In a new report from IDC aiming to determine the impact of Samsung’s recall of its defective Galaxy Note 7, a survey shows around half of those affected plan to switch to an iPhone.
While the report from IDC concludes that Apple is at least in some way benefiting from the exploding recalled device, Apple said during its recent Q4 earnings call that it currently wasn’t a factor as it’s already shipping as many phones as it can make.
The recent publicity frenzy focusing on the Samsung 7 phone fires has created more questions over the safety of Lithium batteries than any previous event, including a potentially catastrophic one such as whether or not Lithium battery fires could bring down a Boeing 787 Dreamliner passenger aircraft.
In fact the Samsung Lithium battery phone fires prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US to ban passengers from taking their Galaxy Note 7 phones onboard flights. To do so risked anything from having your phone confiscated to being criminally prosecuted if you tried to transport your phone by hiding it in checked luggage.
This all added to the blaze of media hype surrounding Lithium and certainly took attention away from a previous FAA decision regarding Lithium batteries bursting into flame on board Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
However, The FAA allowed US Dreamliners to return to service after changes were made to their battery systems that would help to contain battery fires. (Note the word contain here rather than resolve.)
So the Dreamliner continued to fly with FAA approval yet the actual cause of the fires remained unknown, just as it remains unknown in Samsung Note 7 phones.
There can be numerous reasons why a Lithium battery decides to combust and not all of these reasons are anything to do with the manufacturer of the battery or the company using them.
Lets not forget that ten years ago in 2006, product recalls where made by Apple, HP, Toshiba, Lenovo and Dell, after a small number of batteries used in their products overheated.
What’s The Problem?
The lithium ion batteries used by Samsung are in common use so what’s the problem? The problem is there can be any number of problems than can cause battery ignition.
Lithium batteries contain a cathode, an anode and lithium.
The cathode and anode are separated by an organic liquid called an electrolyte and a porous material called the separator. The lithium travels through the separator within the liquid between the cathode and anode.
The lithium-ion battery’s explosive tendencies are the result of a process known as thermal runaway. It’s essentially an energetic positive feedback loop whereby increasing temperature causes the system to get hotter, which increases the temperature, which causes the system to get even hotter and meltdown. Thermal runaway is a common phenomenon and can be found in numerous physical and chemical processes.
Alternative Technology
So given that it is the electrolyte fluid in Lithium batteries that is flammable what is the alternative? Basically dump the fluid and go solid-state. And plenty of work is being done to develop that principle.
Although it may be several years before such batteries become available, major car manufacturers already consider solid-state batteries as a key component in future electric vehicles. But there are design challenges related to functionality and also costs. Fundamentally it’s not easy to push Lithium ions through a solid-state electrolyte.
A major recall of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones could also be a wakeup call for manufacturers and consumers about lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.
“My brand new Note 7 exploded this morning while I was still asleep, it was plugged in and charging.” So begins a Reddit post from a user in Australia, detailing how a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 caught fire in a hotel room — causing $1,800 in damage.
Sit back in that comfy lounge chair in your favorite Wi-Fi hotspot, get your liquid refreshment at arm’s length, and turn on your reading device for a fascinating journey through an unfolding story about modern mobile life; this is the curious case of the exploding battery, brought to you by Power Electronics News.
Lithium-ion batteries catching fire have been in the news recently, causing many customers to reconsider which mobile phones to purchase and even prompting airlines to restrict the devices’ use when flying. It affects all of us who use rechargeable battery devices and certainly is critical to design engineers who create the mobile devices and the surrounding protection circuitry for these millions upon millions of everyday consumer devices.
The Galaxy Note 7 smartphone is not the only Samsung product consumers need to worry about.
On Friday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of 2.8 million top-loading washing machines because of a risk of “impact injuries.”
The washing machine recall is the latest headache for Samsung, after issuing recalls for the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone following reports of the device overheating and potentially catching fire or exploding. Samsung says the Note recall could cost them at least $5.3 billion.
Shara Tibken / CNET:
Samsung says 85% of recalled Note7 devices in the US have been replaced; software update will prevent remaining devices from charging beyond 60% — To spur more returns, past the current 85 percent level, Samsung will issue a software update that won’t let the devices charge beyond 60 percent.
To spur more returns, past the current 85 percent level, Samsung will issue a software update that won’t let the devices charge beyond 60 percent.
Most Galaxy Note 7 users in the US have returned their devices. For those who haven’t, Samsung will soon start limiting the device’s charging capabilities.
