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Propagation mechanism of electric vehicle lithium battery thermal runaway in tunnel environments: Analysis of smoke flow and combustion characteristics in confined spaces
- 1 Southwest Jiaotong University
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This rise in the deployment of lithium-ion batteries in electric cars presents new fire hazards, especially in places such as tunnels where thermal runaway situations are highly dangerous. This work investigates the propagation of thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries within tunnels, including smoke flow, toxic gas diffusion and heat distribution under various ventilation conditions and tunnel shapes. Tests with 18650 lithium-ion cells were carried out on tunnels with gradients (0°, 2°, and 5°), followed by CFD simulations of the results. We measured smoke spread, temperature, and toxic gas concentrations (CO, HF, CO2) at airflow rates from 0.5 to 3 m/s. The findings indicated that tunnel slope and ventilation rates had a direct influence on smoke content, gas content and evacuation probability, and that sloping tunnels held more smoke at the ends. These results underscore the need for tailored ventilation to facilitate egress and avoid exposure to toxic gases. This work can inform better fire-safety practices in tunnels as electric vehicles continue to become more common.
Keywords
Thermal runaway, lithium-ion batteries, tunnel fire safety, smoke propagation, toxic gas dispersion
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Cite this article
Lai,M. (2024). Propagation mechanism of electric vehicle lithium battery thermal runaway in tunnel environments: Analysis of smoke flow and combustion characteristics in confined spaces. Advances in Engineering Innovation,14,1-6.
Data availability
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.
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Journal：Advances in Engineering Innovation
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