MORE DANGEROUS OR JUST MORE COMMON? And a Simple Analysis to Narrow the Possible Failure Modes
R. Meier & P. Kennedy, 2016
Keywords: Lithium Ion Batteries, Battery Fires, Battery Explosions, Electronics Fires, E-cigarette Fires
Since their introduction, Lithium Ion Batteries have been linked to fire and explosion incidents. Sometimes the batteries were the source of ignition and sometimes the source of the fuel. In many case, however, the batteries were victims of the fire. Determining the order of events is not always easy. Proper understanding of battery fundamentals, and investigation methodology when dealing with lithium-ion technology, is crucial to making the correct determination.
ABSTRACT
Lithium-ion batteries have become a staple of modern life. Many of the devices we use daily depends on these batteries to make the portable and lightweight. Many people are not even aware that they carry one or more lithium ion cells or batteries around with them daily, sometime even attached to their own bodies.
Lithium-ion batteries have the highest energy density for any commercially available on the market. Other benefits are low self discharge, and low “memory” (tendency to acquire a maximum or minimum state of charge). It is this fact that makes them so popular. Uses have been found for lithium-ion batteries in automotive, marine, aerospace and military and communications applications to name but a few.
No longer need someone lug around a heavy, awkward device like the original “brick” cell phone. Today’s cell phones are weighed in ounces and grams, not pounds and kilos. This fact also makes them potentially more dangerous, as more energy is packed into a tighter space with less means of containment.
All batteries will fail. It is simply a matter of chemistry, physics and time. This is true for any battery, whether alkaline, nickel-cadmium, or lithium-ion. Fortunately, the vast majority of batteries fail in a benign manner, causing little more than some aggravation and inconvenience to the user. Those batteries that fail in the other extreme the catastrophic failure is of concern to the fire investigator and others involved in public safety.
This paper was presented at ISFI2016: The International Symposium on Fire Investigation Science presented by NAFI and the IAFI
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About the authors
Richard Meier is a full-time fire and explosion investigator and fire expert. A significant portion of his investigation practice is devoted to determining the origin and cause of accidents involving lithium Ion batteries. His battery fire clients include both plaintiff’s and defense firms. He has investigated structure, vehicle, and industrial fires and explosions from Miami Beach to the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.
Richard’s engineering & manufacturing background gives him an advantage in fire investigation. While many are still scratching their heads and asking, “What is it?” Richard is already determining how it works, how it’s made, and if it has any bearing on the case.
Patrick Kennedy (1947-2017) At the time of his death, was the senior-most, active fire analyst, with more years of experience that any other active fire investigation professional. He held three Bachelor of Science degrees including a Summa Cum Laude degree in Fire and Safety Engineering Technology from the University of Cincinnati. Patrick served on several prominent fire investigations related codes and standards committees of both the ASTM and the NFPA. He was a charter principal member of the NFPA Technical Committees on Fire Investigations (921) and principal member the NFPA Technical Committee on Fire Investigator Professional Qualifications (1033).
