A comprehensive review on thermal runaway model of a lithium-ion battery: Mechanism, thermal, mechanical, propagation, gas venting and combustion

The potential safety hazard is an important factor that restricts the large-scale application of lithium-ion batteries. Battery generates joule heat and chemical side reaction heat in thermal runaway. At module and pack level, the heat is then transferred to neighboring batteries, leading to thermal runaway propagation. Chemical reactions inside the battery release a large quantity of flammable and toxic gases at high temperature. In the final stage, the gas inside battery may eject out and combust, leading to a more serious hazard. Experimental tests on thermal runaway are mainly destructive with high costs. The validated model and simulation can greatly help to test battery safety performance and design safer batteries. Therefore, this paper provides a review of lithium-ion battery modeling works, with a specific focus on the entire thermal runaway process from various triggering factors (mechanical abuse, electrical abuse, and thermal abuse) to eventual gas venting and combustion, including mechanical model, electrochemical model, heat generation model, thermal runaway propagation model, venting and combustion model. Some relevant simulation works based on these models are also reviewed. Proper use of thermal runaway models can help to develop a safer lithium-ion battery. •Thermal runaway process and mechanism are reviewed.•Thermal runaway model for the safety performance enhancement of a lithium-ion battery are studied.•In-depth outlook of thermal runaway modeling approaches is presented.•Major achievements of relative simulation work are analyzed.