Lithium Ion Batteries are quickly becoming the norm for many of our customers. It is important to know that they can be a safety hazard since they contain a flammable electrolyte, and if damaged or incorrectly charged can lead to explosions and fires.
thermal Runaway
Failure in these batteries can create a “Thermal Runaway”.
- Overcharging heats up the electrolyte/chemicals inside causing an exothermic reaction.
- The hot chemicals will degrade the separator.
- When the separator is breached, it causes a short circuit.
- Thermal runaway occurs.
- Thermal runaway occurs most often in a battery when the internal heat generation exceeds the rate at which the heat can be expelled.
utility-sized lithium-ion batteries
Explosion at an Arizona Public Service facility in Surprise, AZ. The explosion occurred at the APS McMicken Energy Storage facility near Grand Avenue and Deer Valley Road in Surprise on Friday evening. The facility housed utility-sized lithium-ion batteries on the site used in the storage and distribution of solar energy. Eight firefighters were injured.
Li-ion Tamer® is a safety product that specializes in detecting any off-gas event from lithium-ion batteries prior to thermal runaway. It’s a unique protection technology that offers the earliest warning to avoid catastrophic events.
Read the article by The Big Red Guide here.
