Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
Search
            ×
                        Mining
                        Mining
                            NIOSH
                            All CDC
                    Submit
                For a full list of topics:A-Z Index
                Advanced Search
            Advanced Search


The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)





Mining Contract: Internal Short Circuit Detection for Improved Safety of Lithium-Ion Batteries for Mining Applications
Keywords: Batteries Explosions
This page is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.
Contract #
200-2014-58751Start Date
9/1/2014End Date
8/31/2016Research Concept
Lithium-ion batteries pose inherent safety risks in mining environments. Existing battery management systems do not directly monitor for the presence of internal shorts, nor do they possess the sensitivity needed to infer the existence of such shorts indirectly from monitored parameters until the short poses an imminent risk of triggering a thermal runaway.Topic Area
Electrical Safety
Contract Status & Impact
This contract is complete. To receive a copy of the final report, send a request to mining@cdc.gov.
A need exists to improve the safety of lithium-ion battery systems in order to reduce the risk posed by these batteries to mine workers. The Office of Mine Safety and Health Research has recognized that lithium-ion batteries, increasingly used in mining systems, pose special risks. Because of their high energy content, lithium-ion cells can be driven into thermal runaway triggered by internal short circuits, which can be caused by manufacturing defects or metallic contaminants and remain dormant for months or even years. Thermal runaway is a process where chemical decomposition reactions inside the cell proceed in a self-accelerating manner, culminating in violent failure with cell rupture and fire and/or explosion. Lithium-ion batteries pose special safety concerns because these catastrophic failures can occur under otherwise “normal” operating conditions. Further, thermal runaway of a single cell can cause cascading failure of additional cells, worsening the overall severity of the problem and increasing the safety risk.
The company TIAX has completed extensive research into the nature and mechanism of internal short circuits, developing enabling technology in the form of a sensitive, accurate, battery-monitoring system that provides early warning of the development of internal shorts in batteries. This non-invasive, cell chemistry-agnostic technology is based on high-reliability electrical markers identified during extensive research into the nature and mechanism of internal short circuits, and is informed by a number of investigations performed by TIAX into failures of lithium-ion cells in the field. The technology consists of a monitoring architecture, sensor network, and algorithms, and detects internal shorts before they pose a risk of heat build-up and thermal runaway. Detection of internal shorts allows for appropriate intervention—e.g., removal of suspect or faulty batteries from service, or immediate de-energizing to render them safe.
The functionality and effectiveness of the enabling technology have been demonstrated in TIAX laboratories over a range of use scenarios and operational environments within the last year. Prototypes have been built and tested for certain small (e.g., portable electronics) and large (e.g., vehicle) battery systems. However, to meet the specialized needs of mining applications, the short circuit detection technology must be adapted and implemented specifically for a mining-relevant battery system. Response characteristics, signal processing, and hardware parameters must be tuned under mining-relevant use scenarios (e.g., appropriate charge/discharge cycling). Finally, because battery systems for mining applications will not have the production volume of, for example, notebook computer or automotive battery systems, it will be important to provide a path to implementation that delivers the customization of the enabling technology needed for mining applications but also at acceptable unit costs.
See Also
Coal-Dust Explosion Tests in the Experimental Mine 1919 to 1924, Inclusive
Evaluation of the Bagged Stone Dust Barrier Effectiveness in a Bord and Pillar Mine
Explosion Pressure Design Criteria for New Seals in U.S. Coal Mines
Methods to Mitigate Fire and Explosion Hazards of Lithium-ion Batteries
Performance and Safety Investigation of Emergency Backup Batteries and Battery Charging Systems for Underground Mining Applications
Progress Toward Improved Engineering of Seals and Sealed Areas of Coal Mines
Rock Dusting Considerations in Underground Coal Mines
Technology News 489 - Reducing the Danger of Explosions in Sealed Areas (Gobs) in Mines
Technology News 515 - Float Coal Dust Explosion Hazards
Technology News 535 - NIOSH Releases New Educational Video: Escape from Farmington No. 9: An Oral History
Page last reviewed: July 19, 2016
Page last updated: July 19, 2016
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate Mining
        Site BrowserSafety and Health TopicsData & StatisticsMethodologyMine DisastersMSHA Data FilesMine & Mineworker ChartsTools & PublicationsTools You Can UsePublicationsNews & ArticlesResearch ProgramNORA Mining CouncilStrategic PlanMining Program, 2019-2023Miner Health Program, 2020-2030ProjectsContractsFunding OpportunitiesMining LinksAbout UsContact NIOSH MiningEmploymentFacilitiesHistoryVisitor Information Electrical Safety
 NIOSH Homepage
 NIOSH A-Z
Workplace Safety & Health Topics
Publications and Products
Programs


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue