View Full Version : Lithium Batteries in Aircraft
Sunfish
17th Feb 2013, 20:36
Yes, I know about the dreamliner and its problems.
I note that German manufacturer of CT aircraft is fitting a lithium battery in their latest LSA and I am wondering about doing the same.
The weight saving is of the order of Ten pounds as far as I can tell at present and the capacity of the battery is considerable.
Specifically, these motorcycle sealed batteries:
Batteries (http://www.shoraipower.com/Products/batteries/)
Ixixly
17th Feb 2013, 21:04
Having dealt with the RC Variety, i've personally not had any problems, gotten close a few times, some were so hot I reckon they were on the brink of doing something nasty!!
Would highly recommend you just stick to the tried and true methods for the moment, 10pounds sounds like a lot, but you could probably find the same weight savings in other areas but using carbon fibre cover panels and the like instead of metal ones (If appropriate to your build!). Let the guys with money to burn and the people behind them do the pioneering for you, once its a proven technology and more reliable then maybe go back to it!!
Jetjr
17th Feb 2013, 21:34
There are 2 types
Lithium IRON
and Lithium ION - RC/phone types which can have thermal runaway
There are 2 types
It's a bit more complex than that - see wiki and read the threads in R&N and Tech Log.
The key point is that the basic electrical systems used in simple a/c including homebuilts work well with lead acid batteries. Anything else (including nicads) require a charging/monitoring system designed for that.
If youre happy designing and building a microcontroller based controlled system with switchmode current/voltage control and temperature monitoring for a hostile environment (temperature vibration etc) and can get appropriately rated components (Industrial/automotive, hint - Jaycar don't have them) then go for it.
baswell
18th Feb 2013, 07:00
Just mount them in such a way you can dump them if they catch fire.
Works for starship Enterprise and their troublesome reactor cores! :ok:
sleemanj
19th Feb 2013, 00:01
Shorai's are Lithium Iron (LiFe).
I'm not sure if I would be all that comfortable to put one in an aircraft personally, there have been some instances of the Shorai batteries failing in undesirable ways.
melted shorai battery - ADVrider (http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=820156)
2009 1198s caught fire last week - ducati.org forum | the home for ducati owners and enthusiasts (http://www.ducati.org/forums/1098-1198/36278-2009-1198s-caught-fire-last-week.html)
Oh YEAH to Oh NO...Project Kool-Aid, up in smoke: Shorai signs onto DTT! - page 1 - Loungin at da club - DO THE TON (http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=23613.0)
Also don't forget, depending on where that battery you are replacing is located in your aircraft (and what the aircraft is in particular), you might be affecting the W&B in an undesirable manner which would need corrective measures making such a substitution more trouble than it's worth.