Experimental study of the thermal runaway characteristics of lithium iron phosphate batteries for energy storage under various discharge powers

doi:10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2023.0788

Abstract

Abstract:

We report the results of energy-storage experiments on a 52 Ah square Li-FePO₄ battery. A 400 W external heat source and 20.8—166.4 W (1—8 h rated discharge) discharge power were used to simulate the thermal conditions of the battery under working conditions. The battery surface temperature and voltage were measured during thermal runaway, and the key time points of thermal runaway were recorded to study how discharge power affects thermal-abuse-induced thermal runaway. The results show that discharge accelerates thermal runaway: the higher the discharge power, the earlier the thermal runaway starts. From nondischarge to 166.4 W constant discharge, the opening time of the safety valve is shortened by 23.4%, and the thermal-runaway-triggering time is shortened by 5.6%. At the same time, the release of energy in the four stages of discharge reduces the severity of the thermal runaway, and the three maximum thermal runaway temperatures and the maximum temperature increase during discharge are reduced by 9.0% and 53.3%, respectively, with respect to the nondischarge condition. In addition, discharge increases voltage fluctuations during thermal runaway. The time window for subsequent voltage drop shifts forward to the vicinity of the valve-opening time, which favors using voltage change as an early warning of thermal runaway. Overall, the discharge operation accelerates thermal runaway while reducing its severity. This paper thus provides a reference for the safe daily operation, and the design of a battery-management system for electrochemical energy-storage power plants.

Key words: lithium iron phosphate batteries, thermal runaway, thermal abuse, discharge power

CLC Number:

TM 912

Chunshan HE, Ziyang WANG, Bin YAO. Experimental study of the thermal runaway characteristics of lithium iron phosphate batteries for energy storage under various discharge powers[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2024, 13(3): 981-989.

Figures/Tables 8

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组别	工况	放电操作	初始条件
i	1	—	400 W加热，75%SOC

ii	2	20.8 W(P_8h)	400 W加热，75%SOC
	3	41.6 W(P_4h)
	4	83.2 W(P_2h)
	5	166.4 W(P_1h)

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