Battery Safety Testing
Battery safety is a much-discussed topic, and its importance remains front and center as the energy storage industry continues to expand. Our flammability team actively supports customers with battery safety testing. Flammability testing has focused on flammability analysis of the gas that is released during battery thermal events. These data are used to ensure the enclosure ventilation system and explosion relief panels are adequate for the installation.
Historically, Fauske and our customers have found adiabatic calorimetry to be a useful method for evaluating thermal stability of battery materials. We continue to expand our capabilities for testing batteries and battery materials. Some of our testing options are shown below, but please contact us if you have interest in other types of custom testing.
Testing Services
We experimentally determine the LFL, Pmax, and Kg as required by industry accepted standards such as ANSI/CAN/UL 9540A Ed. 4, which references a number of other standards (e.g., ASHRAE, ASTM, EN, ISO, NFPA and Canadian standards).
Other related testing services include:
VSP2
The standard VSP2 system is supplemented with an additional power supply and electrical load device, which for convenience are controlled separately from the VSP2 software. Also, for added safety, the standard 4-liter containment vessel is replaced with a larger pressure vessel available in the FAI flammability lab. Results demonstrate the efficacy of the VSP2 for analyzing battery explosions, and the method is scalable to larger batteries.
The VSP2 control software is configured to heat the lithium-ion cell at a constant rate from ambient to 350°C. The temperature, pressure, and lithium-ion cell voltage are measured and recorded. Additionally, the auxiliary and guard heater control power are recorded. The lithium-ion cell voltage is measured using customized software and pre-conditioning equipment while the VSP2 was used to record the temperatures and pressure and control the heaters.
Battery Cell Testing
- Thermal Runaway
- Testing is conducted on a preconditioned battery cell wrapped in a custom heater assembly with an optional guard for adiabatic tracking. The system is installed in a pressure containment vessel that allows us to control the atmosphere (air, nitrogen, humidity), and the cell is heated at a predetermined heating mode, undercharging or overcharging up or other electrical or mechanical abuse triggering systems. Cell voltage, gas temperature, center and cathode temperature and pressure signals are monitored throughout the runaway event. Key parameters include onset of cell venting, temperature and pressure rates relationships vs. time/temperature for kinetic extraction, and moles of non-condensable gas generated during runaway. Post test visual observations are taken, such as failure mechanisms.
- Off-Gas Collection and Analysis
- Following a thermal runaway typically done under inert conditions, a sample of the headspace gas at discrete times (cell vent, thermal runaway, post combustion) can be taken and analyzed for composition, and then be blended for further flammability testing.
Off-Gas Flammability Testing
- Flammability Limits
- LFL or UFL only (Pmax and Kg)
- Knowledge of the LFL can be used to determine ventilation rates to prevent accumulation of flammable gas buildup (<0.25%)
- Explosion Severity Test
- Vent sizing for room or others.
Solvent and Electrolyte Solutions Testing
- DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimeter) Test
- TGA (Thermogravimetric Analyzer) Test
- ARC (Accelerating Rate Calorimeter) Test
- TAM (Thermal Activity Monitor) Test
- ARSST
- Flash Point Test
- Fire Point Test
- Sustained Burning Test
- Autoignition Temperature
- Vapor Pressure
- Heat Capacity
- Oxidizing Liquids
- Heat of Combustion
- Flammability Limits
- Limiting Oxygen Concentration
- Explosion Severity
- Minimum Ignition Energy (MIE)
Membrane/Separator Materials Testing
- DSC/TGA Tests
- ARC Test
- TAM Test
- Heat Capacity
- Thermal Conductivity
- Heat of Combustion
- Oxidizing Solids
- Ignition Temperatures of Plastics
Electrolyte, Solids, Anode and Cathode Material Testing
- DSC/TGA Tests
- ARC Test
- TAM Test
- Heat Capacity
- Minimum Explosible Concentration (MEC)
- Minimum Ignition Energy (MIE)
- Layer Ignition Temperature (LIT)
- Explosion Severity Test (Pmax and Kg)