Fire & Explosion Hazards for BESS
Explosion Risk in BESS : THERMAL RUNAWAY
A thermal runaway is a phenomenon of chain reactions that can quickly become uncontrollable, and which can lead to the explosion of a BESS.
Thermal runaway triggers an exothermic reaction that generates extreme heat (exceeding 1000°C in some cases) and releases significant quantities of flammable gases, such as hydrogen, along with other toxic fumes.
The intensity of a thermal runaway depends on the battery’s chemistry and its state of charge (SOC). During a thermal event, heat from faulty cells can cause adjacent cells to fail, triggering a chain reaction that may spread throughout the module, potentially destroying the entire BESS and nearby equipment.
THERMAL RUNAWAY CAN BE TRIGGERED BY MANY DIFFERENT FACTORS :
Manufacturing defects within the battery cel, mechanical abuse such as a crash or penetration, electrical abuse such as overcharging or short circuiting a cell, thermal abuse related to excessive temperatures.
The severity of the risks associated with a thermal runaway highlight the importance of implementing measures within a BESS design that mitigate the risks of explosion and fire, such as the use of explosion-protection panels.
Detecting and releasing flammable gases from a BESS are two key measures outlined in NFPA 855.
