Energy storage safety is systems engineering

2022-01-23

Lithium iron phosphate batteries, which are known for their high stability in the industry, also have internal short-circuit failures, resulting in fire accidents. Can we be assured of the safety of lithium batteries?

From a professional point of view, there are many reasons for a short circuit inside the battery. For example, the lithium battery itself may have some small defects in the manufacturing process, which will cause a short circuit; Can also cause short circuits.

The stability of the material system does not mean the absolute safety of the battery. The lithium iron phosphate nano-scale particles are small, and the carbon coating process is used, and the adhesive force of the binder to the nano-particles is poor. Therefore, in the process of battery preparation and charge-discharge cycles , there is the possibility of nano-particle detachment causing micro-short circuit inside the battery; in addition, when the battery is thermally out of control, the combustion of the organic electrolyte also poses a certain safety hazard.

Traditional lithium iron phosphate batteries are all liquid electrolyte batteries. After the battery is damaged, it will generate highly toxic hydrogen fluoride when it reacts with water and electrolyte. After burning, it will emit sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, etc. , the explosion itself is more troublesome.

Everyone should look at the safety of lithium batteries rationally. Even fuel vehicles have the risk of fire and explosion. As a technology based on chemical reaction principles, electrochemical energy storage is difficult to be absolutely safe, but this does not necessarily affect people's safe use. The key is to keep its unstable, uncontrollable safety risks low enough to keep the impact of accidents within acceptable limits.