Comprehensive safety analysis of litium-ion batteries

The authors performed a comprehensive analytical review of Russian and international sources addressing the challenge of ensuring technosphere safety of lithium-ion battery (LIB) energy storage systems. They propose and substantiate a unified fundamental approach to LIB safety assessment, which integrates ecological aspects (including accident consequences and extinguishing impacts), technical factors (fire and explosion risks, thermal runaway mechanisms), and social considerations (occupational health and safety, threats to life and health of emergency services personnel). Schemes for assessing technological hazards and distribution patterns of environmentally polluting flows resulting from LIB accidents are presented. Typical compositions of exhaust gases and wastewater generated during LIB fire suppression, along with sequences of processes occurring during thermal degradation of LIB, are provided. The interrelation between tactical peculiarities of LIB fire fighting and potential ecological and societal risks is highlighted. It is emphasized that evaluating environmental risks associated with accidents and specialized extinguishing methods must become an integral part of analyzing the lifecycle of LIB. The interdisciplinary nature of this research makes it relevant for specialists in industrial and fire safety, ecologists, developers of regulatory frameworks, and risk management professionals involved in operating modern energy storage systems.