For the remaining holdouts in the US, Samsung said it will release a software update in the coming days to limit the phone’s ability to charge beyond 60 percent. It also will issue a reminder pop-up notification every time a consumer charges, reboots or turns on the screen of their Note 7 device.
“We remain focused on collecting the outstanding Galaxy Note 7 phones in the market,” the company said in a statement on its website.
Then came the battery problems, which caused some units to overheat and catch fire. Samsung issued a global recall of the popular device in September. But then some replacement units started having the same problem. That caused Samsung to issue a second recall in mid-October and permanently stop production of the device. It’s offering Note 7 owners $100 to exchange the device for another Samsung phone.
Samsung has said the Note 7 recall will cost it more than $5 billion over the next few quarters. The company on Friday also issued a recall for 2.8 million washing machines due to injury risk.
Samsung Electronics ran an apology ad in major U.S. newspapers on Monday, pledging to thoroughly look into what led to the massive recall of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone and renewing its commitment to consumer safety.
“An important tenet of our mission is to offer best-in-class safety and quality. Recently, we fell short on this promise. For this we are truly sorry,”
The ad also mentioned the company’s recent decision to voluntarily recall some 2.8 million washing machines due to a potential safety problem, saying the company is working hard to address the problem and offer customers remedy options.
The power FET is an essential safety function in a battery management system (BMS).
The main purpose of the power FET is to isolate the battery pack from either a load or a charger in errant conditions. This white paper discusses the detection blocks and how they apply to the state of the power FETs to ensure safe operation of lithium ion (Li-ion) battery packs.
The power FET functional block seems straightforward: turn on the FET when a charger or load is connected; turn off the FET if anything goes wrong. Proper functionality of the power FETs requires the designer to understand the load conditions, the battery pack limitations and to have an understanding of the functional block circuitry.
Electronica – Power management is a hot topic also at electronica. Time to Samsung’s multi-speaking hazards, Note 7. Exhibition halls are also one of the company, which Samsung has already made contact after the disaster.
responsible for Silegolla power components Adolfo A. Garcia explained that there is a final reason to Note 7 of the problem is still not resolved or explained. – Clearly this is a poor power planning, Garcia estimates.
In practice, the Note 7 in is more likely to be betrayed by someone the power component that is not adequately protected.
Samsung has one more fire to put out: The South Korean company announced on Friday that it was recalling 2.8 million top-load washing machines, following reports of “impact injuries” that included a broken jaw.
The problem stems from unbalanced drums, which can separate from the washer and generate enough internal force to cause other parts of the washer to detach — and, in some cases, be launched out of the machine.
Samsung is also the subject of an August lawsuit from owners who said their machines “explode during normal use.”
First it was phones, now washing machines – US consumer safety regulator ordered the recall after more than 700 complaints and several injuries
Samsung and US safety officials announced a recall on Friday of nearly 3m washing machines after reports that the appliances – just like the company’s Note 7 smartphones – are exploding and injuring people.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Friday that Samsung has received 733 reports of washing machines “experiencing excessive vibration or the top detaching from the washing machine chassis”.
Injuries in the reports include a broken jaw, an injured shoulder, and bruises and blunt force injuries, the agency said. The recall will affect 34 models of washing machines, about 2.8m machines in total, sold since 2011. Customers can either have a free repair and one-year warranty, an exchange rebate on a new washing machine (with “loyalty incentive up to $150”) for a Samsung purchase), or a full refund for eligible new customers.
The CPSC also said that customers will receive a safety kit and instructions until their machines can be repaired, and they should be warned to use slower spin settings for bulky items until then.
“Our priority is to minimize any safety risk and address the conditions that lead to the rare instance when the top of the washer unexpectedly separates from the unit,”
The exploding battery debacle of Samsung’s Note 7 got it recalled, replaced, recalled again and now permanently cancelled. Any remaining units in the field are banned by the FAA from airline flights. But it all could have been avoided, according to Forge Nano (Denver, Colo., formerly PneumatiCoat Technologies), if their nano coating had been used. Forge Nano’s nano coatings boost the breakdown temperature of flammable electrolyte Li-Ion batteries, putting it way far into the safe zone for nominal environmental usage. The key, according to Forge Nano (Denver) is nano-pattern atomic layer deposition (ALD).
“The atomic layer coatings are chemically bonded on the surface of active material particles that make up the Li-Ion battery cathode. It works like a protective coating on an M&M. Independent testing and research has shown that ALD coatings can prevent or reduce the formation of these unwanted chemical species within Li-Ion batteries that can lead exothermic reactions [thermal runaway],” Dr. James Trevey, vice president of engineering told EE Times.
