Hazardous scenarios identification for Li-ion secondary batteries

Lithium ion rechargeable batteries represent an energy storage technology already commonly used in a number of applications (mobile cellular phones, laptops, etc.), and will play an even increasingly important role in the next future. However, a number of past accidents have raised concern about their reliability and safety, and thus delayed their introduction in larger and more strategic systems like the main electrical network or large photovoltaic power systems. With the aim of identifying the largest number of dangerous scenarios associated with the use of these systems, and based on the available information on this technology, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) has been selected for the hazard identification process and applied to a number of common system configurations. The main focus of the analysis has been on the possible negative interactions between the battery system and its surrounding environment (powered system, location of installation, but also modality of use, and so on). The resulting tables collect data from a wide range of sources of information, thus allowing to identify the most important predictable dangerous scenarios, and to suggest adequate mitigation actions to be implemented in any phase of the battery's life cycle (installation, operation, etc.). This would allow a safer use of this technology in a wider range of practical applications, enabling more reliable systems operation and reducing the risk to the possibly exposed people and to the environment.