EV Power Seminar Series
Did you know that lithium-ion batteries power not only your phones but also some of the largest renewable energy storage systems in the world? With the shift towards renewable energy and electric vehicles, understanding the safety and efficiency of these batteries is more critical than ever.
However, these energy storage systems face significant challenges, including the potential for fire and explosion due to thermal runaway. That’s why researchers are constantly innovating to make these systems safer, helping to transition the world toward cleaner energy sources.
Don't miss out! Each month, we invite industry experts to share their insights and innovations at our EV Power Seminar Series. This month, Dr. Dong Zeng will be sharing his knowledge on battery storage system hazard assessment.
Be part of the future – stay informed, get inspired, and drive change with us!
Please find details of our October 2024 Seminar below!
DATE: Thursday, 10 October 2024
TIME: 10:00 AM EDT. (Refreshments will be served & interaction with the speaker from 9:30 AM.)
LOCATION: Northeastern University Innovation Campus, Burlington AND Online
SCAN or CLICK TO REGISTER
Battery Energy Storage System Hazard Assessment: Modeling and Scaling Up
Dong Zeng
Principal Research Scientist, FM Global
ABSTRACT:
The increased utilization of lithium-ion batteries (LIB) in battery energy storage systems (BESS) for utility-scale renewable energy generation has drawn attention to better understanding the associated fire and explosion hazards. These hazards are attributable to the heat and flammable gases released during LIB thermal runaway (TR). The energy released from cells that undergo TR causes inter-cell thermal runaway propagation (TRP). Fire and sensible heat generation from the TRP of a module can trigger inter-module TRP and, ultimately, large-scale fire or explosion. Hazard assessments are critical to preventing and protecting such incidents, and numerical modeling is a key tool in developing such assessments. For this purpose, FM has conducted a systematic experimental study spanning LIB cells, modules, and multi-module LIB units using NMC/graphite pouch-type cells with a capacity of 63 Ah. A novel cell thermal runaway modeling approach based on single-cell TR experiments was developed and applied to predict module-level fire hazards, with the final objective of predicting unit-level fire and explosion hazards. This presentation will discuss the problem background, experimental findings, and the progress of modeling.
SPEAKER:
Dr. Dong Zeng is a principal research scientist and technical team leader for the flammability team at FM’s Research division. He obtained a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Brigham Young University. At FM, he is responsible for leading a broad range of research programs to improve fire hazard evaluation and mitigation, with current focus on lithium-ion batteries, roof-mounted solar panels, data centers, and building materials. His work has led to multiple FM Approvals standards, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) validation datasets (MaCFP), and more than thirty peer-reviewed publications. He is a principal member of the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Fire Tests Committee and is responsible for developing and maintaining multiple fire testing standards. He served as a colloquium co-chair for the International Symposium of Combustion, the International Association for Fire Safety Science, and the organizer for the SFPE Li-ion Battery Fire Safety Conference.
For questions, contact: Divya Priya Dhanraj - dhanraj.d@northeastern.edu; Juner Zhu - j.zhu@northeastern.edu