• Home
  • Product
    • Li-ion Tamer Gen 3 (System-wide and Scalable)
    • Electric Vehicles
    • Li-ion Tamer Gen 2+ (Sensor-only)
  • Markets
  • News & Events
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact
Li-ion TamerLi-ion Tamer
Li-ion TamerLi-ion Tamer
  • Home
  • Product
    • Li-ion Tamer Gen 3 (System-wide and Scalable)
    • Electric Vehicles
    • Li-ion Tamer Gen 2+ (Sensor-only)
  • Markets
  • News & Events
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact

What is the Impact of UL 9540A on the Energy Storage Industry?

What is the Impact of UL 9540A on the Energy Storage Industry?

March 12, 2020 Posted by Steve Cummings
UL 9540A Test Method
The UL 9540A test method continues to set the standard for battery energy storage safety testing.  The method quickly answers questions regarding the ability for a lithium-ion battery energy storage system (ESS) to deal with thermal runaway. UL 9540A creates a level playing field for all battery manufacturers and system integrators.  It challenges their system’s design and its capability to deal with cell-to-cell, module-to-module, and rack-to-rack failure propagation. A single lithium-ion battery releases an enormous amount of energy when it catches on fire and can exceed temperatures of 1000C.  This can severely thermally abuse adjacent cells and cause them to enter thermal runaway.
The four tiers that summarize the test method are as follows: cell, module, rack, and installation (system) failure testing. 
UL9540A Flow Diagram
A critical component of the UL 9540A test method is that abuse of systems continues until failure.  Typically, heating single or multiple cells at 5C/minute results in thermal runaway. By abusing the smallest repeat unit of the system, the test is understanding the extent to which that failure propagates. 
While in operation, a battery management system would likely detect temperature or voltage anomalies.  UL 9540A assumes these systems are non-functional and that a cell has reached thermal runaway.  In doing so, it judges the systems’ capability at responding to thermal runaway.  In fact, the cell level test is designed around figuring out how to repeatedly force the cell to fail. 
The test method generates a wealth of information for sharing with authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ) or end users.  The AHJ will have this information available when looking to issue a permit for a specific project or system that has gone through the UL 9540A test method.  On the other hand, end users may use it when reviewing proposals from several companies for comparison.  
The test notes specifically to differentiate between a cell venting (6.2.5) and a cell in thermal runaway (6.2.6) shown below.   
6.2.5 The temperature at which the cell case vents due to internal pressure rise shall be documented. 
6.2.6 The temperature at the onset of thermal runaway shall be documented. 
UL is on the forefront of battery failure testing and has one of the first standards organizations to recognize this phenomenon.  When the first cell vents gas is one of the most critical stages of a battery failure.  Given proper mitigating actions are taken, off-gas detection can help prevent battery failures at this particular stage. 
If you are interested in learning more about our product and how to integrate it into your systems to prevent thermal runaway, please contact us.
Contact us to schedule a webinar
Share
9

About Steve Cummings

Steve Cummings is the Director of the Sensors Business Unit at Nexceris, LLC. He is focused on the development of enhanced safety for lithium-ion batteries and has extensive experience in testing and characterizing failures modes of battery cells. Throughout his career, he has developed and launched several new products for monitoring battery systems.

You also might be interested in

The Top 10 Lithium Ion Battery Regulations and Why They Are Important to Everyone

The Top 10 Lithium Ion Battery Regulations and Why They Are Important to Everyone

May 11, 2017

Lithium ion batteries are under increased scrutiny due to high-profile[...]

Showcasing Li-Ion Battery Sensor Concepts at Electric & Hybrid Marine World Expo 2017

Showcasing Li-Ion Battery Sensor Concepts at Electric & Hybrid Marine World Expo 2017

May 24, 2017

Nexceris will be attending the Electric & Hybrid Marine World[...]

Battery Fire

Running Li-Ion Batteries to a Runaway Event While Highlighting Li-Ion Tamer Early Detection Sensors

Jan 25, 2017

Nexceris engineers have tested many different lithium ion battery chemistries[...]

Recent Posts

  • Li-ion Tamer Gen2+ Sensor Receives California State Fire Marshal Listing
  • Li-ion Tamer Receives UL Mark
  • Off-gas Detection System Receives Favorable Test Result
  • National Lab Testing Demonstrates Value in Early Detection
  • Today’s data centers need multi-layered protection

Categories

  • Battery Regulations
  • Certifications
  • Electric Vehicles
  • Korean Battery Market
  • Li-Ion Battery Safety
  • Li-Ion Battery Testing
  • Li-ion Tamer Awards
  • Marine Battery Safety
  • Stationary Energy Storage
  • Uncategorized

Tags

Awards Battery Failure Stages Battery Safety battery testing CE Certifications Cleanie Awards DOE E&HM2017 Energy innovation Energy Storage Association ESA ETL EV Free consultation green energy Li-Ion Batteries Li-Ion Battery Li-ion battery safety Li-ion Tamer Marine Battery safety Mitigating Actions Regulations Runaway Event Solar Solar energy Stationary Energy Storage UL video

Archives

  • January 2025
  • November 2024
  • July 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • March 2021
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • November 2019
  • September 2019
  • June 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • August 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • November 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • January 2017

Contact

  • Li-ion Tamer®
  • 404 Enterprise Drive, Lewis Center OH 43035
  • +1 614-842-6606
  • info@liiontamer.com

Customer Service

Updates
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Contact Us

© 2025 · Li-ion Tamer®