When you draw too much power from a Li-Ion battery it heats up the internal separator between the two flammable electrolytes, melting it and allowing its full charge to be released instantaneously igniting a chemical reaction between the electrolytes causing them to explode.
The peer-reviewed Nature magazine featured the ORNL’s ALD work earlier this year. Since then Forge Nano has been working on a commercial version of the product that they finally believe they have in place (too late for Samsung Note 7, but perfect timing for the upcoming 8th generation due out next year).
In fact, Forge Nano has just landed its Series A of funding. PneumatiCoat Technologies—newly named Forged Nano
according to Elegus Technologies which is trying to toughen up Li-Ion batteries with Kevlar electrolyte dividers, Li-Ion companies believe that safety levels are “adequate,” and are instead spending all their R&D dollars are giving them more capacity.
Hopefully safety will eventually prevail over quarterly profits
A global recall of fire-prone Galaxy Note 7 smartphones did not appear to hurt U.S. consumers’ willingness to buy Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) phones, a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Sunday showed.
The survey conducted Oct. 26 to Nov. 9 found that current Samsung smartphone users were as loyal to their brand as Apple Inc (AAPL.O) iPhone customers. It also found that people who knew about the recall were as interested in Samsung phones as those who did not.
Among those aware of the recall, 27 percent would first consider a Samsung smartphone if they were to shop for a phone, the poll showed.
The poll found that Samsung’s customers were fiercely loyal to their brand. Some 91 percent of current Samsung users would likely purchase another Samsung smartphone, and 92 percent of current users would probably buy another Samsung product in general.
That was similar to the brand loyalty among current iPhone owners: 92 percent would likely buy another iPhone and 89 percent would likely buy another Apple product.
There are many reasons why a battery can become a fire hazard from both perspectives of battery design, construction and operation, but did you know that even a well-designed lithium ion battery can be unsafe during its charging and discharging process?
The phenomenon that is said to develop is called Lithium plating. This metallic lithium formation is a potentially dangerous degradation mechanism that may cause internal short circuit and explosion. It is formed during fast charging of lithium-ion batteries which creates lithium metals on the surface of the anode (the negative electrode during charging).
The faster the charging means the more metallic lithium is formed. If this metallic lithium deposits thicken and cross over the battery’s separator, an electrical short circuit may occur leading to excessive heating and potential fire since metallic lithium is highly flammable.
If you live in Canada and are still, somehow, for some ridiculous reason, hanging onto a Galaxy Note 7, your days of using the phone for pretty much anything will soon be over.
Samsung plans to make the Note 7 effectively unusable in Canada from next week forward. The phone will still turn on, but it won’t be able to connect to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or any cellular networks. So if you were planning to do anything like browse the internet or even make a phone call on the device, you’re going to be out of luck in the very near future.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are supposed to be cut off first, on December 12th. Cellular connections will follow, on the 15th. It’s not clear if Note 7 owners will be able to avoid this by dodging an update, or if Samsung can simply push the change out to any active phones.
This is the second time Samsung has disabled the Note 7’s cell access for an entire country. It previously did so in New Zealand, about a month ago, but for some reason it hasn’t spread to anywhere else until now.
Jacob Kastrenakes / The Verge:
Samsung says next update will stop US Galaxy Note7s from charging starting December 19 — Update will be released December 19th and rolled out within 30 days — Samsung will render remaining Galaxy Note 7s in the United States useless and inoperable with its next and final update for the recalled smartphone.
Samsung will render remaining Galaxy Note 7s in the United States useless and inoperable with its next and final update for the recalled smartphone. Today the company confirmed that it plans to release an update on December 19th — to be distributed across all major carriers within 30 days — that will “prevent US Galaxy Note 7 devices from charging and will eliminate their ability to work as mobile devices.”
This final shutdown of the phone appears to be Samsung’s last effort to get all Note 7s back in its possession. Samsung says that 93 percent of US-sold Note 7 units have now been returned, which puts about 133,000 phones unaccounted for.
Samsung will ramp up communication with customers still holding onto them for some reason:
Together with our carrier partners, we will be notifying consumers through multiple touchpoints to encourage any remaining Galaxy Note7 owners to participate in the program and to take advantage of the financial incentives available.
The Note 7 was recalled back in September after multiple reports of units that caught fire. Replacement units were quickly sent out, and those units were then quickly recalled in mid-October when it became apparent that they had the same problem.
Samsung has been trying out different methods across the globe for getting Note 7 owners to return their phones.
Removing the phone’s charging capability — and, therefore, disabling it once and for all — as it’s doing in the US next week is the farthest that Samsung has gone yet.
