Exponent Licenses FTRC Tech from NASA to Advance Battery Failure Characterization
State-of-the-art thermal runaway battery testing technology from NASA is now in Exponent's hands.
September 20, 2021
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Fractional thermal runaway calorimetry (FTRC) is a technology used to test the impact of battery failures due to a thermal runaway event. This technique expands on existing battery calorimetry technologies, such as accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC), bomb calorimetry, and copper slug calorimetry, taking the test results to a whole new level by providing more detailed analysis of the heat release as well as the mass released during a thermal runaway event.

FTRC is a unique technology, able to quantify the pathways of thermal energy release during a battery thermal runaway event (i.e., battery body, vent gases, ejecta). Exponent is driving this industry-changing technology forward by licensing FTRC technology from NASA for use with our commercial clients. With Exponent's 20+ years of experience in battery failure analysis, we are in a unique market position to perform these tests and interpret the results that impact our clients. Many markets that Exponent supports may benefit from the technology and insight afforded by FTRC, including consumer electronics (e.g., product design), aerospace, automotive, and utilities.


Photo courtesey of NASA

The new FTRC will be located at Exponent's office in Natick, Massachusetts, which is home to ~20 experts who regularly consult on batteries, from materials to systems and everything between. For a deeper dive into understanding battery thermal runaway and how the FTRC technology could help you and your team, please refer to the following sources:

  1. Explore the NASA STI Repository (NTRS)
  2. Decoupling of heat generated from ejected and non-ejected contents of 18650-format lithium-ion cells using statistical methods
  3. Modelling and experiments to identify high-risk failure scenarios for testing the safety of lithium-ion cells

How Exponent Can Help

Exponent routinely analyzes various aspects of lithium-ion battery safety spanning from product design to response to mechanical, thermal, and electrical abuse; cell thermal runaway propagation; and fire suppression.
Professionals
  • Ryan L. Spray, Ph.D.
    Polymer Science & Materials Chemistry
    Principal Scientist
    Natick
    rspray exponent.com
  • Timothy J. Myers, Ph.D., P.E., CFEI
    Thermal Sciences
    Principal Engineer & Office Director
    Natick
    tmyers exponent.com
  • Francesco Colella, Ph.D., P.E., CFEI
    Thermal Sciences
    Senior Managing Engineer
    Natick
    fcolella exponent.com
  • Michael Barry, Ph.D., P.E., CFEI
    Thermal Sciences
    Managing Engineer
    Natick
    mbarry exponent.com
  • Zhuhua Cai, Ph.D., P.E.
    Polymer Science & Materials Chemistry
    Managing Engineer
    Natick
    zcai exponent.com
  • Michael Orella, Ph.D.
    Thermal Sciences
    Associate
    Natick
    morella exponent.com
  • James Vickery
    Thermal Sciences
    Senior Associate
    Natick
    jvickery exponent.com

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Disclaimer

Exponent Inc. published this content on 20 September 2021 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 20 September 2021 16:51:04 UTC.