The most common types of battery fires are caused by rechargeable batteries in portable devices. However, there have been fires related to car batteries and old AA batteries thrown in the trash. This is why we all need to know more about the potential dangers of battery fires, their causes, and what we can do in the future.
Why do lithium-ion batteries catch fire? Lithium-ion battery cells combine a flammable electrolyte with significant stored energy, and if a lithium-ion battery cell creates more heat than it can effectively disperse, it can lead to a rapid uncontrolled release of heat energy, known as ‘thermal runaway’, that can result in a fire or explosion.
Battery fires come in different shapes and sizes because so do batteries themselves. There are all kinds of power packs, rechargeable batteries, and alkaline batteries powering everything from remote controls to smart devices in an off-grid home. Battery fires and explosions from rechargeable devices.
Beyond a puncture, another leading cause of battery explosion and fire is thermal runaway. This is a phenomenon where high external temperatures can cause exothermic reactions within the battery itself, which in turn increases its temperature further.
Mechanical injury is another leading cause of lithium battery fires and explosions. Physical damage to a battery, whether from crushing, puncturing, or bending, can compromise its structural integrity.
Due to the self-sustaining process of thermal runaway, Lithium-ion battery fires are also difficult to quell. Bigger batteries such as those used in electric vehicles may reignite hours or even days after the event, even after being cooled. Source: Firechief® Global