- Author
-
Webster, H.
- Title
- Flammability Assessment of Bulk-Packed, Nonrechargeable Lithium Primary Batteries in Transport Category Aircraft.
- Coporate
- Federal Aviation Administration, Atlantic City International Airport, NJ
- Sponsor
- Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, DC
- Report
-
DOT/FAA/AR-04/26,
June 2004,
23 p.
- Distribution
- AVAILABLE FROM: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), Technology Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161. Telephone: 1-800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000; Fax: 703-605-6900; Rush Service (Telephone Orders Only) 800-553-6847 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Federal Aviation Administration, William J. Hughes Technical Center's full-text technical reports page. Website: http://www.fire.tc.faa.gov/
- Keywords
-
transport aircraft
|
electric batteries
|
lithium
|
flammability
|
hlon 1301
|
cargo space
|
compartments
|
test facilities
|
failure mode
|
fire tests
|
fire suppression
|
halons
|
cargo aircraft
|
passenger aircraft
|
ignition
|
explosions
|
autoignition
- Identifiers
- lithium battery; baseline tests
- Abstract
- A series of test were conducted to assess the flammability characteristics of nonrechargeable lithium primary batteries, both individually and as packaged for bulk shipment onboard cargo and passenger aircraft. The tests were designed to determine the conditions necessary for battery ignition, the characteristics of the battery fire, the potential hazard to the aircraft as a result of the fire, and the effectiveness of the standard Halon 1301 fire suppression systems in extinguishing the fire. A relatively small fire source is sufficient to start a primary lithium battery fire. The outer plastic coating easily melts and fuses adjacent batteries together and then ignites, contributing to the fire intensity. This helps raise the battery temperature to the self-ignition temperature of lithium. Once the lithium in a single battery begins to burn, it releases enough energy to ignite adjacent batteries. This propagation continues until all batteries have been consumed. Halon 1301, the fire suppression agent installed in transport category aircraft, is ineffective in suppressing or extinguishing a primary lithium battery fire. Halon 1301 appears to chemically interact with the burning lithium and electrolyte, causing a color change in the molten lithium sparks, turning them a deep red instead of the normal white. This chemical interaction has no effect on battery fire duration or intensity. The air temperature in a cargo compartment that has had a fire suppressed by Halon 1301 can still be above the autoignition temperature of lithium. Because of this, batteries that were not involved in the initial fire can still ignite and propagate. The ignition of a primary lithium battery releases burning electrolyte and a molten lithium spray.