Incineration, lithium cells

Incineration. Lithium cells are either hermetically or mechanically sealed. They should not be incinerated without proper protection because they may rupture or explode at high temperatures. 

Like any common batteries, lithium batteries will rupture if exposed to fire. The low-rate lithium batteries, intended for watches, should be safe if used within manufacturers specified temperatures. Thick separators in these low-rate cells prevent shorting and their small size permits easy heat dissipation if any local internal reactions should occur. In fact, a good case can be made that most low-rate lithium cells are safer than zinc-mercury cells, which can introduce poisonous mercury into the atmosphere when incinerated. SAFI supply lithium-copper oxide... 

This type of battery has a spiral-wound electrode pack, made from rectangular foil electrodes. Lithium foil is rolled on to an expanded metal mesh current collector as the negative electrode, and is separated from the similarly supported cathode by a polypropylene separator. Two types of cell construction are used jelly-roll electrodes in crimp-sealed or hermetically sealed cylindrical cells, and large 20-100Ah 12V flat-plate electrodes in large reserve batteries. It is a relatively high-pressure system and cells must have salety vents to avoid explosion in the event of accidental incineration (see Part 2 for further details of construction). 

It is a relatively high-pressure system and cells must have safety vents to avoid explosion in the event of accidental incineration. Diagrammatic representations of Honeywell reserve and nonreserve (active) lithium-sulphur dioxide systems are shown, respectively, in Figures 24.4 and 24.5. 

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