Shipping Lithium Batteries Safely

Posted by Norwood Keller on July 18th, 2021

Lithium-ion batteries have a greater energy density, particularly the battery component, in the event of a mishap, standard means can not effectively regulate the quick spread of heat or avoid the continuous surge of the battery, which might have major consequences. Especially when it comes to lithium batteries melting or taking off during air transport, the effects to guests and also aircraft would be extremely major and even catastrophic. So how precisely did the lithium battery accident occur, allow's check out the qualities of the lithium battery itself.

Lithium battery qualities

1 High Energy

Lithium battery is a high-energy thing, if it catches fire and explodes, the risk is huge. Take the 300Wh/kg square lithium ion battery for instance, 1kg square lithium battery consists of 1.08 × 10 6J of power; 1g TNT can launch 4184J of energy, the conversion shows that the energy had in 1kg square lithium battery is comparable to about 258g TNT, the energy had in a 100kWh pack of square lithium battery about This is equal to 86 kg of TNT. In the tiny space of a transport automobile, this energy launch suffices to trigger significant damages. Lithium batteries include a big number of high energy square lithium batteries firmly piled; when delivered, primarily a multitude of lithium batteries are securely stacked in the tiny area of the transportation car. From the security management perspective, it is a typical risky factor.

2 Huge volume

Minimizing the mass of specific packages, using safe product packaging and also decentralized storage space work measures to lower transportation risks. The mass of the entire bundle of lithium batteries for general electrical automobiles, commonly with numerous kgs, the power reaches 10s to hundreds of kilowatt-hours. The quantity comes to be bigger and also the mass larger, to ensure that lowering the mass of individual plans can not be achieved. We have done the following experiments: place 12pcs 506328 type polymer ternary cathode product lithium ion battery (Note: the anode material is graphite, solitary cell rated capacity 20Ah, billing cut-off voltage is 4. 2V) into a lithium battery module (concerning 4V, 220Ah), placed it right into a metal box made from 5. 0mm thick steel plate, and afterwards pass the heating rod in a shut condition. The 5.0 mm thick steel plate of the metal box is partly warped after complete burning, which creates thermal runaway. If a safety and security package is to be made use of to stop the heat as well as fire spread of a lithium battery fire, it needs to be flame resistant, insulated and also surge proof. Presently, there is no product packaging that can restrict the release of such a huge quantity of power, and the expense of unique product packaging with particular efficiency is as well high to be made use of for big amounts of power batteries. The increasing mass as well as size likewise make the handling and also area of the battery harder, especially in transport, where decentralized storage becomes impractical.

3 Cell Uniformity

Distinctions between the specific cells in a lithium battery system are referred to as harmony concerns. This difference can lead to inefficient use of energy as well as can quickly cause thermal runaway of the lithium battery. Presently, there are two methods to address the consistency trouble: 1) Research the lithium battery system as well as control the high quality of the production procedure to settle the differences from the source. Mature commercial production procedure has reduced the failure rate of single lithium battery to the level of one in 10 million, yet due to the fact that the lithium battery system includes countless single cells, considerably boosting the possibility of crashes; The battery equalization innovation is used to compel the difference between the specific batteries to diminish. After duplicated use the lithium battery, the differences may be additional magnified, consequently, the battery monitoring system (BMS) is particularly crucial, and the examination of the BMS is likewise vital.

4 High Voltage

The voltage of lithium batteries gets to numerous volts, much past the risk-free voltage for humans. The dangers of high voltage leak are: ( 1) Causing electric shock to the taking care of workers; Damage to the battery protection circuit, leading to the failure of the safety feature of the battery system; ( 3) might automatically release, firing up various other flammable materials. Lithium batteries are usually moved with a charge, and also the fee level is directly pertaining to security. There is no safety test for high voltage in the UN38.3 series of tests, neither exists a threat evaluation method for high voltage in the transport regulations and standards. The transportation threats linked with high voltage in lithium batteries have been overlooked.

