Measures to reduce the risk of thermal runaway in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) encompass a combination of advanced battery design, monitoring technologies, containment strategies, and operational protocols. These efforts aim to prevent the onset of thermal runaway, detect early signs, and contain or mitigate its effects if it occurs.
Key Measures to Reduce Thermal Runaway Risk
1. Advanced Battery Management Systems (BMS)
- Continuous Monitoring: BMS technology monitors battery parameters such as voltage, current, temperature, and impedance at the cell or module level in real-time. This enables early detection of anomalies such as temperature spikes or off-gassing, which are precursors to thermal runaway.
- Protective Controls: Upon detecting signs of potential thermal runaway, BMS can trigger corrective actions such as shutting down the failing cell or battery module by tripping breakers to remove current flow, thereby reducing propagation risk.
- AI-Driven Predictive Analytics: Some modern BMS use artificial intelligence to predict battery health degradation and intervene before failures escalate.
- Regular Preventative Maintenance: Routine inspections and data analysis visits (recommended annually or biannually) ensure BMS functionality and battery health are optimal, which maintains safety and performance.
2. Robust Thermal Management & Cooling
- Thermal Management Systems: Incorporating active cooling solutions (liquid or forced air cooling) helps maintain battery temperature within safe limits to prevent overheating and reduce thermal runaway likelihood.
- Immersion Cooling: Innovative immersion cooling, where batteries are submerged in dielectric fluids, provides efficient heat dissipation directly at the cell level, significantly lowering fire risk and extending battery life.
3. Safe Battery Design and Manufacturing
- Quality Control: Detecting and eliminating manufacturing defects such as contaminants or weak separators prevents internal short circuits that can trigger thermal runaway.
- Thermal Insulation and Barriers: Using thermal barriers or separators between cells or modules isolates heat generation and prevents one cell’s thermal event from propagating to adjacent cells.
- Physical Separation: Designing battery packs with physical spacing enhances heat dissipation and reduces cascade risk.
- Protective Circuits: Adding protection circuits to regulate charge rates and prevent overcharging or rapid discharging helps avoid conditions that initiate thermal runaway.
4. Fire Safety and Containment Measures
- Fire Suppression Systems: Employing specialized systems like NOVEC dry-type or aerosol fire suppression can suppress fires and reduce damage in case thermal runaway occurs.
- Ventilation and Facility Design: Building BESS facilities with non-combustible materials, adequate ventilation, proper ceiling heights, and ensuring flammable gases do not accumulate helps limit fire risk and toxic exposure.
- Emergency Planning and Training: Facilities implement specific firefighter training and emergency response plans tailored to BESS incidents to effectively handle thermal runaway fires.
5. Standards, Testing, and Regulatory Compliance
- UL 9540A Testing: Batteries and BESS undergo UL 9540A testing to evaluate their thermal runaway behavior under fire conditions. This helps identify critical thresholds and guide safety improvements.
- Compliance with Fire Codes: Adhering to NFPA 855, NFPA 1, and International Fire Codes ensures appropriate thermal runaway protection measures, including requisite monitoring and suppression systems.
- Industry Best Practices: Structured commissioning plans, careful handling during installation, and zero tolerance for battery abuse reduce risks from mechanical damage or operational errors.
Summary Table of Thermal Runaway Risk Reduction Measures
| Measure Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Battery Management Systems | Real-time monitoring, AI analytics, automatic shutdown, predictive maintenance |
| Thermal Management | Active cooling (liquid/air), immersion cooling, maintaining safe operating temperatures |
| Battery Design | Stringent quality control, thermal barriers, physical cell separation, protective circuits |
| Fire Safety & Containment | Fire suppression systems, ventilation, facility design with non-combustible materials |
| Standards & Compliance | UL 9540A testing, adherence to NFPA855 and fire codes, commissioning protocols |
By integrating these multilayered measures—spanning technology, design, operations, and regulatory frameworks—industry stakeholders significantly reduce the incidence and impact of thermal runaway events in BESS, enhancing safety, reliability, and sustainability of energy storage solutions.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-measures-are-being-taken-to-reduce-the-risk-of-thermal-runaway-in-battery-energy-storage-systems/
