Knowra Thermal runaway Thermal runaway Thermal runaway is a self-accelerating rise in temperature that occurs when heat-generating processes outpace heat dissipation. The increase in temperature accelerates those processes, creating a feedback loop.
Arrhenius equation : An equation describing how a reaction rate depends on temperature and activation energy. Many heat-producing reactions accelerate with temperature according to this relationship.
Lithium-ion battery : A rechargeable battery that transfers lithium ions between electrodes during charge and discharge. Internal reactions in damaged or overheated cells can release heat faster than it escapes.
Thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries : A rapid, self-heating failure sequence within a lithium-ion cell, often involving venting, fire, or rupture. This is a well-documented case in which internal reactions can overwhelm a cell’s heat losses.
Thermal shock : Damage caused by rapid temperature change or temperature gradients within a material. Thermal shock is a consequence of temperature change, not a self-accelerating heat-generation process.
Positive feedback : A process in which a change reinforces itself through its effects. Thermal runaway is a physical example of positive feedback between temperature and heat generation.
Battery thermal management system : A system that controls battery temperature through cooling, heating, and monitoring. It limits cell temperatures and reduces the chance that a local fault escalates.
Buncefield fire : A major fuel-depot explosion and fire at Buncefield, England, in December 2005. The incident illustrates escalation in a process facility, though it was not simply a thermal-runaway event.
Thermal explosion theory : The study of conditions under which exothermic reactions in a body become thermally unstable. This theory formalizes when heat generation can outrun heat loss and initiate runaway.
Heat transfer : The movement of thermal energy by conduction, convection, or radiation. Runaway begins when heat transfer to the surroundings cannot match internal heat generation.
Chemical reactor : A vessel or system designed to carry out controlled chemical reactions. Reaction vessels can accumulate heat when reaction rates exceed cooling-system capacity.
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