Lithium-ion battery are fire hazards, so How should we store the lithium batteries?
In general, Lithium ion batteries (Li-ion) should not be stored for longer periods of time, either uncharged or fully charged. The best storage method, as determined by extensive experimentation, is to store them at a low temperature, not below 0°C, at 40% to 50% capacity. Storage at 5°C to 15°C is optimal. Since lithium batteries self-discharge, it is recommended that they must be recharged every 12 months.
We can further divide it into short-term storage and long-term storage.
Short-term storage: Store the battery in a dry place with no corrosive gases and a wet temperature between -20℃-35℃, higher or lower temperature will cause the metal parts of the battery to rust or the battery to leak.
Long-term storage: As long-term storage will cause the battery activity passivation and accelerate the self-discharge rate, the ambient temperature should preferably be between 10℃-30℃, in addition, it is necessary to do a charge/discharge cycle every 3 months to maintain its activity and recovery performance.
Charge 40% to 50% of the battery charge, and refrigerate in a dry environment. Cooler temperatures and less charge is conducive to maintaining the life of the battery, but too little charge can not be, because the battery will be self-discharge in storage, once the battery slowly run out of power, it will seriously shorten the battery life.
The extent of the effect can be referred to the following relationship between the storage temperature of lithium batteries and the rate of permanent loss of capacity.
Storage Temperature (℃)
40% State of Charge(SOC) 100% State of Charge(SOC) 0 38%(one year later) 94%(one year later) 25 36%(one year later) 80%(one year later) 40 32%(one year later) 65%(one year later) 50 25%(one year later) 60%(one year later)Want More Details: Download our battery design ebook.
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Yes. There is also a small current flowing through the shutdown device, causing a complete discharge, which can damage the battery over time, and in the worst case scenario, destroy the device along with it.
To help you understand better about the storage of lithium batteries, we’ve summarized a list of prohibitions.
1. Do not charge the battery under fire or extreme heat. Do not use or store the battery near a heat source (such as a fire or heater). If the battery leaks or emits a peculiar smell, immediately move it away from the open flame;
2. When the battery swells up, leaks, etc., stop using it immediately
3. Do not put the battery in water or get it wet
4. Do not throw the battery into the fire or heat the battery
5. Do not connect the battery directly to a wall socket or car cigarette lighter socket
6. Do not short-circuit the positive and negative poles of the battery with wires or other metal objects. It is forbidden to transport or store the battery with necklaces, hairpins or other metal objects.
7. Do not knock, acupuncture, step on, modify, or expose the battery to the sun, and do not place the battery in a microwave or high-voltage environment.
8. Do not hit, throw or subject the battery to mechanical shock
9. Use a regular matching lithium battery charger to charge the battery, do not use inferior or other types of battery chargers to charge the lithium battery.
10. Do not disassemble the battery in any way
11. Do not mix the battery with metal objects, lest the metal objects touch the positive and negative electrodes of the battery, causing a short circuit, damaging the battery or even causing danger.
12. Do not use with primary batteries (such as dry batteries) or batteries with different capacities, models, and varieties.
13. Do not use the battery if it emits peculiar smell, heat, deformation, discoloration or any other abnormal phenomenon. If the battery is in use or charging, it should be removed from the electrical appliance or the charger immediately and stop using it.
14. In the transportation process, pay attention to moisture-proof, moisture-proof, avoid squeezing, collision, etc., to avoid battery damage.
15. Do not use or place the battery under high temperature (in the hot sun or in a very hot car), otherwise it may cause the battery to overheat, catch fire or function failure, and shorten its life.
16. Do not store in places with strong static electricity and strong magnetic fields, otherwise it is easy to damage the battery safety protection device and bring insecurity.
17.. If the battery emits peculiar smell, heat, discoloration, deformation, or any abnormality during use, storage, or charging, immediately remove the battery from the device or charger and stop using it.
18. Discarded batteries should be covered with insulating paper to prevent fire and explosion.
Lithium battery Storage Checklist
Before storing, remove the battery from the device
Charge or discharge the battery to 3.8V (use the charger set in “storage mode” or use a voltmeter to check V).
Use insulating materials (such as plastic, electrical tape) to protect the battery terminal.
Put the battery in a fireproof bag/container.
“Lithium-ion battery only” storage area
Room temperature and no heat source
Dry and well ventilated place
Remove all combustible materials (wood, carpet, gasoline are prohibited, ceramic or cement surfaces are recommended).
There must be an ABC or water fire extinguisher nearby. And know its location
1.Cell or battery warehouses should be set up independently.
Set up “No Fireworks” eye-catching signs in storage places. It is strictly forbidden to stack combustibles and flammable items around.
2.The temperature of cell or battery warehouses should be controlled within the range of 20±5℃,
The maximum should not exceed 30℃,
The relative humidity should not be greater than 75%.
