The effect of cell design on the safety of the Li/SOCl/sub 2/ battery

Li/SOCl/sub 2/ cells with anode-limited and cathodelimited design are built and tested under normal discharge and forced overdischarge into cell reversal. Under overdischarged conditions, anode-limited cells exhibit high temperature and pressure without venting. Cathode-limited cells, on the other hand, generate very little heat but exhibit violent venting behavior. Cathode-limited cell data on pressure and temperature during cell reversal indicate the thermal runaway conditions leading to cell venting. The safety and performance of the 14.4V 150 Ah reserve Li/SOCl/sub 2/ battery under normal and abuse conditions support the single cell data.