Explosion characteristics of lithium-ion batteries vent gases containing dimethyl carbonate at elevated temperatures

Dimethyl carbonate (DMC) is a common component of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) electrolyte, which is vented into the environment along with LIBs thermal runaway vent gases (BVG). This study used different ratios of DMC/BVG mixtures to simulate the combustible components vented from LIBs thermal runaway process. The explosion characteristic parameters of the DMC/BVG mixtures, such as the peak overpressure (Pex), the peak rate of pressure rise ((dp/dt)ex), lower flammability limits (LFL) and limiting oxygen concentrations (LOC), were investigated in an 8-L stainless steel cylindrical explosion vessel. The results indicated that as the percentage of DMC increased, maximum Pex, maximum (dp/dt)ex and LOC of the mixtures increased, while LFL showed a decrease trend. In addition, LFL decreased approximately linearly as increasing the initial temperature. The Britton correlation method can estimate LFL at varying initial temperatures. The research results are helpful to better understand the risk of the mixtures vent from LIBs and provide a reference for the explosion-proof design of LIBs’ transport containers and LIB energy storage stations. •The DMC/BVG mixtures were used to simulate the combustible components vented from LIBs thermal runaway process.•The explosion characteristic parameters of the DMC/BVG mixtures were investigated experimentally at elevated temperatures.•The effect of initial temperatures on the LFL of DMC/BVG mixtures were investigated experimentally.