GB2539373A - Lithium/polymer battery transport - Google Patents

Abstract

A container for a lithium ion battery, the container comprising an internal fire-proof layer 3, and an external layer 4, by which the internal layer and the contents are to be vacuum sealed by the external layer, to ensure that in the event of leakage of chemicals from the battery during transport, the chemicals are not exposed to air or moisture. Preferably, the internal layer is a glass fibre woven layer. Preferably, the external layer is a heat sealable plastic film. A method of transporting lithium ion batteries by placing the product into a fire-proof pouch, placing the pouch into a container of heat-sealable plastics, removing the air and sealing the external container to form a hermetic seal.

Description

Lithiu Polymer Battery Transport this iriVe the transport of lithium ion batteries including those made of lithium with a polymer electrolyte, collectively referred to, as batte ell known that LIPo batten& a fire hazard when being transported due to the fact that the lithium is combustible in the presence of oxygen, including oxygen in its combined form with hydrogen, i.e. in water moisture. In W020141016016069 there is described a transport container for transporting a defective LiPo battery in which the container itself is, for safety reasons, much larger than the battery, and is made of a noon-combustible vial such as steel. This is wasteful n terms of storage capacity and although further mechanical damage to the battery during transport can be avoided by the presence of the voids within the container it does not directly address he possibility of combustion occurring in transport.

In W020131125997 there is described a shipping container batteries or other batteries containing liquid chemicals, the container having a more compact arrangement in which a plywood box is filled with a first lining in the for of a plastic bag of acid proof and dissipative polyethylene rounding absorbent material such as vermiculite which acts as a water absorbent and also has a fire retardant so that any accidental damage to the battery casing during transport of the battery will not allow the liquid to come into contact with e.g, ambient air and moisture therewithin, in both pieces of prior art discussed above it is recognisedthat here is a need to, firstly, ensure that cturing transport such batteries are protected from mechanical damage and, at least as importantly, that in'the event s f any spilla slid chemical, such does not come into contact with air or water.

The present invention is derived from the realisation that this latter need is best met by means of tically sealed container. Accoroangly, the invention provides in a first aspect a container for a lithium ion container comprising an internal fire-proof layer, such as a glass fibre woven type layer s unding the battery ui use, and an external layer, such as a heat sealable plastic; film, by which the internal layer and the contents therefore, such lithium ion battery, may be vacuum sealed thereby to ensure that, in the event of leakage of chemicals from the battery during transport the chemicals are riot substantially exposed to air or moisture.

With this arrangement, the invention according to the first aspect provides a very compact means of safely storing and transporting hazardous goods such as lithium ion batteries ithout the need for complicated and bulky packaging, According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of transporting products containing potentially hazardous chemicals, such as lithium ion batteries, the method including the steps of, in any suitable order, placing the product a sealable fire-proof pocket or pouch, placing the pouch into an external container of heat-sealable plastics, removing air from within the external container and heat-sealing uch that the contents of the external container are hermetically sealed_ Conveniently, the inner pouch and outer ontainer are sufficiently robust o provide a level of puncture resistance during transport so that in the event f say, the hard plastic casing of a lithium battery being transported becomes cracked e lithium is still unable tra react with the atmosphere and water in the atmosphere. However, in the event of the battery hing fire due to a circuit its close containment within a fire rsroc pouch to limit any danger to the vehicle transporting it.

The invention will flow be described by way of example only, with refe nce to the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 shows a schematic, part exposed view of a container cording to the first aspect of the invention and associated LiPo battery, and Figure L showsside view he sealed container according to the iny ri hovers the schematic ct nstructiara of a container fora LiPo battery (2) the intain having an inner pocket or pouch (3) (shown partly cut away) made from e.g a fibreglass type weeve such as Protec Fire Screen which; in use, completely surrounds the battery (2) such that if it catches fire the fire isetf writ tie contained within the pouch or pocket (3). Surrounding the pocket (3) is an external layer (4) of e.g. a heat sealable plastic film, the extern layer (4) being exposed to a vacuum before being heat-sealed to thereafter hermetically se e inner layer and battery (2) from ambient air.

The inner layer (3) and outer layer M) collectively define a container (I) in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the container preferably having mechanical properties by which accidental piercing of the container is obviated or avoided altogether. As can be seen from Figure 2, the container has been effectively shrink-wrapped in accordance with the method of the invention around the battery (2) (not shown) so that it is hermetically sealed from ambient air and moisture, This is a partic, lady elegant and inexpensive see ctbn to a difficult and costly problem transporting hazardous items such as LiPo batteries and by doing so in a vacuum, thereby preventing ait and moisture corning into contact with the battery and causing temical reaction.