Like the title says, why are batteries at risk to catching fire on planes? Why do they ask you to remove batteries from your luggage?
In: 20
Putting them on a plane doesn’t increase the risk of them catching on fire unless it’s being crushed by not being properly packed. The problem is fires caused by lithium ion batters are practically inextinguishable.
Putting them on a plane doesn’t increase the risk of them catching on fire unless it’s being crushed by not being properly packed. The problem is fires caused by lithium ion batters are practically inextinguishable.
Batteries are always a fire danger.
A battery fire is a chemical fire and can contain itself the temperature, fuel, and oxidizer to keep going no matter how much extinguisher you put on it. Quantity plays in our favor, the battery has a limited chemical energy and a small battery will soon stop burning by finishing its fuel and oxidizer content.
For the plane the problem is the risk level. Your luggage may be slammed aroud during handling increasing the risk of a broken battery, and consecutive fire.
Then there’s a way bigger stake. A battery fire in other environment is easily manageable. A small battery fire requires manual action to remove the battery and isolate it in a fireproof container/basket, or any kitchen pot or pan if you have nothing else, this prevents the fire to spread to other items. Then put the container away from people so the fumes don’t intoxicate someone.
Happening in the plane baggage compartment means no manual action, potentially spreading fire to more items; risk of uncontrolled release of toxic gas and fumes that may get to the passenger area or cockpit; fire extinguisher may be available and used, but can’t guarantee to stop the battery fire; the only option is to land asap and fix it. This comes at a massive cost for the best case scenario, and multiple injuries or death in the worse scenario.
So to recap, more likely to happen and more consequences if it happens.
Holding batteries in habited parts of the planes is way safer as actions can be taken faster and more reliably, resulting in way less consequences.
Batteries are always a fire danger.
A battery fire is a chemical fire and can contain itself the temperature, fuel, and oxidizer to keep going no matter how much extinguisher you put on it. Quantity plays in our favor, the battery has a limited chemical energy and a small battery will soon stop burning by finishing its fuel and oxidizer content.
For the plane the problem is the risk level. Your luggage may be slammed aroud during handling increasing the risk of a broken battery, and consecutive fire.
Then there’s a way bigger stake. A battery fire in other environment is easily manageable. A small battery fire requires manual action to remove the battery and isolate it in a fireproof container/basket, or any kitchen pot or pan if you have nothing else, this prevents the fire to spread to other items. Then put the container away from people so the fumes don’t intoxicate someone.
Happening in the plane baggage compartment means no manual action, potentially spreading fire to more items; risk of uncontrolled release of toxic gas and fumes that may get to the passenger area or cockpit; fire extinguisher may be available and used, but can’t guarantee to stop the battery fire; the only option is to land asap and fix it. This comes at a massive cost for the best case scenario, and multiple injuries or death in the worse scenario.
So to recap, more likely to happen and more consequences if it happens.
Holding batteries in habited parts of the planes is way safer as actions can be taken faster and more reliably, resulting in way less consequences.
Lithium batteries catch fire when exposed to water.
Water in the air can cause it to catch fire too.
Therefore..lithium batteries (found in phones and laptops etc) are dangerous.
This is why when you see batteries expanding people tell you to unplug it. If that pouch bursts it’s going to light on fire.
Since they burn with water it’s also kinda hard to put it out without an extinguisher.
The best way is to smother the fire usually with a fire extinguisher or something like a bucket of sand.
Lithium batteries catch fire when exposed to water.
Water in the air can cause it to catch fire too.
Therefore..lithium batteries (found in phones and laptops etc) are dangerous.
This is why when you see batteries expanding people tell you to unplug it. If that pouch bursts it’s going to light on fire.
Since they burn with water it’s also kinda hard to put it out without an extinguisher.
The best way is to smother the fire usually with a fire extinguisher or something like a bucket of sand.
Thank you for all the replies!
Thank you for all the replies!
If you are in a pressurized cabin of an airplane at 70 degrees F, it’s nice and comfortable.
In the cargobay, it’s way below freezing and the air pressure is very low.
The cells were at normal air pressure when they were loaded, so going up causes some parts to expand.
The cells were warm when they were loaded, so when they get below zero, some parts shrink when they go up.
There are separators inside a cell that keep the cathode from touching the anode. In our desperate attempt to squeeze every little milli-amp-hour of range out f the fixed size of cell, the “overlap” in the separators is…thin.
You only need one cell to “go off” into a death-spiral, before it heats up its neighbors to a tipping point.
When moving lithium packs using “ground shipping”, they still get cold in the depths of winter, but at least the air pressure stays the same.
If you need to ship lithium cells or packs, do it using ground shipping in the spring or fall.
Or not, I’m not the shipping police…
If you are in a pressurized cabin of an airplane at 70 degrees F, it’s nice and comfortable.
In the cargobay, it’s way below freezing and the air pressure is very low.
The cells were at normal air pressure when they were loaded, so going up causes some parts to expand.
The cells were warm when they were loaded, so when they get below zero, some parts shrink when they go up.
There are separators inside a cell that keep the cathode from touching the anode. In our desperate attempt to squeeze every little milli-amp-hour of range out f the fixed size of cell, the “overlap” in the separators is…thin.
You only need one cell to “go off” into a death-spiral, before it heats up its neighbors to a tipping point.
When moving lithium packs using “ground shipping”, they still get cold in the depths of winter, but at least the air pressure stays the same.
If you need to ship lithium cells or packs, do it using ground shipping in the spring or fall.
Or not, I’m not the shipping police…
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