title: Are Lithium Ion Cells Intrinsically Safe?
abstract: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health researchers are studying the potential for Li-ion-battery thermal runaway from an internal short circuit in equipment approved as permissible for use in underground coal mines. Researchers used a plastic wedge to induce internal short circuits for thermal runaway susceptibility evaluation purposes, which proved to be a more severe test than the flat plate method for selected Li-ion cells. Researchers conducted cell crush tests within a 20-L chamber filled with 6.5% CH4-air to simulate the mining hazard. Results indicate that LG Chem ICR18650S2 LiCoO2cells pose a CH4explosion hazard from a cell internal short circuit. Under specified test conditions, A123 Systems 26650 LiFePO4cells were safer than the LG Chem ICR18650S2 LiCoO2cells at a conservative statistical significance level.
authors.affiliation: Office of Mine Safety and Health Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Dubaniewicz
authors.affiliation: Office of Mine Safety and Health Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: DuCarme
keywords: Batteries; electrical accidents; explosion protection; fires; hazardous areas; ignition; mining industry; occupational safety; standardization