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Technical Bulletin: Subject: Thermal Runaway

The document discusses thermal runaway in battery systems. It states that all batteries can undergo thermal runaway if overcharged for long periods at high temperatures. Valve-regulated lead acid batteries will fail safely, producing hydrogen and oxygen gas. Nickel cadmium batteries present a fire and explosion hazard if thermal runaway occurs uncontrolled. During thermal runaway, they heat up significantly and can melt, while lead acid batteries only reach 260°F and vent steam to safely reduce charge acceptance.

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Евгений Жук
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31 views

Technical Bulletin: Subject: Thermal Runaway

The document discusses thermal runaway in battery systems. It states that all batteries can undergo thermal runaway if overcharged for long periods at high temperatures. Valve-regulated lead acid batteries will fail safely, producing hydrogen and oxygen gas. Nickel cadmium batteries present a fire and explosion hazard if thermal runaway occurs uncontrolled. During thermal runaway, they heat up significantly and can melt, while lead acid batteries only reach 260°F and vent steam to safely reduce charge acceptance.

Uploaded by

Евгений Жук
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Concorde Battery Corporation

2009 San Bernardino Road, West Covina, CA 91790 USA | Telephone (626)813-1234 | Fax (626)813-1235

TECHNICAL BULLETIN
Subject: Thermal Runaway

November 12, 1997 Number: 2

All battery systems may be driven into thermal runaway if severely overcharged for a prolonged
period at high temperatures. The valve regulated lead acid battery, when driven into thermal
runaway, will fail in such a manner that the aircraft is not endangered.

All battery systems in thermal runaway will produce large amounts of hydrogen and oxygen gas
which must be vented outboard of the aircraft.

A nickel cadmium battery in an uncontrolled thermal runaway may get so hot that the battery
separator melts causing shorts within the cells and the cell containers melt causing ground shorts to
the outside stainless steel container. The result of these shorts is that the battery may catch fire,
explode, or the resultant arcing may burn holes in the outer stainless steel box and surrounding
aircraft structure. For this reason, the nickel cadmium batteries are equipped with temperature
sensors and temperature warning systems.

The valve regulated lead acid battery in thermal runaway will reaches only a relatively moderate
internal temperature (approximately 260º F) at which point the water in the electrolyte vaporizes and
the battery vents steam. As the separator is glass, it is unaffected by this low temperature. The loss
of water caused by the venting reduces the conductivity between the battery plates and the battery
ceases to accept further charge. The battery slowly cools.

To demonstrate this, the Induced Destructive Overcharge Test in IEC standard 952-1:1988 is
conducted. In this test, the battery is intentionally driven into thermal runaway by charging the battery
at 3.0 volts/cell and continuing to charge until the battery fails. The battery must contain any flame
within the battery both during and after the test, not release any electrolyte from the battery casing,
and contain any debris resulting from an explosion either during or after the test. A graph of the
typical result is shown on page 2:

The data/information contained herein has been reviewed and approved for general release on the basis that this document contains no export
controlled information.
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Concorde Battery Corporation
2009 San Bernardino Road, West Covina, CA 91790 USA | Telephone (626)813-1234 | Fax (626)813-1235

225

200 Battery Temperature (deg F)

175

150

Induced Destructive Overcharge


125
RG380E/44
100
Charge Current (A)
75

50 Charge Voltage = 36 Volt


s

25

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250
Time(min)

The data/information contained herein has been reviewed and approved for general release on the basis that this document contains no export
controlled information.
2

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