Thermal Runaway Hazards of Ternary Lithium-Ion Batteries Under Different Ambient Pressure Environments

Aiming for the safety requirements of aviation transportation of lithium-ion batteries, the thermal runaway characteristics of ternary lithium-ion batteries in a low ambient pressure environment were systematically explored. The results showed that the low ambient pressure significantly reduced the peak temperature of battery thermal runaway. The critical trigger temperature was increased by about 30 °C because of the suppression of convective heat transfer and side reactions inside the battery by the low ambient pressure. At 50 kPa ambient pressure, the injection stage of batteries with 100% SOC and 50% SOC were delayed by 16 s and 99 s, respectively, and the combustion intensity was also significantly weakened. The violent eruption of the battery with 100% SOC caused the rupture of the aluminum–plastic film, and the battery with 0% SOC only expanded inward. Constant ambient pressure (96 kPa) and high SOCs (≥50%) are a high-risk combination, and fire monitoring needs to be strengthened. Low ambient pressure (≤50 kPa) and low SOCs (≤30%) are less dangerous for thermal runaway. It is suggested that the SOC should not be higher than 50% in aviation transportation. This work provides an important reference for the safety of lithium-ion batteries in aviation transportation.