ANALYSIS OF RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES

• US 20140241394A1
• Filed: 02/24/2014
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Olson, Nels A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,658,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/8
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/17 Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated where the material investigated is optically excited causing a change in wavelength of the incident light G01N21/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/4846 for a motionless, e.g. solid sample
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/50 by investigating flash-point; by investigating explosibility
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/60 Investigating resistance of materials, e.g. refractory materials, to rapid heat changes thermal testing of structures or apparatus G01M99/002
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/88 Integrated analysis systems specially adapted therefor, not covered by a single one of the groups G01N30/04 - G01N30/86
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/0036 Step by step routines describing the handling of the data generated during a measurement
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A rechargeable battery is externally heated to induce thermal runaway, and material expelled from the battery is analyzed.

Claims

1. A method of analyzing a rechargeable battery, the method comprising:

externally heating the battery to induce thermal runaway; and

analyzing material expelled from the battery.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery is externally heated until a failure event is detected.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery is externally heated at varying rates.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing exothermic reaction monitoring during battery heating.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a structure used with the battery during normal battery operation is tested along with the battery;

and wherein compatibility analysis between the structure and the expelled material is performed.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the structure includes a metal enclosure for the battery.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the analysis includes toxicology analysis on the expelled material.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the analysis includes determining chemical composition of components of the expelled material.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the analysis includes gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) head space analysis.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the analysis includes micro-probe analysis of solid residue from the expelled material.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the analysis includes infrared gas cell analysis for light components.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the analysis includes ion-exchange chromatography.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the analysis includes Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Spectroscopy.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the analysis includes flammability analysis.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the flammability analysis is performed in an intermittent mode to allow materials to be released from the battery prior to ignition.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a turbulent flow of gas during the external heating.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing particles from gases expelled by the battery.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein during the heating, the battery is contained within an enclosure, the enclosure is subjected to pressure cycles, and equalization between pressures inside and outside the enclosure is performed.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising venting the battery with a vent that will be used during normal usage of the battery.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the analysis to design measures for mitigating consequences of thermal runaway in the rechargeable battery.

21. A method comprising:

placing a rechargeable battery in a test vessel;

externally heating the battery to cause the battery to rupture;

capturing material expelled by the battery following the rupture; and

analyzing the captured materials, including performing toxicology analysis on the captured materials.

22. Apparatus comprising:

a pressure vessel;

a rechargeable battery within the pressure vessel;

means for externally heating the battery within the pressure vessel to induce thermal runaway; and

means for collecting material expelled by the battery during the external heating.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising means for filling the pressure vessel with different types of gases for different types of tests on the rechargeable battery.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising means for in situ analysis of the expelled materials to determine physical and chemical properties.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising means for creating turbulent gas flow around the battery.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising means for removing particles from gases expelled by the battery.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising means for performing flammability analysis on materials expelled by the battery.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for performing flammability analysis includes an igniter operable in a continuous mode and an intermittent mode.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising an enclosure for the battery.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising a vent attached to the enclosure, the vent configured for normal usage with the battery.

31. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a plurality of temperature measurement devices on a surface of the battery.