A study on the behavior of a cylindrical type Li-Ion secondary battery under abnormal conditions

Li-ion (lithium ion) secondary batteries are rechargeable batteries in which lithium ions move between the cathode and the anode. Lithium is not as safe as nickel cadmium (NiCd), and the Li-ion battery can under some conditions increase in temperature and ignite abnormal conditions which includes overcharging, being subjected to an impact, or being hit by a projectile. Before studying causes of Li-ion battery explosions, the term "abnormal condition" was defined. Next, to check the mechanical conditions, an impact test by a free falling object of 9.1 kg weight made of steel was carried out. After the impact test, the damage of the separator around the hollow of the jelly roll in the cell was observed. Following this, the same cell's electrochemical conditions were assessed through a heating test to determine the potential thermal runaway. Finally, to analyze the mechanical damage to the Li-ion batteries during the charging and the impact test, a finite element analysis was performed using LS-DYNA and ABAQUS software. A cylindrical type Li-ion secondary battery was selected for the impact test, heating test, and simulation. The test and simulation results provided insights into the extent to which cylindrical cells can endure abnormal conditions.