Our current transportation issues

1 Intrinsic Security Unresolved

The chemical structure of lithium batteries establishes their flammability. Although lithium battery safety and security standards as well as steps have been progressing continually, the aspects that create thermal runaway of lithium batteries are still difficult to stay clear of totally. There are still some oppositions between the high energy thickness battery system as well as safety, which have actually not yet been solved. Various settings of transportation have various degrees of approval of security. The root causes of thermal runaway of lithium batteries are intricate, as well as the existing countermeasures are insufficient. The uncertain risk poses an excellent safety and security danger to air transport.

2 Less study on combustion system as well as risks

Currently, less research on the fire hazard of large-size lithium batteries, the lack of awareness of fire efficiency and also dangers, relevant research is primarily focused in the small, or also a couple of lithium battery fire studies, not representative. Lithium-ion battery burning will produce toxic gases and also dirt, however research study is mostly concentrated in the evaluation of the gas parts after straight burning, less research study on the parts of the toxic gases generated by burning, the threats of hazardous gases as well as dirt, hazardous gas diffusion device, couple of research studies reported. Take two totally billed G00236-20Ah type 20Ah polymer ternary cathode product lithium ion cell (cathode product is graphite, charging cut-off voltage is 4.2 V), one bare, one in the homemade fire resistant bundle, invigorate the home heating pole, home heating at the speed of 5 ℃/ minutes, causing thermal runaway. The speculative results reveal that the combustion habits of the revealed lithium battery is extremely various from that of the lithium battery in the flame-retardant bundle, the revealed lithium battery triggered thermal runaway, full burning, high flame, less smoke; the same specification of lithium battery in the flame-retardant plan, likewise thermal runaway, but no fire getaway, creating a lot of white irritating gas.

3 Transportation test system is not excellent

UN38.3 series testing is the fundamental requirement for lithium battery transportation safety. The criterion is based upon the small consumer batteries, however does not offer certain requirements for high energy, large mass and multiple specs of lithium batteries. Although progressively revised, yet still hangs back the development of lithium batteries. Currently, several of the devices in the lithium-ion battery rated power. Usually, the energy of a little as well as medium-sized lithium battery module can surpass 6200Wh, judged by 6200Wh, a number of these battery modules do not need to be checked. In the procedure of welding as well as assembling, there will be false soldering, missed out on soldering and repetitive soldering in the lugs of the individual battery, and the possible safety hazards in the battery module may be generated by exterior forces throughout transport, which might eventually cause brief circuit. For lithium batteries with rated energy more than 6200Wh, the policies call for the examination of BMS, but the evaluation methods and also requirements are doing not have. For the examination of BMS, along with the private analysis of security under the transportation atmosphere, it is additionally essential to check the whole battery system under the transportation atmosphere to mirror the control capacity of BMS, otherwise there is no useful meaning. The professionalism and trust and also past experience of the evaluator may likewise have a straight impact on the outcomes. The conduction result of this law straight causes the lack of factor to consider of transportation security in the design of lithium batteries, which is a missing web link at the resource.