George Koroneos / Verizon Fios & Custom TV:
Verizon says it will not push Samsung’s Galaxy Note7 disabling update to customers — Comments in this article can be attributed to Jeffrey Nelson, Vice President, Global Corporate Communications, Verizon — In October, Samsung announced a voluntary recall of the Samsung Galaxy Note7 …
Today, Samsung announced an update to the Galaxy Note7 that would stop the smartphone from charging, rendering it useless unless attached to a power charger. Verizon will not be taking part in this update because of the added risk this could pose to Galaxy Note7 users that do not have another device to switch to. We will not push a software upgrade that will eliminate the ability for the Note7 to work as a mobile device in the heart of the holiday travel season. We do not want to make it impossible to contact family, first responders or medical professionals in an emergency situation.
The Note 7 is no longer up for grabs, and Samsung’s struggling to get it off the market, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that the exploding nightmare ended.
A Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge has burst into flames on a woman’s desk for no clear reason, even though the phone was not in use and not charging.
Ashleigh Deakin posted on Facebook photos of the aftermath, explaining that she decided to buy an iPhone because she can no longer trust Samsung (by the way, there were also reports of iPhones catching fire, so hopefully she didn’t buy an iPhone 6).
“Samsung tightlipped”
There’s no information on whether Samsung was informed about the explosion or not
And even if we can’t tell for sure if it’s a fake explosion or not, there’s one thing that everyone should have in mind: all these explosions prove that lithium-ion batteries aren’t entirely safe, so always, but always, keep an eye on your phone when charging. Overheating is the first thing that should worry you, so be careful out there.
Lithium-ion batteries of today are literally hot problems stem mainly from the fact that they use a liquid electrolyte. the University of Maryland have developed a solution that makes it possible to use a solid ceramic electrolyte. It makes the battery safe.
Energy Research Centre of the University researchers invested lithium electrodes and crystalline form of the ceramic electrolyte between the extremely thin aluminum oxide. This reduces the resistance of the ceramic electrolyte up to 300-fold.
Strong resistance of solid electrolytes has been a problem because it is blocked by the energy transfer between the anode and the cathode. In practice, the battery is not fully charged or discharged as desired.
Adding a thin film between the electrodes and the electrolyte, virtually eliminating obstacles to the flow of electrical charge from the road.
According to researchers, great stability of the solid electrolyte crystalline form allows the list of lithium metal, with a theoretical energy density is highest is used as anodes.
The Galaxy Note 7 was discontinued over two months ago, but we still talk about it a lot for good reason, there are still quite a lot of them out there. Just last month Samsung confirmed that 90% of Note 7s had been taken off the market, but that last 10% is still a lot of phones. In fact, it’s so many that it still outnumbers the total sales of some other smartphones which are still available.
According to research firm Apteligent, there are more Samsung Galaxy Note 7s currently in use (as of last week) than there are LG V20 and OnePlus 3T combined, and only a handful less than the Moto Z. To put that even further in context, the Google Pixel, Pixel XL, and Sony Xperia XZ (which unbelievably beats out both Pixels) all went on sale around the same time as the recall, and all three of those devices outnumber the number of Note 7s still on the market.
Samsung’s previously announced plan to kill the battery in the remaining active Galaxy Note 7 smartphones in the US has begun. T-Mobile is the first of the four major carriers to begin rolling out the battery shutdown update for the recalled phone.
T-Mobile’s support page for the Note 7 states that the update’s version number will be N930TUVU2APL2. The changelog says that the update will offer an on-screen reminder to owners of the phone about the recall order, along with what steps they should take to send back the Note 7. Once the update is installed, the changelog says it will “prevent the charge ability of the device.”
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS) will announce this month the results of an investigation into what caused some of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones to catch fire, the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported on Monday citing unnamed sources.
The world’s top smartphone maker warned of a $5.1 billion hit to its operating profit over three quarters following its decision to permanently halt Galaxy Note 7 sales in October.
A Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS) investigation into what caused some Galaxy Note 7 smartphones to catch fire has concluded that the battery was the main reason, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday.
The results of the investigation will likely be announced on Jan. 23,
One big problem with lithium-ion batteries is that they have the tendency to catch fire and blow up all kinds of gadgets like toys and phones. To solve that issue, a group of researchers from Stanford University created lithium-ion batteries with built-in fire extinguishers. They added a component called “triphenyl phosphate” to the plastic fibers of the part that keeps negative and positive electrodes separate.
