Analysis and research on hydrogen production from using water to extinguish the energy storage cabinet of lithium-ion batteries

doi:10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2023.0394

Abstract

Abstract:

The proposal of the dual-carbon goal brought new opportunities to the development of China's lithium-ion energy storage industry. Correspondingly, the thermal runaway problem of energy storage cabinets became increasingly prominent. Due to its three major attributes of accessibility, effectiveness, and economy, firewater is considered as the most common solution to lithium-ion battery fires. However, the safety of its usage is questioned due to the issue of electrolytic hydrogen production in response to high-voltage energy storage cabinet fires. On the basis of extensive research, this study adopts theoretical analysis and quantitative calculation methods to establish models for the electrolytic hydrogen production rate and the energy storage cabinet concentration under different boundary conditions to explore the safety of using different water qualities to dispose of the thermal runaway schemes of the energy storage cabinets. The results indicate that the electrolytic hydrogen production rate of the energy storage cabinets is influenced by various factors. As the key factors affecting the hydrogen production rate, the electrochemical parameters only slightly affect the hydrogen production rate, while the water conductivity, electrical cabinet insulation protection, and electrolysis temperature significantly affect it. In this work, two mainstream prefabricated energy storage containers in the market are taken as examples. Under extreme conditions (i.e., 90 ℃ water temperature), the energy storage cabinets were completely submerged; the insulation protection of the cabinets and boxes was damaged; and internal ventilation failed. According to the results, when tap water is used for fire extinguishment, the hydrogen concentration remains far below the lower explosion limit for 3 h, indicating the feasibility of fire termination. Seawater used for the same purpose lasts for 1 h, with the hydrogen concentration being less than the lower explosion limit. Fire extinguishment using seawater is feasible when using ventilation measures. Lastly, when industrial-quality alkaline water (30% KOH solution) is used, the generated hydrogen concentration is greater than the lower explosion limit, posing a significant safety risk.

Key words: energy storage cabinet, thermal runaway, energy storage safety

CLC Number:

TM 911

Hong ZHANG, Jin CHONG, Jinhui JIANG, Tingfeng CHEN, Zihua LIU, Fangxiang ZHONG, Xiaowei ZHANG. Analysis and research on hydrogen production from using water to extinguish the energy storage cabinet of lithium-ion batteries[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2023, 12(10): 3145-3154.

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参数分类	电化学参数			电解池参数
参数分类	转换系数α	阴极反应交换电流密度i_o,c/(A/cm²)	阳极反应交换电流密度i_o,a/(A/cm²)	电解质溶液离子电导率κ/(S/cm)	电解质阴阳极传输距离L/mm	电解质阴阳极传输面积S/mm²
调研取值	一般取值0.45～0.55	10^-2	10^-6	8×10^-4(自来水)	123(电芯)	615.75(电芯)
		10^-5	10^-8	3×10^-2(海水)	53(电箱)
		10^-8	10^-10	0.6(工业碱性电解水溶液)	64.03 (电柜)

目标对象	边界定义			电压范围
目标对象	最大边界	均值边界	最小边界	电压范围
电芯	E=2.334+0.236lgv+2.15×10⁴v	E=2.764+0.236lgv+2.15×10⁴v	E=3.396+0.236lgv+2.15×10⁴v	E=2.8～3.6 V
电箱	E=2.334+0.236lgv+1.13×10⁵v	E=2.764+0.236lgv+1.13×10⁵v	E=3.396+0.236lgv+1.13×10⁵v	E=145.6～187.2 V
电柜	E=2.334+0.236lgv+1.37×10⁵v	E=2.764+0.236lgv+1.37×10⁵v	E=3.396+0.236lgv+1.37×10⁵v	E=1164.8～1497.6 V

水质	主要成分	电导率
自来水	符合GB 5749—2006《生活饮用水卫生标准》要求	800 μS/cm
海水	盐离子浓度质量分数3.5%，其中NaCl占主要成分	30 mS/cm
工业碱性电解池电解质溶液	一般采用30% KOH水溶液作为电解质溶液	0.6 S/cm

目标对象	边界定义			电压范围
目标对象	最大边界	均值边界	最小边界	电压范围
电芯	E=2.334+0.236lgv+5.68×10²v	E=2.764+0.236lgv+5.68×10²v	E=3.396+0.236lgv+5.68×10²v	E=2.8～3.6 V
电箱	E=2.334+0.236lgv+2.98×10³v	E=2.764+0.236lgv+2.98×10³v	E=3.396+0.236lgv+2.98×10³v	E=145.6～187.2 V
电柜	E=2.334+0.236lgv+3.62×10³v	E=2.764+0.236lgv+3.62×10³v	E=3.396+0.236lgv+3.62×10³v	E=1164.8～1497.6 V

目标对象	边界定义			电压范围
目标对象	最大边界	均值边界	最小边界	电压范围
电芯	E=2.334+0.236lgv+28.66v	E=2.764+0.236lgv+28.66v	E=3.396+0.236lgv+28.66v	E=2.8～3.6 V
电箱	E=2.334+0.236lgv+150.67v	E=2.764+0.236lgv+150.67v	E=3.396+0.236lgv+150.67v	E=145.6～187.2 V
电柜	E=2.334+0.236lgv+182.67v	E=2.764+0.236lgv+182.67v	E=3.396+0.236lgv+182.67v	E=1164.8～1497.6 V