How to Transport Lithium-based Batteries Do You Know?
Many battery types fall under strict transportation regulation.This is done for the safety of those handling them and the passengers traveling on a common carrier.Here are the rules in short.In 2009, 3.3 billion Li-ion batteries were transported by air.From March 1991 to August 2010,batteries and lithium battery powered devices caused 113 recorded incidents with smoke,fire,extreme heat or explosion on passenger and cargo planes.The Portable Rechargeable Battery Association (PRBA) is aware of possible hazards and opposes any revisions in transportation rules,arguing that the restrictions would cost shippers and manufacturers billions of dollars.
These manufacturers do not want to disrupt air shipments,especially batteries for critical medical and military missions.They argue that the batteries causing problems do not meet US hazardous material handling regulations and ask the FAA to enforce stricter manufacturing rules.The manufacturers tell the aviation industry further that,as a result of the well-publicized 2006 recall,a safer generation of Li-ion batteries has emerged.No deaths and only 26 injuries are attributed to shipping billions of lithium batteries every year.
The estimated failure rate of Li-ion is one per 10 million.Examining the 113 recorded incidents of transporting batteries by air in 19 years reveals that most failures occurred due to inappropriate packaging or handling,which caused damage or electrical short.Most incidents happened at airports or in cargo hubs.Problem batteries include primary battery lithium (lithium-metal),lead,nickel and alkaline systems,and not just lithium-ion,as is perceived.Newer consumer products have very few surprise failures caused by Li-ion batteries.
There are,however,restrictions with lithium-ion batteries on airplanes and travelers are reminded how many batteries can be carried on board in portable devices and as spare packs.The passenger compartment enables better safety monitoring with access to fire extinguishers.In one incident,a coffee pot served as extinguishing device for a flaming laptop battery on board of a plane.In terms of transportation,lithium-based batteries are divided into non-rechargeable lithium-metal batteries that are typically used in film cameras,and the rechargeable lithium-ion battery found in cell phones and laptops.Airlines allow both types as carry-on either installed or carried as spare packs as long as they don’t exceed the following limitation of lithium or equivalent of:
- 2 grams for primary lithium batteries
- 8 grams for a secondary lithium-ion.This amounts to a 100Wh battery.
- 25 grams for all Li-ion combined.This amounts to 300Wh worth of Li-ion batteries.
The lithium content of the primary lithium batteries is often printed on the label. Li-ion, on the other hand,has no metallic lithium and uses the equivalent lithium content (ELC) instead.A laptop battery commonly uses 2Ah cells containing 0.6 grams of ELC each.The battery pack may have eight cells (4 in series; 2 in parallel),which brings the ELC to 4.8 grams,well below the 8-gram limit allowed by a single pack.While regulations limit the Li-ion battery to no larger than 100Wh,each passenger and travel companion is allowed to carry spare packs of up to 25 grams of ELC,or 300Wh.
The airlines recommend placing each battery in a clear plastic bag or covering the contacts with a tape to prevent an electric short.Although current rules forbid passengers from carrying lithium-ion 18650 battery in checked luggage,devices with non-removable batteries, such as the iPhone, iPad and certain brand of laptops, are exempt from the rules.Anyone shipping lithium-ion batteries in bulk must meet transportation regulations and this applies to domestic and international shipments by land,sea and air.If a shipment in the US contains more than 24 lithium cells or 12 lithium-ion packs,special markings and appropriate shipping documents are required.Each package must be clearly marked to inform the airline that lithium batteries are involved.
Article From: http://www.batteryfaq.net/battery-technology/how-to-transport-lithium-based-batteries-do-you-know-765.html
Processing your request, Please wait....