Triphenyl phosphate is a compound commonly used as a flame retardant for various electronics. If the battery’s temperature reaches 150 degrees Celsius, the plastic fibers melt and release the chemical. Based on the researchers’ tests, the method can stop batteries from burning up within 0.4 seconds.
Previous attempts at building mini fire extinguishers inside batteries significantly reduced their performance. Yi Cui, this project’s lead scientist, says this doesn’t have the same effect and that the chemical won’t be released under normal temperatures
A powerful flame retardant added to lithium-ion batteries that only gets released when the devices get too hot could help keep them from catching on fire, a new study finds.
When lithium-ion batteries overheat, they can burn through clothing, burst into flames and even explode. Such “thermal runaways” have led some engineers to explore the creation of lithium-ion batteries with their own fire alarms or chemical additives that can prevent short circuits.
Researchers previously tried adding flame retardants directly into the batteries’ electrolytes
During normal battery operation, the flame retardant stays encapsulated within plastic fibers. If the separator gets hotter than 150 degrees C, the plastic melts, releasing the flame retardant. In experiments, the chemical completely quenched flaming electrolyte in 0.4 seconds.
man claims his e-cigarette exploded mid-puff, blew out seven of his teeth, gave him second-degree facial burns, wrecked his bathroom, and put him in intensive care.
From what we can tell, Hall was using a customized vaping doodad that’s nothing like the off-the-shelf devices available in gas stations and convenience stores. The e-cig was powered by an LG HG2 3000mAh battery, which is only slightly smaller than those found in top cellphones.
Hall said he unclipped the charger from the battery and fired up the faux coffin nail. It then exploded and left him in such poor shape he was rushed to hospital, we’re told.
While the former psychology student insists the vaping gizmo was fitted together correctly in the shop, it seems likely that it was either built wrong, or the battery was overcharged or faulty.
Nick Statt / The Verge:
Samsung and independent experts to release findings of investigation into Galaxy Note7 explosions at 10AM KST on January 23 in Seoul (8PM ET January 22)
Samsung announced today that it would reveal its investigative findings on the recalled Galaxy Note 7 this Sunday evening. The press conference is taking place in Seoul, South Korea on Monday, January 23rd at 10AM. Due to the time difference, it will be live streamed for English speakers at 8PM ET on Sunday, January 22nd.
James Vincent / The Verge:
WSJ sources: Samsung investigation finds Galaxy Note7 fires were caused by irregularly sized batteries that didn’t properly fit the phone, manufacturing issues
Samsung’s official investigation into the cause of widespread faults with the Galaxy Note 7 will blame “irregularly sized” batteries and manufacturing faults, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The company is set to announce the results of its inquiry this weekend, but the WSJ claims to have revealed its conclusions early, citing information from “people familiar with the matter.”
An investigation into the cause of faulty batteries that led Samsung Electronics Co. to pull all of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones last year found that some batteries were irregularly sized, causing overheating
Shara Tibken / CNET:
Samsung says battery in original Galaxy Note 7 was too large for surrounding casing, and replacements had manufacturing defect, causing overheating
Sure, blame the batteries. But it’s not quite that simple.
During a press conference Sunday, Samsung said two separate battery defects caused both the original batch of Galaxy Note 7 phones and the replacement units to overheat.
The first battery, it said, suffered from a design flaw. The battery’s external casing was too small for the components inside, causing it to short-circuit and ignite.
The second battery, which came from another supplier, didn’t have the same flaw
In the rush to pump out enough batteries for the replacement units, though, the supplier introduced a manufacturing defect that led to the same result
The explanation puts to rest the mystery behind the exploding Note 7, but it kicks off a new challenge for the embattled company: winning back your trust after a disastrous several months that included two recalls and the decision to kill the critically acclaimed phone.
The biggest task for Samsung this year will be regaining consumer trust
The engineers looked at software, hardware, manufacturing process, quality and assurance testing, and supply chain
US Consumer Product Safety Commission said Samsung SDI (which is separate from Samsung Electronics but has the same parent company, Samsung Group) supplied the batteries responsible for the first recall.
Hong Kong-based Amperex Technology acknowledged on its site that it was the second supplier.
One of the biggest questions facing Samsung during the Note 7 fiasco was how its quality and assurance process (the tests its phones go through before being sold) didn’t catch the problem.
Agam Shah / Computerworld:
HP recalls 101K laptop batteries for fire hazard in US, Canada, and Mexico, in brands including HP, Compaq, ProBook, Envy, Compaq Presario, and Pavilion
HP is expanding its recall of laptop batteries with overheating issues that can cause computer damage and even fire.
