Patent — available for licensing
Carbon Fiber Sleeve Tempers Battery Thermal Runaway
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
Innovators at NASA Johnson Space Center have developed a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sleeve, that, when fitted over a cylindrical lithium-ion battery cell, can prevent cell-to-cell propagation by containing a thermal runaway (TR) event to the originating cell. TR is caused by a battery cell short-circuiting and its inability to contain the resulting increase in pressure and temperature, which may lead to a sidewall rupture (SWR). Space flight and other industrial batteries frequently utilize multiple cells, such as the 18650, that are assembled into modules or battery packs and provide power to a variety of applications. A TR event can propagate to all the cells in a battery pack, escalating into a fire that can be catastrophic. Use of CFRP sleeves for Li-ion cells provides multiple advantages over previous containment designs: increased hazard safety, lower mass, reduced cost, lack of conductivity, and manufacture with readily available materials. Hundreds of billions of 18650 battery cells are made globally and are the most common single cell format. They are used in commercially available products such as power tools, laptops, cameras, e-bikes, and electric cars.