7
explosive atmosphere. For example, NIOSH has contracted
with various organizations to evaluate thermal runaway,
ascertain methods for preventing and controlling thermal
runaway, and develop specific controls such as flame arres-
tors and debris containment systems for thermal runaway
containment [15, 16, 17]. These contracts were developed
to complement the current research NIOSH conducts
internally on Li-Ion battery safety. In particular, NIOSH
contracted with ADA Technologies, Inc. to develop a flame
arrestor and debris containment system for quenching
Li-ion battery thermal runaway [15]. A small-scale proto-
type system was built and tested successfully. This system is
currently going through their commercialization process to
be available to the mining industry. However, the evalua-
tion of this or other flame arrestor and debris containment
systems is outside the scope of this experiment and follow-
on research on the efficacy of auxiliary flame arrestors for
Li-ion battery enclosures is warranted.
LIMITATIONS
The findings and conclusions from this study are based on
a limited sample set investigated under specific conditions.
Specifically, a commercially available XP enclosure was
selected based on the battery pack dimensions, free space
considerations, and facility capabilities for full scale test-
ing to enable the monitoring and evaluation of the thermal
runaway event. The enclosure was also modified to install
temperature and pressure sensors which may have impacted
the design specifications as deployed in underground min-
ing environments. Other XP enclosures may have differ-
ent constructions and may produce different results than
reported here. Other Li-ion battery chemistries, cell con-
figurations, and capacities may have different thermal run-
away characteristics and may produce different results than
reported here. Other thermal runaway initiation methods
may produce different results than reported here.
CONCLUSION
The potential for excessive pressures, temperatures, and
flammable gasses generated by Li-ion battery thermal run-
away should be taken into consideration if planning to use
conventional XP enclosures as battery enclosures in gassy
underground mines.
DISCLAIMER
The findings and conclusions in this report are those of
the authors and do not necessarily represent the official
position of the National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mention of any company or product does not constitute
endorsement by NIOSH.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author thanks Richard Thomas and John Soles of the
Pittsburgh Mining Research Division for setting up and
conducting the thermal runaway test.
REFERENCES
[1] Safety Stand Down (2023). Lithium-Ion Batteries:
Are You Ready? Safety Stand Down. Retrieved August
2023 from www.safetystanddown.org.
[2] GlobalData (2022). Electric Vehicles in Surface and
Underground Mining. GlobalData Plc, London UK.
[3] Stewart D (2022). Nevada Gold Mines BEV Adoption
Plan and Safety Concerns. Presentation at the BEV
Fire Safety Workshop, Missouri S&T, June 2022.
[4] Gillett S (2021). Battery Electric Vehicle Emergency
Response Incident Review and Best Practices.
Workplace Safety North Virtual Symposium: Battery
Electric Vehicle Safety in Mines, January 20, 2021.
Retrieved August 2023 from www.workplacesafety
north.ca/resources/virtual-symposium-battery
-electric-vehicle-safetymines.
[5] Jacques D (2019). BEV Pioneering Partnership at
Borden—Celebrate the Wins, Face the Challenges.
Mining Diesel Emissions Council. MDEC 2019,
October 7-10, Toronto, ON. S6P3. Retrieved August
2023 from mdec.ca/2019/S6P3_David_Jacques.pdf
[6] Dubaniewicz TH, DuCarme JP (2016). Internal
short circuit and accelerated rate calorimetry tests
of lithium-ion cells: considerations for methane-air
intrinsic safety and explosion proof/flameproof pro-
tection methods. J Loss Prev Process Ind 43:575–584.
Retrieved August 2023 from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
/pmc/articles/PMC5040472/.
[7] Dubaniewicz TH, Zlochower I, Barone T, Thomas
R, Yuan L, (2021). Thermal runaway pressures of
iron phosphate lithium-ion cells as a function of free
space within sealed enclosures. Mining, Metallurgy
&Exploration 38, 539–547. doi.org/10.1007
/s42461-020-00349-9.
[8] Dubaniewicz TH (2009). From Scotia to Brookwood,
fatal US underground coal mine explosions ignited
in intake air courses. J. Loss. Prev. Proc. Ind. 22(1)
2009. 52-58.
