Abstract

Thermal runaway (TR) propagation in a large format lithium ion battery pack can cause disastrous consequences and thus deserves study on preventing it. A lumped thermal model that can predict and help prevent TR propagation in a battery module using 25 Ah LiNixCoyMnzO2 large format lithium ion batteries has been built in this paper. The TR propagation model consists of 6 fully-charged single batteries connected through thermal resistances and can fit experiment data well. The modeling analysis focuses on discussing the influences on the TR propagation process caused by changes in different critical modeling parameters. The modeling analysis suggests possible solutions to postpone and prevent TR propagation. The simulation shows that it might be better to choose proper parameters that help prevent TR propagation rather than just postpone it, because a delay in the TR propagation process leads to a higher level of heat gathering which may cause severer thermal hazards. To prevent TR propagation, the model provides some substantial quantified solutions: (1) raise the TR triggering temperature to higher than 469 °C; (2) reduce the total electric energy released during massive internal short circuit to 75% or less of its original value; (3) enhance the heat dissipation by increasing the heat dissipation coefficient to higher than 70 W m−2 K−1; (4) add extra thermal resistant layers between adjacent batteries with a thickness of 1 mm and a thermal conductivity less than 0.2 W m−1 K−1. One implementation, which is verified by experiment, is to insert thermal resistant layer between adjacent batteries to prevent TR propagation in the battery module.