When a lithium-ion battery is about to catch fire, it makes a unique click-hiss as gases escape. NIST researchers have trained AI to detect this sound even in noisy environments.
Can sound detect when lithium-ion batteries catch fire?
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a way to use sound to detect when lithium-ion batteries are about to catch fire. The NIST team included Wai Cheong “Andy” Tam and Anthony Putorti.
What happens if a lithium-ion battery catches fire?
When a lithium-ion battery is about to catch fire, it makes a unique click-hiss as gases escape. NIST researchers have trained AI to detect this sound even in noisy environments. If a lithium-ion battery gets too hot or is damaged, it may undergo a chemical reaction called thermal runaway.
What are lithium-ion batteries?
The NIST team included Wai Cheong “Andy” Tam and Anthony Putorti. Lithium-ion batteries are all around us: They can be in your phone, in your laptop, in an e-bike or an electric car. There may be several within arm's reach and hundreds of them in your building. These batteries are popular because they can store a lot of energy in a small space.
Are lithium-ion batteries dangerous?
There may be several within arm's reach and hundreds of them in your building. These batteries are popular because they can store a lot of energy in a small space. That quality makes them useful, but also brings danger. If a lithium-ion battery gets too hot or is damaged, it can catch fire or even explode. And the risk of battery fires is growing.
Why does a lithium ion battery sound like a bottle of soda?
Many lithium-ion battery cells can't expand because they have hard casings. Many of these hard casings contain a safety valve designed to break and release this pressure. This breaking safety valve is the sound Tam heard in the videos. It's a distinctive click-hiss, a little like the sound of cracking open a bottle of soda.
Can ultrasound be used to detect lithium batteries?
Not accounting for factors such as temperature. In conclusion, ultrasound-based detection methods are widely used for defect detection and state assessment in lithium batteries. However, different ultrasound techniques have unique strengths and limitations in comprehensive battery detection.