As more companies turn to lithium battery powered equipment both in their forklift fleet and in the different elements of our day-to-day lives, more attention is also being paid to potential risks. It is common to find videos of burning smartphones on social networks. But what really are the real risks of lithium-ion batteries, and how can they be prevented? We analyze it in this article.
The main risk inherent in lithium batteries is the amount of energy they hold. In extreme cases, generally caused by improper use or external factors, short circuits can occur and even lead to combustion. By releasing oxygen, thermal runaways can occur, which means that the generated fire is produced through a chain reaction.
Let us therefore analyze the most common causes in handling machinery and how we can prevent these risks.
Cause 1: Overload
When a battery is overcharged, it means that a charge has been made above the allowable volts. As a result, in extreme cases, the battery may even spontaneously turn on.
To avoid this, these batteries incorporate control units (BMS, Battery Management System) in charge of avoiding overcharging.
Cause 2: Deep discharge
When a battery discharges beyond the minimum allowable battery voltage, we speak of deep discharge. The deep discharge state would damage the battery. The BMS is in charge, also in this case, of avoiding this deep discharge situation to minimize risks.
Cause 3: Extreme temperatures
Exposure to a temperature above 60ºC could cause spontaneous combustion in the lithium battery.
We could also damage the battery in the opposite case with freezing temperatures, making the system unstable.
Lithium batteries should be kept at a medium temperature. If the truck must operate in cold-store conditions, such as in a cold store, and charging is necessary in that environment, we must opt for a heated version. This type of battery makes it possible to use and charge it in cold environments without losing performance.
Cause 4: Blows or impacts
A battery could be damaged if, for example, an operator collides with a shelf or accidentally hits it hard. In these situations, the battery could be punctured, which could lead to a fire.
The blow could also damage the BMS, the unit that controls the battery and that manages its use in safe conditions and optimal performance. It is for this reason that it is especially important for a specialized technician to check the battery condition after a major crash.
● It is advisable to extinguish the fire with special extinguishers for lithium batteries, known as AVD (Aqueous Vermiculite Solution) extinguishers. This solution adheres to the combustion gases to extinguish the fire.
● If the fire starts in an enclosed space, it could be extinguished through a sprinkler extinguishing system.
● Another option in case of fire is to cool the battery to avoid thermal leaks.
● Although lithium is a metal, a lithium battery fire should not be treated the same as a metal fire, so metal fire extinguishers should not be used.
● Prevention is essential to avoid potential fires. Take into account all fire requirements when designing your warehouse safely as well as the safety in the different battery charging areas.
BSLBATT Material Handling lithium batteries have a number of redundant built-in safety features at various levels:
● Modular design, significantly reduces the possibility of thermal runaway.
● Built-in safety in each battery cell, to avoid overcharging or overheating.
● Mechanical protection of the entire system, resistant to shocks and vibrations.
● Control unit per module that monitors the voltage and temperature of each cell.
● Battery management system (BMS) that manages and supervises all the modules that make up the battery, avoiding their use in any of the unsafe conditions described above.
● Batteries integrated in the control and power systems of the machine.
● Specialized technicians with knowledge of lithium batteries that you can turn to immediately in case you run into any problem.