Keep the warehouse clean, dry and well ventilated, and do not store other items.
3.Cell or battery warehouses should be equipped with smoke and temperature alarm devices, and the alarm signal should be transmitted to a place where someone is on duty 24 hours a day.
4.Cell or battery warehouses should be equipped with independent external accident exhaust devices.
The accident exhaust devices should be interlocked with smoke and temperature alarm devices.
5.Cells and batteries should be neatly placed, not stacked too high, and storage facilities should be made of non-combustible materials, and anti-static measures should be taken.
6.The positive or negative pole position of each battery (cell) must be insulated to prevent short circuit protection measures.
7.Automatic sprinkler facilities should be set up in the battery warehouse.
8.The battery must not be stored at full capacity, and it is recommended to store it at 50% power.
9.Semi-finished batteries should be equipped with protective plates.
10.Waste batteries should be stored separately after being discharged.
11.Each fireproof zone of the battery and cell warehouse shall not exceed 250 square meters.
12.A sufficient number of spherical dry powder automatic fire extinguishers or sprinklers should be hung in the battery and cell warehouses.
13.The battery and cell warehouses should be equipped with 2 fire blankets each, and 1 special bucket for handling accident batteries.
PS:
1.Explosion-proof electrical equipment should be used in battery warehouses and aging rooms.
2.Faulty batteries and waste batteries must be placed in special treatment cabinets for isolation and disposal, and the use of explosion-proof sand buckets to deal with accident batteries is advocated.
1. For Lithium-ion batteries which need to be stored for a long time and not used, they should be kept in a state of 50%-60% charge. They should be recharged every 3 months and recharged every half a year.
2.Attention should be paid to moisture-proof and moisture-proof, to prevent squeezing, collision, etc., to avoid battery damage.
3. It is forbidden to use or place the battery at high temperatures (in hot sunlight or in very hot cars), otherwise it may cause the battery to overheat, catch fire or fail in function, and shorten its life.
4. It is forbidden to store in places with strong static electricity and strong magnetic fields, otherwise it will easily destroy the battery safety protection device and bring unsafe hidden dangers.
5.If the battery emits an odor, fever, discoloration, deformation, or any abnormality during use, storage, or charging, immediately remove the battery from the device or charger and disable it.
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FAQ about lithium battery storage
For lithium-ion batteries, studies have shown that it is possible to lose 3 to 5 percent of charge per month, and that self-discharge is temperature and battery performance and its design dependent. In general, self-discharge is higher as the temperature increases.
A fully discharged battery is understood to be “squeezed out” until it doesn’t produce any more of this current at all. In this case, the voltage drops to 0 volts. If this state is maintained, the electrodes in the battery will chemically react, rendering it partially to completely unusable. The result is that the capacity of the battery is greatly reduced and may not be recharged. Therefore, the battery should not be discharged below the final cut-off voltage associated with the type and should be recharged as soon as possible. Therefore, lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries should essentially not be discharged to the point of being completely unusable.
As a rule of thumb, lithium-ion or lithium-polymer battery packs are recommended to be charged at about 10 to 20 percent of remaining capacity. Good lithium ion rechargeable batteries generally have extensive protection and/or monitoring circuitry within the battery pack to prevent full discharge/overcharge and explosion.
3. in what temperature range should the lithium battery be used?
Lithium-ion batteries can be used in a temperature range of -20°C to +55°C.However, charging can usually only take place at temperatures of +0°C to +45°C.
4. How long is the battery life?
Lithium-ion batteries can be charged up to 1,000 times (depending on capacity). However, these values can only be achieved under optimal conditions. Depending on the handling and maintenance of the battery, the number of cycles may be reduced. During the service life, the capacity will decrease. Generally speaking, when the nominal capacity of the battery is less than 70%, it is called worn-out.
5. What is the memory effect (using NiCd technology) and/or the lazy battery effect?
The battery keeps track of its intensity of use. If the battery is not fully discharged before charging, small crystals will form on the electrodes and they will be less likely to accept an electrical charge. Thus, if the battery is not fully discharged one at a time, the operating time of the battery becomes shorter and shorter.
In the case of NiMH technology, a battery inertia effect (lazy battery effect) comparable to the classical memory effect occurs. Lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries can and may be recharged at any time. These batteries do not have a memory effect and should only be recharged at frequent short intervals. In addition, full charging in several stages, with or without partial discharge in between, will not cause any damage.
However, lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries should not be fully discharged.
According to the experiment, if there is about 10% to 20% of the remaining capacity of the lithium ion polymer battery, charge it. Note that disconnecting a fully charged battery pack and reconnecting it to the charging unit will not result in a higher charge. This procedure will impair the performance capability of the battery.
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