4 Lack of transport safety and security evaluation ability

There are fairly few third-party testing companies for lithium batteries. Most of the third-party laboratories for lithium battery transportation testing do not have screening ability for lithium batteries. According to the regulations, the a little higher power lithium batteries can look for not to carry out UN38.3 collection of tests, also brought about the labs have actually not established testing capabilities. Transportation security assessment of lithium batteries need to be based on the basis of valid test data. The present circumstance is that it is tough to locate an appropriate research laboratory to carry out the examinations as well as acquire the matching information. Without valid data, the appropriate test techniques and also criteria can not be established, as well as the establishment of examination standards. On top of that, with the advancement of relevant sectors, a big number of examined, harmed, malfunctioning, remembered and also recycled lithium batteries need to be shipped. These lithium batteries are also improper for UN38.3 series testing before delivery, so affordable safety analysis is necessary. This vacuum cleaner has actually arised and is entitled to focus. 5 Insufficient danger prevention and also control measures Suitable product packaging can efficiently regulate the danger of dangerous items in the plan as well as achieve safe transportation. As a result of the high details power and plus size of lithium batteries, there is no ideal packaging product or product packaging kind to regulate the danger in the bundle, i.e., lithium batteries in the package, the complete burning as well as does not spread to other items. Globally, the style as well as small usage of the fire hood or fire-resistant plan inside the area, comparable items in China are still in the speculative phase. These product packaging methods do not fix the issue of lithium battery burning generates huge amounts of harmful gases as well as dirt. The requirements in the product packaging directions are all concept needs, a momentary precaution. These needs are general technological indicators, absence of examination verification, absence of accreditation by authoritative agencies. 3.6 Lack of effective fire fighting approaches The efficiency of the lithium battery internal fire resistant materials and also external packaging materials require to be additional validated. Research study shows that after 5min of thermal runaway of the lithium battery on the bus, the fire will spread out to the inside of the bus; and the time for all personnel to get away is about 1min. It is therefore advised that 5min be utilized as the refractory time of the lithium battery on the bus. If under road transport conditions, 5min suffices for roadway transport emergency situation discharge, but is far from enough for aquatic, rail and also air transport. The approach of snuffing out lithium batteries has not yet been figured out. Neither big amounts of water nor aeriform extinguishing agents are conveniently offered in a short period of time throughout transport. The heat, smoke, and also toxic gases produced by lithium battery combustion can quickly create loss of life and damage to equipment.

Conclusion

China's lithium battery market is expanding, the mass transport of lithium batteries is likewise crucial. Because of the high specific energy, thick build-up, huge quantity, high top quality, high uniformity and also high voltage attributes of lithium batteries, the transportation security of lithium batteries is also various from consumer lithium ion batteries. Presently, the inherent safety and security of lithium battery transport has not yet been resolved, the combustion mechanism and hazards are not well recognized, the transportation examination system is not full, the transportation security examination ability is lacking, the danger avoidance as well as control steps want, and also the absence of reliable fire combating techniques as well as other problems. To resolve these troubles, we need the teamwork between the governmental divisions as well as business, the close teamwork between the production sector and also the transportation sector, and the advancement of multi-faceted research study. A reasonable solution to the security of lithium batteries to satisfy the transport needs, the complying with aspects must be taken into consideration: Security is relative. All gadgets have risks, and can trigger troubles in unique environments. The safety and security concerns of lithium battery transport must be dealt with in transportation practice by continuously subjecting problems and seeking ideal services. Safety is a danger monitoring issue. Different settings of transport have different acceptable restrictions. There are lots of steps to alleviate the risk, and appropriate actions are readily available, such as reduced cost, unique product packaging, effective isolation, and also quantity restrictions. Safety is carefully pertaining to the performance or performance of lithium batteries. The lithium battery industry has actually created rapidly over the last few years, consisting of brand-new systems, higher details power and also brand-new frameworks. For developers, greater certain power can not be pursued unilaterally. People are frequently searching for smaller sized, higher power lithium batteries, will certainly likewise cause an enhanced likelihood of power runaway threat, resulting in a lot more major threats. Safety and security throughout the whole life cycle of lithium batteries. The safety and security of lithium batteries are associated with the design, production, storage, transportation, sales, use and recycling of links, as well as influence each various other. Transportation safety ought to additionally be considered at the center of item design. All celebrations involved are accountable for security. The danger of lithium batteries have to be strictly controlled and the required safety measures should be taken to make sure the security of the entire procedure from production, sale, transportation, usage as well as recycling, which should be shared by all parties included.

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About the Author

Norwood Keller
Joined: July 16th, 2021
Articles Posted: 4