Pressure Measurement and Gas Analysis Testing

Pressure Measurement and Gas Analysis testing is performed using the EVx ARC^® in open or closed configurations. Closed testing is conducted in a sealed 12 L high-pressure canister equipped with a 15 cm diameter access opening, allowing pressure to be tracked during battery venting. Temperature, pressure, and battery voltage are monitored simultaneously, providing a combined view of thermal, electrical, and gas-generation behavior under abuse conditions.

Gas collection can be added to closed EVx ARC^® battery tests using the System Sampling Unit (SSU). The SSU is an automated gas sampling system that includes control valves, collection vessels, a vacuum pump, and integrated software. During testing, the SSU collects gas from the closed canister based on predefined triggers or at the end of the test after cooling. The collected gas is stored in sampling cylinders and can be removed for FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) and GC-MS (Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry) analysis.

FTIR and GC-MS are complementary techniques for analyzing gases generated during battery venting. FTIR measures the gas mixture directly and provides a rapid assessment of major gas components and chemicals with certain functional groups. Because it does not rely on chromatographic separation, FTIR can also detect corrosive or highly reactive gases that may not elute, may degrade, or may adsorb to columns in GC-MS systems. GC-MS, in contrast, separates the gas mixture before detection, allowing individual compounds to be identified with high chemical specificity, including minor and trace species. In practice, FTIR is used to confirm overall gas composition and the presence of corrosive gases, while GC-MS provides detailed identification of individual compounds. Used together, the two techniques provide a more complete understanding of battery vent gas composition and associated hazards.

Instrument

Thermal Hazard Technology EVx ARC^®

The EVx Accelerating Rate Calorimeter (ARC^®) is a specialized safety testing device used to study the thermal runaway behavior of large-format electric vehicle (EV) batteries, modules, and small packs. It simulates a self-heating scenario by raising the temperature of a battery until it starts to self-heat, then operates in a near-adiabatic mode to accelerate the reaction and collect data on temperature and pressure rise.

Sample Preparation

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