Potential Hazards And Design Solutions In Using LiSO2Batteries In Pressure Housings

The obvious advantages of lithium batteries, i.e., long storage life, excellent temperature performance, and outstanding volumetric and weight efficiencies, make these batteries an excellent candidate for the power source for undersea electronic instruments. This is especially true if the lithium sulfur dioxide battery (LiSO2) chemistry, which has a history of successful long term undersea deployments and minimal passivation characteristics at low temperature, is considered. The superior qualities of the LiSO2battery have been overshadowed by a serious concern for safety. This concern is justified if the cells are abused so they may vent SO2and other toxic gases, detonate, burn; or when packaged in an undersea pressure housing, cause catastrophic housing failure. In an effort to quantify various modes of battery failure and define design guidelines for packaging LiSO2batteries, abuse testing was performed and evaluated. This included actual testing on individual cells as well as on completed battery assemblies. Abuse conditions included high rate discharge, charging, cell reversal, external heating and sea water immersion. Tests were performed in and out of pressure housings. Temperature and pressure profiles were recorded for the various tests and gas samples analyzed to determine the constitution of the battery failure products. Safety features which protect against cell failures and pressure housing packaging techniques, aimed at battery failure product containment or controlled venting, were also evaluated. These test results which are summarized in this report provide design guidelines for LiSO2battery assemblies of Duracell LO26SX cells or equivalent for use in undersea systems.