The company is recalling an additional 101,000 batteries in some laptops sold between March 2013 through October 2016. This is an expansion of the recall initiated in June 2016, which involved HP’s recalling 41,000 batteries.
Overall, HP received one report of a laptop catching fire in Canada, and eight reports of the battery overheating, catching fire or melting in the U.S.
Lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries are increasingly finding their way into portable and mobile devices. These highly efficient battery technologies pack more energy into a smaller size than almost any other battery type.
However, such energy efficiency comes at a price—lithium batteries are subject to overheating, catching fire, or exploding if they’re overcharged, short-circuited, overheated, or otherwise misused. For safety purposes, some protection circuitry must be incorporated when lithium batteries are designed into a product. This article discusses one approach to battery protection.
Battery packs are rated by the number of the series-connected cells making up the battery. A single cell is 1S, two cells is 2S, on up to 15S and beyond.
Battery-pack protection comes in two basic types: voltage protection and current protection. Voltage protection uses comparators to monitor individual cell voltages to see how they compare to thresholds that determine an overvoltage (OV) or undervoltage (UV) condition. As for current protection, a series sense resistor measures the current passing through the battery and compares it to predetermined overcurrent or undercurrent thresholds. This includes short-circuit conditions as well as levels for excessive charge or discharge.
Most battery packs use MOSFET switches to control the charge and discharge paths; these also disable circuits if established thresholds are exceeded.
When it comes to any type of protection, monitoring, and/or gauging, the solution should be simple and low cost. The solution may be a multi-chip circuit, although a single-chip resolution is available in Texas Instruments’ bq77905.
It seems that we’re constantly hearing about promising new battery technologies and eventually one of them will stick. Mike Zimmerman, a professor at Tufts University and founder of Ionic Materials, hopes that his remarkably resilient ionic battery technology will be the one that does. At a glance, his ionic battery technology appears to a legitimate shot at finally pushing the category forward in a significant way.
The reason scientists and researchers pay so much attention to battery design is because today’s lithium-ion units have several downsides. As we saw recently with Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 recall, they can overheat and catch fire.
Zimmerman’s ionic battery trades the flammable liquid for a piece of plastic film to serve as the electrolyte. It isn’t prone to overheating and catching fire.
Zimmerman’s ionic batteries use actual lithium-metal, which can store twice as much power. Lithium-ion batteries don’t contain lithium-metal because they’re even more prone to overheating and exploding than lithium-ion, but that risk is removed by Zimmerman swapping out the liquid electrolyte for a solid.
Safer battery enclosures may be one solution to the issues plaguing lithium-ion batteries.
The recently released data from Samsung regarding the fires associated with the Galaxy Note 7, indicate that the battery design appears to be the primary case of the fires. This is another instance in a string of lithium-ion (Li+) battery issues over the past decade.
The problem is that no matter how well you design a Li+ cell and battery pack, there will always be some small statistical chance that a cell will fail and trigger a fire. The chance increases exponentially if there is physical damage to the battery, as in the case of the Tesla electric car fires.
The issue arises from the very chemistry of the battery. The most common chemistry is lithium-cobalt-oxide, which contains a flammable electrode and reactive substance under pressure. When a cell is damaged or the cell overheats, there is potential for fire. Once one cell catches fire, the fire can spread to other cells causing a chain reaction called thermal runaway propagation (TRP).
In many cases, such as the Tesla solutions for cars and home storage, the battery cells are incased in liquid. So, if any cell is damaged and catches fire, the liquid prevents TRP by preventing the spread to other cells. While Tesla cites very low statistics on the potential cell failures (one in 50 million), third party data is not available.
NASA also experimented with a machined aluminum battery carriers for replacing its current battery technology with Li+ used in everything from spacesuits to space craft. The individual aluminum holes physically separate the battery cells.
As with any battery pack experiencing a damaged cell, it would need to be replaced, but the potential damage to other cells and the rest of the system are mitigated.
The same system being developed for space applications could be adapted to uses such as personal transportation devices and renewable energy storage. This is not a complete solution to the Li+ battery flammability issue, but it is a unique solution for creating a safer battery pack.
Se Young Lee / Reuters:
South Korean regulator will strengthen battery safety requirements, increase inspections, and monitor Samsung’s QA process improvements, following Note 7 fiasco — South Korea said on Monday it will strengthen lithium-ion battery safety requirements and conduct regular inspections …
South Korea said on Monday it will strengthen lithium-ion battery safety requirements and conduct regular inspections to avoid repeats of fires which forced Samsung Electronics Co Ltd to withdraw its premium Galaxy Note 7 handset.
