Li-Ion Battery Safety

BTeter

Friday, July 08, 2022 at 03:39 PM ET

Verified

The FAA has produced some excellent material on Li-Ion battery safety, including this brief YouTube video.

Key Takeaways:

Lithium-Ion batteries, despite their prevalence, pose a significant in-flight fire hazard due to their stored energy and susceptibility to "thermal runaway," a self-sustaining reaction generating extreme heat, toxic smoke, and rapid loss of visibility.
Thermal runaway can be triggered by thermal (e.g., high cabin temperatures), mechanical (e.g., physical damage), or electrical (e.g., shorting, improper charging) abuse, as well as manufacturing defects.
Pilots should implement preflight precautions, including avoiding high-temperature exposure, inspecting batteries for damage, and carrying essential safety equipment like fire containment bags, thermal gloves, and smoke hoods.
In-flight Li-Ion battery fires demand immediate action: prioritize flying, cool the battery with water or non-flammable liquid, contain it in a fire bag once safe to handle, and declare an emergency due to the fire's intensity and reignition risk.

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Since Sony introduced the first commercial Lithium-Ion battery in a laptop computer in 1991, these batteries have grown to become the dominant power source for portable devices. They pack more energy per cubic inch than any other commonly available battery. However, the amount of stored energy can also create a huge problem if a catastrophic battery (cell) failure occurs.

Most failures are benign, such as aging/failure to hold a charge. Catastrophic battery failures are rare, estimated at one in ten million hours. However, because more devices are carried on aircraft, the probability of a catastrophic battery failure is higher. There were 373 Li-Ion incidents in aircraft reported to the FAA through June 1, 2022. Also, there were two fatal accidents, the latest in Dubai.