Thermal Characterization Test Instrument for Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Evaluation for Advanced Marine Technologies
Abstract
Higher energy density and better cycling characteristics under normal operating conditions make lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) a primary choice for meeting on-board stored energy and power demands across various Navy platforms. However, inherent safety hazards arising from their flammable and energetic constituents pose serious safety concerns in applications requiring the deployment of LIBs asan on-board power source in the Navy and other defense sectors. Under off-normal conditions, LIBs can fail catastrophically resulting in explosion, fire and toxic gas release endangering lives and assets # the catastrophic fire in Naval Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS) due to LIB failure serves as an example and highlights the acute safety concerns while employing large LIBs in power demanding applications. Hence, ensuring safety while deploying LIBs in power demanding applications is Navy#s top priority.The primary factors responsible for LIB failure is heat # either externally applied or internally generated during abuse conditions. If the internal LIB temperature reaches a threshold value under abuse conditions, it can potentially trigger an avalanche of uncontrolled exothermic chemical reactions resulting in LIB self-heating that can ultimately lead to thermal runaway (TR) # a failure event with uncontrolled release of the stored chemical energy. The dynamics between heat generation and heat dissipation ultimately controls LIB safety outcome. Therefore, implementation of advanced engineering controls for effective removal of the generated heat is indispensable to ensure safety in power demanding Naval applications that requires quantitative knowledge of heat generation characteristics during failure along with safety modeling that relies on in-depth understanding of the physiochemical processes involved. Accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC) presents a robust platform for quantitatively accessing critical LIB safety parameters by inducing failure in asafe and controlledlaboratory environment. The overarching goal of the DURIP proposal is to establish an experimental research facility at UConn for comprehensive thermal characterization of LIBs under abuse modes enabled by the acquisition of an extended-volume ARC that will provide robust experimental data to validate and advance battery safety modeling. Additionally, we propose to acquire several add-on capabilities to gain insights into the mechanistic pathways leading to TR that includes in-line gas analysis, internal temperature measurement along with the capability of freezing the system under test with liquid nitrogen at any stage prior to TR that will enable independent ex-situ characterization of battery components using advanced analytical tools. The goal of the requested investment is consistent with Navy#s growing emphasis on the development of abuse-tolerant cells and designing advanced engineering controls for adequate mitigation of TR to ensure safe operation of LIBs in applications. An integrated LIB safety characterization facility that includes an EV-ARC does not yet exist in an academic institution in the New England region, hence the proposed safety characterization center is expected to result in significant collaboration among academic institutions in this region for basic research on battery safety in addition to the research projects driven by UConn along with our NIUVT partners in disciplines importantto the DOD mission. An integral component to the proposed research facility at UConn is workforce development for Navy and related industries. The facility will be available to all UConn and partner university students and will be designated as a user facility for external university users. Realization of the anticipated training towards workforce development at the proposed facility is crucial for both DOD needs and those serving to provide the Nation with competitive edge in the global market for developing advanced energy storage technologies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 29, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312637
Entities
People
- Naba Karan
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Connecticut