• • • SAFETY IN ENGINEERING • • •
Lithium-ion batteries: be aware of emerging risks
Chemstore examines the dangers posed by Lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion)
W
hen considering how to safely manage workplace waste, special attention should be paid to Lithium-ion batteries
(Li-ion). According to a report by Eunomia, Li-ion batteries are now responsible for around 48 per cent of all waste fires occurring in the UK each year, costing some £158 million annually to waste operators, fire services and the environment. Unfortunately, Li-ion battery fires are poorly
understood, even among many vendors of safety storage equipment and the fire services. Take the example of a Tesla that caught fire when it crashed in Houston Texas resulting in the death of two men in April 2021. It took fire fighters more than four hours and 30,000 gallons of water - the equivalent of six fire engines - to extinguish the fire. The firefighters said they would normally expect to put a fire of that size out in minutes, yet it was so
persistent they had to call Tesla for advice on how to tackle it. This illustrates how unpredictable and extreme
Li-ion battery fires can be and highlights the uncertainty surrounding how to deal with them.
Thermal runaway The potential for thermal runaway is the main issue with Li-ion batteries which begins when the heat generated by a reaction exceeds the rate at which heat is lost to the surroundings. Thermal incidents such as fire or overheating, electrical incidents such as a short-circuit, and mechanical damage - can all lead to thermal runaway - which can result in a battery pack being destroyed within minutes or a fire that lasts for hours as each cell runs away. It is therefore important to handle any damaged Li-ion batteries
with particular care because they can become volatile due to oxygen gaining access to the lithium component and causing oxidisation resulting in thermal runaway. It’s also important to be aware that Li-ion
batteries can produce toxic gases when they overheat and there remains serious questions over the safety and efficacy of using water to distinguish Li-ion battery fires. That’s not to mention the potential environmental impact of the run off from water used to fight a Li-ion battery fire.
Handling and storing If you handle Li-ion batteries in any capacity, think carefully about how waste batteries are processed. There is currently no definitive guidance on the safest way to handle and store Li-ion batteries but there are experts who can help. At Chemstore Engineering, we work closely with our partners to create the best storage solutions possible for Li-ion batteries based on current knowledge, which includes for the storage of damaged and waste batteries. Unfortunately, there are multiple examples of poor practice in the handling and storage of Li-ion batteries, many of which are not deliberate but reflect an inadequate understanding of the risk. We are committed to sharing knowledge and best practice in this area and encourage anyone who is uncertain of their obligations around handling Li-ion batteries, or any other element of waste storage, to contact us for a no-obligation chat and/or a free site assessment. We even have a Li-ion battery safety group on Linkedin dedicated to sharing knowledge and best practice - just search for the “Lithium Ion Safety Network”.
A pack of lithium-ion cells 18 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • OCTOBER 2021
www.chemstore.co.uk electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
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