Fire Risks of Lithium-Ion Batteries in Aviation

Sub: Sci

Sec: Msc

Why in News

The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) issued three position papers highlighting fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.

What is IFALPA?

International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA): A global non-profit representing professional pilots.
Established after a 1948 ICAO conference to provide a platform for pilot input in global aviation standards.
Comprises 104 member associations, representing around 1,00,000 professional pilots (as of 2013).
Provides inputs to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and other aviation bodies.

IFALPA’s Position Papers:

POS01: Focuses on UN3480 and UN3481 regulations:
- UN3480: Lithium-ion batteries transported in bulk, requiring a state of charge (SOC) of less than 30%.
- UN3481: Batteries fitted into equipment, exempt from SOC restrictions.
Recommends extending the SOC 30% limit to UN3481 for greater safety, citing increasing energy density and compactness of equipment.
POS02: Highlights the unique fire risks of lithium-ion batteries compared to traditional fuels.
POS03: Batteries in flight deck components require stricter fire-safety measures. Studies by the S. FAA and the EU Aviation Safety Agency found existing fire kits inadequate for batteries with an energy rating of 100 Wh or higher.

About Lithium-Ion Batteries:

A lithium-ion battery or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery.
Li-ion batteries use an intercalated(Intercalation is the reversible inclusion or insertion of a molecule into materials with layered structures) lithium compound as one electrode material, compared to the metallic lithium used in a non-rechargeable lithium battery.
The battery consists of electrolyte, which allows for ionic movement, and the two electrodes are the constituent components of a lithium-ion battery cell.
Lithium ions move from the negative electrode to the positive electrode during discharge and back when charging.
Lithium batteries were proposed by British chemist and co-recipient of the 2019 Nobel prize for chemistry M. Stanley Whittingham, now at Binghamton University, while working for Exxon in the 1970s.

About Lithium:

Lithium (Li), chemical element of Group 1 (Ia) in the periodic table, the alkali metal group, lightest of the solid elements.
It is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal.
Under standard conditions, it is the lightest metal and the lightest solid element.
Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly reactive and flammable, and must be stored in vacuum, inert atmosphere or inert liquid such as purified kerosene or mineral oil.
When cut, it exhibits a metallic luster, but moist air corrodes it quickly to a dull silvery gray, then black tarnish.
It never occurs freely in nature, but only in (usually ionic) compounds.
Due to its solubility as an ion, it is present in ocean water and is commonly obtained from brines.
Lithium metal is isolated electrolytically from a mixture of lithium chloride and potassium chloride.
Lithium takes an active part in many reactions with organic and inorganic reactants. It reacts with oxygen to form monoxide and peroxide.
Metallic Lithium reacts extremely vigorously with water.
It has high specific heat which is the calorific capacity.
It has very low density and low viscosity.
Lithium is found only in salts and minerals.