Failure Mode and Effects Analysis for a Battery Storage System Using Second Life Lithium-Ion Batteries

It is well known that Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) batteries are one of the most common tools for storing energy due to their versatility and scalability. With the growth of the electric vehicle market, the relatively short life of Li-ion batteries in vehicle service could lead to significant battery waste. To address this issue, methods have been developed to recycle these components and give them a second use in complex electrical systems, contributing to the fight against climate change. However, if not properly treated, failures in Li-ion batteries can present risks to human health and the environment. Therefore, reliable systems are needed for the use of Li-ion batteries, especially in critical energy storage applications. Several aspects must be considered when assessing the reliability of a system, some of them include evaluating the failure modes of system components and determining how these failures may impact the entire system. A specific method used throughout all stages of this process is Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA). Although this is methodical and time-consuming, FMEA helps identify the causes of events that lead to system failure determining the consequences, and ultimately, minimizing both the occurrences and recurrences of such events. For this work, a system based on recycled Li-ion batteries for energy storage purposes was evaluated using FMEA. This reliability analysis comprehensively assessed risks represented by each of the components leading to the identification of the dependence between sensors, tools for temperature regulation, and control methodologies (voltage, current, and cycles), which contribute to creating a suitable environment for the use of batteries in energy storage. Failures related to these components can lead to capacity and power fade issues, which, if they progress, can result in total system loss or may pose serious threats to human health and to the environment.

Keywords: Li-Ion Batteries, Risks, Failures, Reliability, Energy storage, Failure modes.