Study on Thermal Runaway Propagation Characteristics of Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Pack under Different SOCs

Abstract

Thermal runaway (TR) of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has always been the most important problem for battery development, and the TR characteristics of large LIBs need more research. In this paper, the thermal runaway propagation (TRP) characteristics and TR behavior changes of three lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries (numbered 1 to 3) under different states of charge (SOCs) were studied. The main parameters discussed include temperature, temperature rise rate, mass, mass change rate, and TRP flue gas ejection behavior. The experimental results indicate that with the increase in SOC, the TRP behavior of the battery is more obvious. The higher the temperature, more blocked temperature rise rate, mass loss rate, and greater mass loss, the shorter the TRP time that can be observed. The TRP interval of 100% SOC battery 1 to 2 is 71.4% smaller than that of 50% SOC, while the TRP interval of battery 2 to 3 is reduced by 87.2%. In addition, a 100% SOC battery pack exhibits spark ejection, while 50% SOC and 0% SOC battery pack exhibit flue gas generation.