looking to create instability in power systems. To address this area of concern, the steps of a cyberattack on DERs have been studied, including the security of industrial protocols, the misuse of the DER interface, and the physical impacts. These different steps have not previously been tied together in practice and not specifically studied for grid-connected storage devices. In this work, we focus on grid-connected batteries. We explore the potential impacts of a cyberattack on a battery to power system stability, to the battery hardware, and on economics for various stakeholders. We then use real hardware to demonstrate end-to-end attack paths exist when security features are disabled or misconfigured. Our experimental focus is on control interface security and protocol security, with the initial assumption that an adversary has gained access to the network to which the device is connected. We provide real examples of the effectiveness of certain defenses. This work can be used to help utilities and other grid-connected battery owners and operators evaluate the severity of different threats and the effectiveness of defense strategies so they can effectively deploy and protect grid-connected storage devices.

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Section: Thermal Runawaymentioning

confidence: 99%

Cybersecurity Considerations for Grid-Connected Batteries with Hardware Demonstrations

Culler

Burroughs

2021

Energies

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“…In fact, many policies and regulations have been passed concerning lithium-ion batteries recently due to their compatibility with electric vehicles and residential solar panel installations. First, there are not only numerous safety standards and protocols that apply to the construction of lithium-ion batteries, but also many electrical, building and fire codes relating to the installation of these energy storage systems [82]. ARRA has also contributed significant financial support to the development of a supply chain for lithium-ion batteries that are equipped for use with electric vehicles.…”

Section: Policy and Market Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Evaluation of Energy Storage Options for Nuclear Power

Coleman

Bragg‐Sitton

Dufek

2017

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“…The increased use of renewable energy technologies has put battery energy storage solutions in the spotlight. Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) provide outstanding energy density, voltage and lifetime compared to other battery technologies (Blum and Long Jr 2016). In addition, LiBs are lightweight and have a low self-discharge rate making them the preferred battery technology for electronic handhelds, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems in airplanes and submarines (Pacala and Socolow 2004;Depetro 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Suppression Using Water Mist Systems

Ghiji¹,

Burch²,

Gamble³

et al. 2021

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer

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Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) have superior energy density and lifetime compared to battery technologies such as lead acid. Despite the widespread application of LiBs in energy storage systems, electronic devices, aerospace and the automotive industry, they present a fire risk. In this study, experiments were conducted to characterize the thermal behavior of the electrolyte (as the main contributor to LiB fires) using a cone calorimeter; investigate the interactions of water mist and a Bunsen burner, as a precursor to examining the effectiveness of a water mist suppression system in extinguishing a LiB fire. In the present work, we have endeavored to systematically study the fire suppression efficacy of water mist by adopting to some novel approaches. This involved carefully planned laboratory scale explorations that involved a propane gas fueled flame, and subsequently by using bespoke set up that mimicked fire owing to fuel surge from typical Li-ion cell (18650 cells). In the latter set of fire suppression tests, water droplets were produced by a fan nozzle and sprayed horizontally toward the jet flame of replica 18560 battery containing only the electrolyte. The results showed that both fire types (Bunsen burner and LiB) are suppressed rapidly on activation of the water mist fire suppression system for geometries that enable the water mist direct access to the lift-off zone, between the gas source and base of the flame.

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Fire Hazard Assessment of Lithium Ion Battery Energy Storage Systems

Cited by 25 publications

References 0 publications

Cybersecurity Considerations for Grid-Connected Batteries with Hardware Demonstrations

Cybersecurity Considerations for Grid-Connected Batteries with Hardware Demonstrations

An Evaluation of Energy Storage Options for Nuclear Power

Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Suppression Using Water Mist Systems

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