Li-Ion Battery Pack

From tiny nickel cadmium button batteries to rechargeable power packs for tools and equipment, there are many different types of batteries used throughout industry. When handling any battery system, it is important to heed all labeling and warnings and follow safe storage, use and handling practices.

Lithium-ion batteries pack a lot of energy into a small package, but this advantage comes with some safety risks. Heat related battery failures can pose a threat to human health and property.

Lightweight

As a rechargeable battery, lithium-ion has one of the highest energy densities of all battery technologies—meaning you get a lot of power in a small package. They’re lighter and more compact than Ni-Cd (nickel-cadmium) or Ni-MH (nickel-metal hydride), and they can be made thinner and more flexible.

Unlike other batteries, most lithium-ion battery packs use multiple cells wired together to provide more power and runtime than a single cell can. This helps them maintain a high level of performance over time. And since they don’t contain toxic cadmium, lithium-ion batteries are safer to handle and dispose of than older nickel-cadmium batteries.

Lithium-ion power banks are the best way to keep your devices charged on long flights, and this top pick from Anker is the smallest and lightest portable charger you can bring aboard, complying with TSA and FAA rules. It’s got a USB-C port to charge your laptop back to full battery and 15-watt USB ports to power smartphones, tablets, and other devices. Plus, it charges up in less than three and a half hours and comes with a wall charger and cable.

This slim and lightweight power bank from Anker offers two standard USB charging ports for charging phones, tablets, and other USB-powered devices. It also features trickle charging mode for lower-powered items like earbuds and LED charge status indicators that let you know how much power is left in the battery.

High Energy Density

The high energy density of Li-ion batteries makes them an excellent power source for mobile devices, cordless tools and other portable products. They can be smaller and lighter than other battery technologies, while delivering the same amount of power. This miniaturization is partly due to the fact that lithium batteries use non-aqueous electrolytes, and a solid carbon anode, which increases their energy density.

The chemistry of the electrodes (lithium cobalt oxide or lithium nickel-cobalt manganese) and electrolyte (typically a non-aqueous liquid composed of ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate) also contribute to the high energy density of Li-ion cells. These characteristics make them a popular choice for a Li-ion battery pack variety of consumer and commercial applications, including cell phones, laptops, watches, cars, and other compact appliances that need to emit power over long periods.

Aside from their superior energy density, Li-ion batteries offer a number of other advantages, including long battery cycles, rapid charging and longer lifespans. However, they can also experience the rare but dangerous phenomenon of thermal runaway. This can happen through exothermic decomposition, causing the cell to burst into flames.

Because of their safety risks, it is important to handle all Li-ion batteries with care. Follow product and battery labeling for handling recommendations. Also, remember to dispose of used batteries and cell phone chargers correctly. Contact the battery or device manufacturer or automobile dealer for recycling options.

Long Lifespan

Lithium-ion batteries are used in a variety of situations because they are one of the most energy-dense rechargeable battery types available. They are very popular in laptops, PDAs and cell phones as well as in some electric vehicles and power tools.

Li-ion batteries are also used in the Mars Curiosity rover and other space vehicles. Li-ion batteries can go through hundreds of charge/discharge cycles. However, like all batteries, they can degrade over time, even if they are not in use. They will lose about 5 percent of their charge each month. However, they do not have the memory effect that some other battery chemistries exhibit.

It is important to keep in mind that the lifespan of lithium batteries depends on a number of factors, including the type of pack, manufacturing processes and components as well as external factors such as temperature. It is best to store lithium batteries at about 50 percent of their capacity when they are not in use. This will help ensure that they do not degrade excessively during storage.

It is also a good idea to avoid purchasing batteries that have been stored for an extended period of time. This is because older batteries may experience a higher rate of degradation. This is especially true when the battery has been subjected to extreme temperatures.

Fast Charging

Li-ion batteries are used in electric vehicles, including plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles. They are also used in electric bicycles and scooters, personal transporters, and advanced electric wheelchairs. They are even used to power some of NASA’s space exploration missions.

Using lithium-ion batteries in cold weather can cause a problem called “lithium plating.” This happens when the anode metals dissolve and form metallic lithium dendrites, which can pierce the separator between cells. This leads to a short circuit that can cause heat, fire, or explosion. This is a major reason why today’s EVs cannot be recharged in very cold temperatures.

A fire in a lithium-ion battery pack is usually caused by the separator between the positive and negative electrodes becoming punctured. This causes a short between the electrodes, which in Li-ion battery pack turn heats up the battery very quickly. If this occurs in a large enough number of cells, the entire battery can burn up.

To avoid this, lithium-ion batteries use a battery protection circuit that monitors the individual cells in a battery pack for faults or charge completion. This is a small computer that manages the charging process to make sure each cell gets charged to full capacity in the least amount of time. It is also responsible for preventing the battery from discharging down to a point where it could create a fire risk, by sending a signal that disconnects the charger’s current across the positive and negative battery terminals.