WP1.1: Review of previous and ongoing research activities
Aims:
- Presenting the current state of science and technology at the beginning of the project
- Providing available knowledge with regard to the hazards of lithium-ion batteries
Results:
- Determination of the current state of research regarding potential hazards
- Overview of necessary technical solutions
- Determination of the initial situation with regard to extinguishing agents
Insights into the Results:
Structure of lithium-ion batteries
Secondary lithium-ion batteries (LIB) belong to the category of electrochemical energy storage systems. LIBs consist of individual cells that are usually combined in modules, which are assembled together with other modules in a battery housing to form a pack. Schematic illustration:
An LIB cell contains two electrodes (cathode and anode), with graphite being the most commonly used anode material. Relevant cathode materials (so-called cell chemistries) are:
- NCA (lithium nickel cobalt aluminium oxide)
- NMC (lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide)
- LMO (lithium manganese oxide)
- LCO (lithium cobalt oxide)
- LFP (lithium iron phosphate)
The two electrodes are separated by a polymer separator. The cell is filled with a liquid electrolyte (usually lithium hexafluorophosphate in a solvent mixture of organic carbonates).
There are LIB cells of different geometries – prismatic, pouch and cylindrical cells. Both the cell chemistry and the cell geometry have an influence on the fire behaviour of the cell.
Fire behaviour of lithium-ion batteries
A battery fire is caused by the phenomenon of thermal runaway. Self-accelerating exothermic chain reactions and internal short circuits in the cell lead to an uncontrolled rise in temperature, followed by the cell bursting and the release of flammable gases.
Without external intervention, thermal runaway quickly propagates to other cells.
There are detailed reviews in the literature on the progression of thermal runaway, e.g. by Feng et al.
WP1.2: Processing and transfer of results and data from the SUVEREN research project
Aims:
- Providing the data for further elaboration
- Determination of research interfaces for further development
- Review of relevant publications and access to experimental results from the project SUVEREN
Results:
- Report and overview of main results from SUVEREN
- Preparation of the results for usage in WP 2, 3 and 4
See AP1.2 Bericht: Ergebnisse Forschungsprojekt SUVEREN (in German). This WP report summarises the important results of the previous project SUVEREN.
WP1.3: Compilation of relevant guidelines and standards and description of the status quo
Aims:
- Identification of exisiting hazards
- Overview of relevant guidelines and standards
- Overview of legal situation
- Identification of relevant standardization gaps
Results:
- Report and overview of the standardization situation with identification of need for regulation
- Usage of the findings in WP 2 and WP 3
See AP 1.3 Bericht: Richtlinien und Normen (in German). In this WP report, the relevant regulations, standards, laws and guidelines on safety and fire protection along the LIB value chain were summarised. Relevant regulatory and standardisation gaps were identified based on the current situation.
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