[9] Ali O (2022). How are robots used in mine rescue
operations? AZO Mining. June 30, 2022. www
.azomining.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=1698.
explosive atmosphere. For example, NIOSH has contracted
with various organizations to evaluate thermal runaway,
ascertain methods for preventing and controlling thermal
runaway, and develop specific controls such as flame arres-
tors and debris containment systems for thermal runaway
containment [15, 16, 17]. These contracts were developed
to complement the current research NIOSH conducts
internally on Li-Ion battery safety. In particular, NIOSH
contracted with ADA Technologies, Inc. to develop a flame
arrestor and debris containment system for quenching
Li-ion battery thermal runaway [15]. A small-scale proto-
type system was built and tested successfully. This system is
currently going through their commercialization process to
be available to the mining industry. However, the evalua-
tion of this or other flame arrestor and debris containment
systems is outside the scope of this experiment and follow-
on research on the efficacy of auxiliary flame arrestors for
Li-ion battery enclosures is warranted.
LIMITATIONS
The findings and conclusions from this study are based on
a limited sample set investigated under specific conditions.
Specifically, a commercially available XP enclosure was
selected based on the battery pack dimensions, free space
considerations, and facility capabilities for full scale test-
ing to enable the monitoring and evaluation of the thermal
runaway event. The enclosure was also modified to install
temperature and pressure sensors which may have impacted
the design specifications as deployed in underground min-
ing environments. Other XP enclosures may have differ-
ent constructions and may produce different results than
reported here. Other Li-ion battery chemistries, cell con-
figurations, and capacities may have different thermal run-
away characteristics and may produce different results than
reported here. Other thermal runaway initiation methods
may produce different results than reported here.
CONCLUSION
The potential for excessive pressures, temperatures, and
flammable gasses generated by Li-ion battery thermal run-
away should be taken into consideration if planning to use
conventional XP enclosures as battery enclosures in gassy
underground mines.
DISCLAIMER
The findings and conclusions in this report are those of
the authors and do not necessarily represent the official
position of the National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mention of any company or product does not constitute
endorsement by NIOSH.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author thanks Richard Thomas and John Soles of the
Pittsburgh Mining Research Division for setting up and
conducting the thermal runaway test.
REFERENCES
[1] Safety Stand Down (2023). Lithium-Ion Batteries:
Are You Ready? Safety Stand Down. Retrieved August
2023 from www.safetystanddown.org.
[2] GlobalData (2022). Electric Vehicles in Surface and
Underground Mining. GlobalData Plc, London UK.
[3] Stewart D (2022). Nevada Gold Mines BEV Adoption
Plan and Safety Concerns. Presentation at the BEV
Fire Safety Workshop, Missouri S&T, June 2022.
[4] Gillett S (2021). Battery Electric Vehicle Emergency
Response Incident Review and Best Practices.
Workplace Safety North Virtual Symposium: Battery
Electric Vehicle Safety in Mines, January 20, 2021.
Retrieved August 2023 from www.workplacesafety
north.ca/resources/virtual-symposium-battery
-electric-vehicle-safetymines.
[5] Jacques D (2019). BEV Pioneering Partnership at
Borden—Celebrate the Wins, Face the Challenges.
Mining Diesel Emissions Council. MDEC 2019,
October 7-10, Toronto, ON. S6P3. Retrieved August
2023 from mdec.ca/2019/S6P3_David_Jacques.pdf
[6] Dubaniewicz TH, DuCarme JP (2016). Internal
short circuit and accelerated rate calorimetry tests
of lithium-ion cells: considerations for methane-air
intrinsic safety and explosion proof/flameproof pro-
tection methods. J Loss Prev Process Ind 43:575–584.
Retrieved August 2023 from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
/pmc/articles/PMC5040472/.
[7] Dubaniewicz TH, Zlochower I, Barone T, Thomas
R, Yuan L, (2021). Thermal runaway pressures of
iron phosphate lithium-ion cells as a function of free
space within sealed enclosures. Mining, Metallurgy
&Exploration 38, 539–547. doi.org/10.1007
/s42461-020-00349-9.
[8] Dubaniewicz TH (2009). From Scotia to Brookwood,
fatal US underground coal mine explosions ignited
in intake air courses. J. Loss. Prev. Proc. Ind. 22(1)
2009. 52-58.
[9] Ali O (2022). How are robots used in mine rescue
operations? AZO Mining. June 30, 2022. www
.azomining.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=1698.