Numerical simulation analysis of combustion of electric sport utility vehicles

doi:10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2023.0762

Abstract

Abstract:

The combustion characteristics of an electric sports utility vehicle in a fire caused by thermal runaway of power battery was simulated. The ternary lithium battery was considered to be the ignition source. Furthermore, flame propagation during the combustion process was studied, and cockpit smoke analysis was conducted considering the influence of internal combustibles such as seats, door panel interior decoration, and tires on heat transfer. The results revealed that vehicle combustion caused by the battery pack can be categorized into three stages, namely heat diffusion in the battery pack, fuel combustion in the carriage, and full vehicle combustion. In the simulation, after approximately 35 s, visible flames appeared in the chassis and gradually spread over the vehicle. The speed of heat propagation from the chassis was greater than that of the backward spread. Furthermore, the fire process was accompanied by considerable smoke. The temperature of the vehicle was high at the bottom and two ends but low in the middle of the vehicle. The temperature of that of the car battery pack was the highest, followed by the front power cabin, and the temperature of the rear power cabin was the lowest. The peak heat release rate generated during the combustion process was 5100 kW, and the maximum temperature exceeded 800 ℃. Smoke analysis revealed that the smoke entered the cabin 15 s after the fire broke out and completely covered the crew cabin within 10 s, which threatened the safety of personnel. The combustion and fire characteristics and critical time nodes of electric SUV vehicles can help understand the thermal hazards of ternary lithium batteries and electric vehicles and can be used as a reference for designing personnel escape strategies and fire protection design.

Key words: pure electric SUV, ternary lithium battery, combustion characteristics, fire spread, smoke

CLC Number:

U 492.83

Qilin GUO, Liangyu TAO, Zheshu MA, Yongming GU, Yuting WANG. Numerical simulation analysis of combustion of electric sport utility vehicles[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2024, 13(3): 1000-1008.

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名称	材料	密度/(kg/m³)	导热系数/[W/(m∙K)]	比热容/[J/(kg·K)]	点燃温度/℃	燃烧热/(kJ/kg)
电池	电解液^[19]	1290	0.45	133.9	110	13200

座椅	聚氨酯软泡^[20]	28	0.05	1	350	30000
门板内饰	聚氨酯软泡^[20]	28	0.05	1	350	30000

仪表盘及底板	PVC^[20]	1380	0.16	1.4	507	19000

机舱管线	橡胶^[20]	950	0.134	1.88	350	32000
轮胎	橡胶^[20]	950	0.134	1.88	350	32000

位置	坐标(X, Y, Z)
电池包	(0，-0.6,0.19)
驾驶员头部	(0.4,-0.1,1.6)
驾驶员地板	(0.4，-0.5,0.5)
前动力舱	(0,-1.5,0.8)
后动力舱	(0,1.6,0.5)
左前驾车窗内侧热传感器	(0.4，-0.2,1.5)
左前驾车窗外侧热传感器	(0.8，-0.2,1.5)

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