Manufacturers of lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in portable devices, would be subjected to greater oversight and regular inspections
Galaxy Note 7 is a device that Samsung will be happy to forget. The company’s own analysis equipment catching fire located the cause of defective batteries, and now the same result has become an official investigation Korean technology and standards organization KAT.
KAT’s research shows that self-Note 7 devices can not found anything that could cause overheating of the equipment and eventually even fire.
Based on the analysis of SDI’s battery rounding corners led to the fact that the battery was pressed against the negative plate. ATL batteries cause of the problems was bad anode connection.
KAT’s studies, Note 7 to the software’s own security features are working properly.
Note 7: The structure was the same amount of room for expansion of the battery than the Galaxy S7 Edge model, so the device design could not be the cause of overheating.
Accounts of what started yesterday’s fire at a Samsung SDI factory have been conflicting, with Samsung and Tianjin’s fire department giving differing accounts of exactly how the fire was started.
While fire personnel said batteries on the production line were behind the incident, Samsung says it was caused by already-discarded faulty batteries.
According to Bloomberg, a fire broke out at a factory in Tianjin, China, that may have manufactured the faulty batteries that led to Galaxy Note7 smartphones catching on fire worldwide last year.
A factory of Samsung SDI, a Samsung affiliate battery division that was responsible for the Note7′s batteries, experienced a “minor” fire and a Samsung SDI spokesperson told Bloomberg it happened at a waste depository within the factory and had no affect on battery production. However, it still took 19 fire engines and 110 firemen to control the situation, according to the South China Morning Post.
Amar Toor / The Verge:
Harris Poll: Samsung’s reputation drops to #49 among US consumers, from #3 in 2016, following Note7 fiasco, as Amazon tops list for second consecutive year — Korean smartphone maker ranks 49th in annual reputation ratings, after coming in third in 2016 — Samsung’s reputation among US …
Samsung’s reputation among US consumers took a major hit last year, an annual survey has found, as the Korean manufacturer struggled with the fallout over its Galaxy Note 7 recall. As The Korea Herald reports, Samsung came in 49th in this year’s Reputation Quotient Ratings from Harris Poll, which ranks the 100 most visible companies in the US according to public reputation. In last year’s ratings, Samsung ranked seventh, and it ranked third in 2015, ahead of Apple and Google.
Although important, neither consumer electronics nor electric vehicles are the main forces behind the growth in new battery technologies—instead it’s coming from “everything else.”
The consumer market for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries is huge—about $10 billion worth of battery packs—but it’s also relatively flat with only a modest 2% growth rate. Of course, there’s a news-grabbing growth market for electric vehicle batteries, with a forecasted compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10%, reaching $10 billion in 2025. Surprisingly, though, the biggest growth area for adoption of new batteries is “everything else,” from forklifts to ventilators. This battery market, which often falls into the “medium format” category, is maintaining a robust 11% CAGR and is also expected to reach $10 billion by 2025.
These “other” applications for Li-ion batteries generally have one thing in common—they’re devices that were typically powered by sealed lead acid (SLA). SLA batteries cornered the portable power market for the last nearly 200 years, but that’s finally changing thanks to Li-ion chemistry formulations with more diverse capabilities and more sophisticated electronics available.
Lead acid was the first rechargeable battery developed for commercial use in the 1850s. Although lead acid has been around for more than 150 years, it continues to be widely used.
The first, and perhaps only, significant innovation to lead-acid technology came in the 1970s, namely sealed lead acid (or maintenance-free lead acid). It includes valves to control venting of gases during charge or rapid discharge.
SLA batteries are often categorized by type or application. Two types of SLA technology are common today: gel, also known as valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA), and absorbent glass mat (AGM).
Remarkably, the market dominance of lead-acid batteries remained relatively unchallenged for hundreds of years until the introduction of Li-ion batteries in the 1980s.
The Li-ion battery was first invented in the 1970s.
The first Li-ion cells introduced to the market were in hard aluminum or steel cans
However, as more applications adopted Li-ion technology, more variations on the cells emerged in terms of physical form, chemical performance, and price point.
Modern, thin Li-polymer cells enabled smartphones, tablets, and wearable electronics.
A team of engineers led by 94-year-old John Goodenough, professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin and co-inventor of the lithium-ion battery, has developed the first all-solid-state battery cells that could lead to safer, faster-charging, longer-lasting rechargeable batteries for handheld mobile devices, electric cars and stationary energy storage.
Goodenough’s latest breakthrough, completed with Cockrell School senior research fellow Maria Helena Braga, is a low-cost all-solid-state battery that is noncombustible and has a long cycle life (battery life) with a high volumetric energy density and fast rates of charge and discharge. The engineers describe their new technology in a recent paper published in the journal Energy & Environmental Science.
