Large format-fractional thermal runaway calorimeter

A system for measuring a heat response of a large-format lithium-ion battery cell during a thermal runaway event, the system comprising:

• a housing;
• a cell chamber positioned at least partially within the housing, wherein the cell chamber comprises a bore formed partially therethrough, wherein the bore receives the large-format lithium-ion battery cell therein, and wherein the large-format lithium-ion battery cell is triggered into the thermal runaway event while in the cell chamber, which causes the large-format lithium-ion battery cell to eject an electrode winding, particles, and gas;
• an expansion chamber positioned at least partially within the housing, wherein the expansion chamber is coupled to the cell chamber and to receive the electrode winding, the particles, and the gas therefrom, and wherein a cross-sectional area of the expansion chamber increases in a direction proceeding away from the cell chamber;
• an ejecta bore muffler positioned at least partially within the housing, wherein the ejecta bore muffler is coupled to the expansion chamber;
• an ejecta basket positioned at least partially within the ejecta bore muffler, wherein the ejecta basket captures the electrode winding while allowing the particles and the gas to pass therethrough;
• a rod positioned at least partially within the ejecta bore muffler;
• one or more baffles positioned at least partially within the ejecta bore muffler, wherein the rod extends through the one or more baffles;
• a mesh positioned at least partially within the ejecta bore muffler, wherein the mesh is positioned at least partially around the rod and the one or more baffles, wherein the one or more baffles, the mesh, or both stop at least a portion of the particles within the ejecta bore muffler;
• a gas collection system positioned outside of the housing, wherein the gas collection system receives the gas from the ejecta bore muffler;
• a first set of sensors that measures an amount of heat transferred through a casing of the large-format lithium-ion battery cell;
• a second set of sensors that measures an amount of heat in the electrode winding;
• a third set of sensors that measures an amount of heat in the particles, the gas, or both;
• a computing system that receives the amounts of heat from the first, second, and third sets of sensors, and runs an energy yield algorithm to determine energy yield data based at least partially upon the amounts of heat, wherein the energy yield data comprises:
• a total energy yield from the large-format lithium-ion battery cell during the thermal runaway event;
• a first fraction of the total energy yield transferred through the casing;
• a second fraction of the total energy yield in the electrode winding;
• and
• a third fraction of the total energy yield in the particles, the gas, or both.

A method for measuring a heat response of a battery cell, the method comprising:

• introducing a battery cell into a cell chamber;
• triggering a thermal runaway event for the battery cell while the battery cell is in the cell chamber, which causes the battery cell to eject an electrode winding, particles, and gas;
• measuring an amount of heat transferred through a casing of the battery cell during the thermal runaway event, an amount of heat in the electrode winding, an amount of heat in the particles, an amount of heat in the gas, or a combination thereof;
• and
• determining, using a computing system, energy yield data based at least partially upon the amount of heat transferred through the casing, the amount of heat in the electrode winding, the amount of heat in the particles, the amount of heat in the gas, or the combination thereof.