Numerical study on batteries thermal runaway explosion-venting risk and structural dynamic response in energy storage system container

With the rapid development of electrochemical energy storage, the energy storage system (ESS) container, as a novel storage and production unit for lithium-ion batteries facility, has been extensively utilized. To enhance the understanding of the thermal runaway (TR) explosion-venting risk of batteries in ESS containers and the structural anti-explosion performance, this study developed a simulation model for the constrained explosion-venting of batteries TR in a typical ESS container and a finite element model for structural explosion response. An interesting numerical analysis was conducted on the dynamics of TR gas explosion-venting and the structural anti-explosion assessment of the container triggered by various ventilation structures. The results showed that the doors located at both ends of the container were crucial in the explosion pressure relief process, but they also contributed to external explosions, inadvertently elevating the level of explosion-venting overpressure in the surrounding environment. The peak explosion-venting dynamic pressure outside the container was concentrated near the ventilation structure, reaching levels comparable to the explosion-venting overpressure itself. The most severe explosion consequences occurred during the ignition at the center of the container, resulting in 96 areas of overpressure injury to personnel, 427 areas of overpressure damage to buildings, and 233 areas of high-temperature injury; The overall structure of the container basically remained intact and no significant fractures or cracks was observed under the TR explosion pressure load. The middle and corners of the container skin, as well as the connections with the beams, were identified as weak locations.