What are the common safety standards for 18650 lithium-ion batteries?
Battery safety issues:
Batteries exhibit better rate capability at temperatures above 10 ° C to 55 ° C, due to faster electrochemical reactions and rapid ion migration of electrolytes and electrodes. In this case, the side reactions become severe, leading to rapid capacity decay. At temperatures above 80 ° C, the battery begins to be damaged, and any temperature above 130 ° C can cause the components of the battery to melt and potentially trigger a fire.
Low temperature can lead to poor battery performance and may cause damage, but it usually does not pose a safety hazard.
Overcharging (excessive voltage) can cause cathode decomposition and electrolyte oxidation, which is a safety issue.
Overdischarge (low voltage) can cause the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) on the anode to decompose and may lead to copper foil oxidation, further damaging the battery.
In addition to operational and environmental issues related to voltage and temperature, mechanical damage may also lead to safety issues with LIBs. Given these concerns, LIB's security standards are equally broad.
The five common safety standards for BTL lithium-ion batteries are:
1 IEC62133
2 UN/DOT38.3
3 IEC62619
4 UL1642
5 UL2580
IEC62133 is a safety testing standard for lithium-ion batteries and batteries, which tests the safety requirements for secondary batteries and batteries containing alkaline or non acidic electrolytes. It is used to test LIB used in portable electronic products and other applications. IEC 62133 addresses chemical and electrical hazards, as well as mechanical issues such as vibration and shock, that may pose a threat to consumers and the environment.
UN/DOT38.3 (also known as T1-T8 testing and UN ST/SG/AC10/11/Rev. 5) covers transportation safety testing for all LIBs, lithium metal batteries, and batteries. The testing standards include eight tests (T1-T8), all of which focus on specific transportation hazards. UN/DOT 38.3 is a self certification standard that does not require independent third-party testing, but the use of third-party testing laboratories is common to reduce the risk of litigation in the event of accidents.
IEC62619 covers the safety standards for secondary lithium batteries and battery packs, and specifies the safety application requirements for LIBs in electronic and other industrial applications. The IEC 62619 standard testing requirements apply to both static and dynamic applications.
Fixed applications include telecommunications, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), energy storage systems, utility switches, emergency power supplies, and similar applications. Power applications include forklifts, golf carts, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), railways, and ships - excluding road vehicles.
UL1642 is the UL standard for lithium battery safety, which specifies the standard requirements for primary and secondary lithium batteries used as power sources in electronic products.
UL1642 covers:
1. Technicians can replace lithium batteries containing 5.0 grams (0.18 ounces) or less of metallic lithium. Batteries with a lithium content exceeding 5.0 grams will be judged based on whether they meet the requirements (if applicable) and undergo additional testing and inspection to determine whether the battery can be used for its intended purpose.
2. User replaceable lithium batteries, with each electrochemical cell containing no more than 4.0 grams (0.13 ounces) of metallic lithium and no more than 1.0 gram (0.04 ounces) of metallic lithium. Batteries weighing over 4.0 grams or lithium weighing over 1.0 gram require further inspection and testing to determine if the battery or battery can be used for its intended purpose.
UL1642 does not cover the risk of toxicity caused by ingestion of lithium batteries, or the risk of exposure to metallic lithium due to battery damage or cutting.
UL2580x is the UL electric vehicle battery safety standard, consisting of multiple tests including:
High current battery short circuit: Run on a fully charged sample. Short circuit the sample with a total circuit resistance of ≤ 20m Ω. There is a combustible concentration of gas in the spark ignition detection sample, and there is no sign of explosion or fire. In addition, steam will not be discharged to the outside through designated vents or systems. There will be no shell rupture or observable signs of electrolyte leakage. If LIB can still operate after short-circuit testing, it will undergo charging and discharging cycles according to the manufacturer's specifications. Short circuit testing can be performed on sub components rather than the entire energy storage component (EESA).
Battery compression: Run on a fully charged sample and simulate the impact of vehicle collision on EESA integrity. Like short-circuit testing, spark ignition detects the presence of combustible gas concentrations in the sample and there are no signs of explosion or fire. It will not release toxic gases.
Battery cell compression (vertical): Run on a fully charged sample. The force applied in the compression test must be limited to 1000 times the weight of the battery. Like the crushing test, spark ignition detects the presence of combustible gas concentrations in the sample and there are no signs of explosion or fire. It will not release toxic gases.
LIB testing room
Fully testing LIB is essentially a hazardous activity. Due to deep discharge, short circuit, high temperature, and various types of mechanical abuse, degassing, fire, or explosion are likely to occur.
Specially designed LIB testing and storage rooms have been developed to reduce the possibility of injury to personnel. An example is a walk-in 90 minute fire compartment with internal and external fire protection, which can be used as a testing room or for storing LIBs.
The functions aimed at protecting personnel and the environment include:
a、 The roof has a pressure relief surface to balance internal and external pressure in the event of an accident.
b、 High performance ventilation for rapid extraction of harmful or explosive gases.
c、 The ability to inject inert gas to help control hazardous reactions or fires.
d、 Fire sensors are used to warn developing fires and integrate fire extinguishing devices.
e、 Additional gas sensors are used to identify degassing and place more sensors and signal relays as needed.
In short, the lithium metal content in lithium-ion batteries means that they pose potential hazards to users of battery power supply systems. LIB safety hazards include excessive discharge, short circuit, high temperature, and mechanical abuse. There are dozens of international safety standards and design requirements for lithium-ion batteries. This article introduces five common safety standards for lithium-ion batteries, as well as some basic precautions when specifying LIB testing rooms.
