nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
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 Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 8:11 am Post subject: Lithium batteries |
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In the days since this topic was last discussed
here on the list, I've done a little research
into the number and nature of 'battery induced
fires' aboard aircraft.
This was one of several interesting documents
I ran across during the search . . .
http://safetravel.dot.gov/Action_Plan.pdf
I have yet to discover a description of a battery
fire involving a SYSTEM battery on the 'net. If
anyone runs across such a narrative, I'd be pleased
to have the link. The ramp fire on the Cessna is
the first incident I'm aware of and that information
was 'through the grapevine'. Industry focus has been
on the vast majority of battery fires where the
devices were either packaged for shipment as
cargo/baggage or in relatively light duty service
as a component of a personal electronic device in
passenger spaces.
The document I cited states that only 27%
of incidents studied involved lithium batteries.
The remainder were other technologies, lead-acid
being the most probable. The consensus for
root cause of battery fires trends toward
short circuits . . . which is not a technology
issue but a process issue.
This short study suggests that our deliberations
will not benefit from a study of battery fire
incidents in the wild. The study confirms what
we already knew. Batteries offer very high
concentrations of energy in small volumes.
Unintentional and uncontrolled release of that
energy poses risks. Lithium elevates those risks
by ADDING combustible materials to the potential
release of energy.
So as the experiments and discussion of our SYSTEM
batteries goes forward, let's keep those differences
in mind. Further, it is probable that a citation of most
battery fire incidents in the wild will add little or
no useful information to the conversation.
Bob . . .
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