Mobile phones - dangerous cargo
 

This seems to pose a fairly serious risk to aircraft. OK - there are fire suppresion systems (on some aircraft I think) - but scary anyway. Anyone experienced this ? More to the point - is this news to people ? Suddenly the thought of pax putting 'phones in the hold isn't so attractive !

From here : http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=19849

A US WATCHDOG is concerned about the increasing number of exploding mobile phones that have been injuring Americans over the last two years.
According to figures released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission more than 83 mobiles have either exploded or caught fire causing injury in the last two years. That would nearly be three and a half going up in smoke a month.

Some of the injuries have been fairly nasty. Burns to the face, neck, hip and legs have all been reported.

The main problem is dodgy batteries and there have been three voluntary battery recalls.

However the phone manufacturers say that most of the exploding batteries are those which have been made by counterfeiters. Although if they didn't make replacement batteries so expensive then the counterfeiters would not be able to peddle their dodgy wares.

But some groups, like the Wireless Consumers Alliance, think it is because the phone designers are stacking too much power into a small space. This creates more heat that can't be vented, sometimes as high as 600 degrees and this creates an explosive effect.

To be fair there are more than 170 million people use mobiles in the US so per capita the number of exploding phones is small.

Is it me, or is that just a touch unlikely?

Is this a problem if the phone is switched off or in standby mode? Its likely condition within the hold....

Have a look at Dealing With In-Flight Lithium Battery Fires In Portable Electronic Devices from the CAA. They used a blowtorch to ignite the battery.

It seems as though the greater risk is from spare batteries carried in baggage, which may be shorted out by a metallic object (eg a zip) across the contacts. There's a thread in Tech Log Torch Batteries - Safety warning that mentions some restrictions on how much Lithium you can carry in spare batteries - hands up everyone who knows the Lithium content of these items!

Thanks ! At least the issue has been recognised. Makes me feel a little safer ! re: lithium content - have just looked at my 'phone - and I still have no idea !

If that is 60 C then it would be hot. If it is 600 in ANY language then the human attached to it and other items nearby are no longer functioning according to their design spec. ;)

To give a clue, when a human body is placed into a cremator, the temp is at 650/700 Celsius.
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"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Don't forget that this was an American report, and would therefore probably be Fahrenheit.
600 f is about 315c, with is a bit more reasonable for a rechargable battery fire.

419

FYI

At my company, a crew procedure for Lithium Battery fire extinguishing in the cabin was brought into place during Summer 2004. Crew are tested on the procedure during annual 3 day SEP safety exams (just done mine - Hooray!)

Yes, I know that this doesn't affect cargo/checked bags, but I just thought I'd make you aware that there is some awareness of the issue, and also to let you know just how much better it feels when an SEP is safely behind you for another year. Now, if I can just get through the coming voluntary redundancy program without getting a corporate nudge...

There was a similar problem discovered with NVG batteries a few years ago, a (steel) storage cupboard at some RAF base was blown apart by an exploding lithium battery one night. Some crews voiced disquiet about flying with them clamped to their heads, but after some modification to the storage and handling procedures the problem seemed to disappear.

Fearsome temperatures were also mentioned at the time, but bear in mind these are internal temperatures, and only last a fraction of a second (before the bang).

Unfortunately the problem is likely to get worse.
Most cell phones and PEDs today have Lithium-ion technology batteries. Already there is Lithium Polymer which is a higher power/weight ratio and soon there will be Lithium Sulfur.

Failures will be either faulty cells or faulty charging. If you have ever seen a Li-Po fire they have somewhat worrying tendancy to spray burning Lithium :eek:

I think we will see even more 'dodgy' aftermarket batteries as the market is just so big.