Lithium Battery Risk Assessment-Most Important Parts

There is no doubt that Lithium batteries have many risks. Still, they are used all over the world. On every battery, you will see a warning sign that mentions that the batteries need to be handled with care. Lithium batteries are the standard products used in various industries. But they are not entirely free of all kinds of risks.

So, in this article, we are going to assess the risks involved with the use of lithium battery. Let’s go through the article so that we can avoid the most common mistakes while using the lithium battery in the near future.

Risk Assessment Of Lithium Battery Explosion:

When Sony introduced the lithium battery to the world in 1991, they knew the risks implied by the use. But that never stopped the scientists and manufacturers to experiment with the technology to make it better. And the biggest risk linked with the lithium compositions is the explosion. You must have heard about some cases mentioning that the Lithium battery caught fire and led to a big explosion. This is a truth that everyone needs to accept. But that doesn’t necessarily imply that this will happen all the time.

The biggest risk of Lithium battery is an explosion. The results might vary from a thick smoke, road flare, a steady burn, or even a big size explosion depending on the size of battery. Generally, the parameters that affect this process is battery size, chemistry, construction, and battery state of charge. In every reaction, the same components are produced. It involves toxic gases, debris, burning electrolyte and casing material, and other flammable by-products.

In almost every battery, the products comprise of Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen, and hydrocarbons. And the worst thing is that all of these compounds are flammable and further increase the risk of fire and explosion. For the explosion, primarily Carbon dioxide and water are burned. It even liberates fluorine from the salt used in electrolyte. To make things far worse, as the explosion happens, the fluorine gas reacts with hydrogen and form hydrogen fluoride. As the concentration of HF increases and it comes in contact with the human skin, it turns into Hydrofluoric acid.

As you can see, a slight case of a leak and the battery will explode like a bomb causing severe damage. That’s why it is always advised to handle the batteries properly and precautions should be taken while using it.

What Factors Affect Lithium Battery Risk Assessment?

To get an insight into the factors that affect the working of these batteries, you need to understand a few terms. It involves:

· Flammable Cell Component:

The hydrocarbon-based electrolyte is one of the most flammable components in the lithium battery. The cells store electrical energy and chemical energy which gets released during combustion. If the battery is stored properly, there won’t be any damage from it.  Other than that, the cells leakage can also cause corrosion in the battery which makes the battery unusable.

· Stored Energy:

As we already know that the battery has chemical and electrical energy stored in it, the risk of fire or explosion increases. It is pretty easy to turn chemical energy into heat energy. This can create a problem for the consumers if the electrolyte is leaked or some other mishap happens.

· Fire Behavior of Cells and Battery Pack:

If the behavior testing is done for the lithium battery, you will find out that there are many issues with the cell chemistry and mechanical designs of the batteries. But as the technology is evolving, proper testing is done to ensure that there is no significant risk with the lithium composition and other elements.

· Using Suppressant Agents:

To suppress combustion, some agents are used in the battery. But with the electrical charge and high voltage, the use of these suppressant agents might not be good idea.

· Battery Size:

The size of the battery pack is a huge factor that determines how big or small the explosion will be. When you are using chemicals which have a risk of igniting a fire, it is obvious that the size matters a lot. Big size batteries use large amount of electrolyte, holds large amount of voltage, electric current, and chemical energy. And all these constituents of the battery are directly linked with the hazards.

So, to make sure that you don’t end up causing a huge crisis while handling the lithium battery pack, you should take a look at the guidelines that come with the battery.

How To Reduce Lithium Battery Hazard?

In order to reduce the hazards associated with lithium battery, you have to follow certain rules and guidelines. Some of the most important guidelines are mentioned below:

· Avoid using a failing Lithium battery as it hisses, bulge, and leak.

· The electrolyte is highly flammable and that’s why it must be kept in check all the time.

· In case of fire which is caused by a lithium battery, use water or fire extinguisher to dowse it. only the Class D fire extinguisher must be used for these fire as sometime the Lithium metal might react with water.

· Always make sure that the protection circuit of the battery is functioning properly.

· Avoid charging the battery in cold temperature as the consumer-grade lithium can’t charge below zero degree Celsius.

· Always purchase the battery from a reliable and trusted manufacturer or supplier.

· Inspect batteries every now and then, and once they die, safely dispose of them off.

· Stay cautious while using the batteries as it can be affected by seawater, water, strong oxidizers, and strong acids.

· Never ever dispose of a battery which still has some charge left in it. Keep the voltage in check and then hand them over to a disposal service.

The main reason lithium battery is still a major component of the industry is because of its use. If the consumers take care of the precautions that need to be taken to avoid the hazards of the battery, they stay safe for use.