Nail Penetration Adapter for Li-Ion Battery Testing

About this technology

Overview

Innovators at NASA Johnson Space Center have designed a pneumatic nail penetration trigger system that drives a Li-ion battery cell into thermal runaway (TR) using a tungsten nail. By creating a targeted rupture in a battery cell’s outer casing, researchers can initiate an exothermic chain reaction within the battery, much like a short circuit, causing a spike in temperature that can lead to battery failure, fire or explosion. This research leads to safety advancements in battery design. Novel to the pneumatic nail penetration trigger system is a quick-release barrel adapter that bridges and aligns the nail’s pneumatic actuator subassembly to the battery cell test enclosure while facilitating the precise guidance of a nail when fired through its bore. Although the trigger system provides for nail retraction during testing, if a nail becomes “welded” or stuck in a cell or when components need to be repositioned for rapid retesting, the user simply removes two quick-release pins from the adapter to free the actuator subassembly. The adapter has been tested for performing battery tests both at the cell and pack level. The compact nail penetration adapter has a technology readiness level (TRL) 7 (System prototype demonstration in an operational environment), and it is now available for patent licensing. Please note that NASA does not manufacture products itself for commercial sale.