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CAA Paper 2000/04: The Safety Implications of Lithium Rechargeable Batteries Onboard UK Civil Aircraft

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This paper has been prepared by the Defence Evaluation Research Agency (DERA). It reports on the work carried out by DERA, in fulfilling CAA contract, to investigate the potential hazards that could arise from the use of lithium rechargeable batteries in aircraft. Potential applications of lithium rechargeable batteries are to power aircraft equipment, such as electronics, to supply power as the aircraft main battery and for use in portable equipment brought on to an aircraft by passengers. Widely used lithium rechargeable batteries, which may be brought on-board aircraft by passengers in portable electronic equipment, have already been subject to extensive safety testing to meet consumer safety standards. Potential safety hazards that could arise from the use of lithium batteries in aircraft equipment are discussed. Primary (non-rechargeable) and secondary (rechargeable) batteries are compared. Differences in hazard potential from different types of battery are considered. Electronic controls are necessary in multi-cell battery packs of lithium rechargeable batteries. Their design and the safety implications of any failure of electronic controls are discussed. Safety standards for lithium batteries have been reviewed to determine which are appropriate to rechargeable batteries in aircraft applications. Standards have been compared and manufacturers’ claims concerning standards, to which their batteries adhere, are described. The only safety test which is specifically applicable to aircraft is the altitude decompression test in BS 2G239 or EN4240. This is not included in consumer safety standards and it is recommended that this should be included in any approval requirement for secondary rechargeable batteries.

Status:
Current
Review comment:
-
Version:
1
Version date:
22-Jul-2022
View file:

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