Thermal behaviour of LFP Prismatic
LFP's olivine cathode holds its oxygen tightly, so thermal runaway typically starts at higher temperatures than nickel-rich cells and releases noticeably less heat. It is not inert: a failing LFP cell still vents flammable electrolyte vapour and hydrogen, and large prismatic cans store a lot of energy in one place.
Whatever the chemistry, heat, mechanical damage and overcharge are the three triggers to control. Storage areas need detection, separation and a clear response plan.
Packaging and transport checklist
Prismatic LFP cans are heavy and rigid: palletise them upright, restrain them against movement and keep terminals capped. Swelling is less common than in pouch cells but any bulged can goes straight to quarantine.
- State of charge below 30%, recorded per serial
- Terminals taped or capped; service disconnect removed
- UN-approved packaging with non-conductive cushioning
- Class 9 marks, UN number and emergency contact on every package
- Damage status declared on the manifest before pickup
Disassembly considerations
Module-to-pack designs with bolted busbars disassemble cleanly. Cell-to-pack and blade designs bonded with structural adhesive take longer and often push cells straight to the refining route.
Every disassembly step starts with verified isolation and insulated tooling. If a module cannot be opened safely, it is discharged and routed to shredding instead.
Field note