Thermal Runaway in Li-ion— getting the missing data

Most modern high energy batteries, not only Li-ion, contain highly reactive and potentially explosive chemicals as exemplified by the recent Boeing incident. Testing techniques exist that can predict these problems yet are rarely used and not widely understood. The most important of the tests aim to define the safe working limits: safe temperature, maximum discharge current and maximum safe voltage. Yet some of these parameters are often missing on battery data sheets and even when they are quoted, there is little supporting evidence. Jasbir Singh of HEL Ltd describes how that information can be obtained.

These . . .