“Cost, safety, energy density, rates of charge and discharge and cycle life are critical for battery-driven cars to be more widely adopted. We believe our discovery solves many of the problems that are inherent in today’s batteries,” Goodenough said.
Additionally, because the solid-glass electrolytes can operate, or have high conductivity, at -20 degrees Celsius, this type of battery in a car could perform well in subzero degree weather. This is the first all-solid-state battery cell that can operate under 60 degree Celsius.
Another advantage is that the battery cells can be made from earth-friendly materials.
“The glass electrolytes allow for the substitution of low-cost sodium for lithium. Sodium is extracted from seawater that is widely available,” Braga said.
This article will provide an overview on how to design a lithium-ion battery. It will look into the two major components of the battery: the cells and the electronics, and compare lithium-ion cell chemistry to other types of chemistries in the market, such as sealed lead acid (SLA), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), and nickel-cadmium (NiCd), and how that affects the design. We’ll dive into the safety aspects of lithium-ion batteries and how the battery management system (BMS) ensures that the battery is being used in a safe operating manner. Future articles will dive into each of these facets in great detail.
During a recent press conference at Samsung’s Seoul, South Korea headquarters, the company revealed the findings of its investigation into well-publicized reports of its Note 7 smartphones catching fire. In a very technical, in-depth presentation that lasted almost an hour, the cause of the fires was definitively traced to the phones’ batteries.
In addition to Samsung’s investigation, three independent companies—UL, Exponent, and TUV Rheinland—had been brought in to do their own investigation. Representatives from all four firms were on hand for the presentation, and their conclusions were in agreement.
Samsung’s studies included aspects like hardware, software, and related processes (e.g., assembly, quality assurance, testing, and logistics). The company’s engineers also conducted tests with fast-charging features turned both on and off, used wired and wireless chargers methods, and conducted tests for charging/discharging without the back cover.
In addition, the engineers tested the electrical current used with the iris scanner and ran electrostatic tests to determine whether the USB Type-C was the cause of the problem.
The company also replicated the incidents in the field by creating a test facility for thorough battery analysis, where more than 200 thousand devices and 30 thousand batteries were analyzed.
When charge/discharge tests were ran, the engineers found that Battery A has a deflection of the negative electrode that consistently occurred on the upper right corner of the jellyroll (Fig. 2). Also, incorrect positioning of the negative electrode tip had caused the negative electrodes to bend.
When Battery B was analyzed, Samsung’s engineers consistently found melting copper on the negative electrode area facing the positive tap. Therefore an internal short circuit was generated as a result of abnormal welding process
As for the third-party investigations, they did not find any battery system design that could have triggered the battery failures. Nor did they find any danger affecting battery safety integrity in the factories during assembly.
In summary, the consensus opinion was that design and manufacturing issues with the batteries were responsible for the Note 7 device fires (Figs. 4 and 5). It appears that a very unlikely event had happened: the malfunction of two different Li-Ion batteries in a row.
The company has enhanced existing procedures and implemented new safety tests, creating an “8-point battery safety check.” The new safety tests are as follows:
Charge/discharge Test: The batteries undergo a large-scale charging and discharging test.
Total Volatile Organic Compound (TVOC): Additional testing to make sure there isn’t the slightest possibility of leakage of the volatile organic compound.
Accelerated Usage Test: intensive test simulating accelerated consumer usage scenarios.
Additionally, Samsung formed a battery advisory group of external advisers made up of academic and research experts, ensure that the company maintains a clear and objective perspective on battery safety and innovation.
Not everyone agrees with initiative, however. “Most of the Samsung 8-point tests are standard in the industry. What is more important are their internal safety processes and maintaining increased safety focus over time”
“Our opinion is that manufacturing screening alone is not sufficient to avoid similar issues with small statistical failure rates in the future,” Maluf continued.
“Battery safety can only improve through implementation of real-time control systems that can identify unsafe conditions during device operation as they evolve, and take proactive steps to shut down devices before they represent a safety hazard.”
The ISL94202 battery pack monitor enables ultra-small 2-terminal designs, and accurately monitors, protects and cell balances rechargeable battery packs to ensure safe operation and charging. The device supports Li-ion and other battery chemistries used in applications such as vacuum cleaners, lawn equipment, handheld power tools, e-bikes, scooters, toys, and energy storage systems.
Ever since Sony commercialized the chemistry in 1991, Li-ion cells have powered everything from the Mars Curiosity rover to the device you’re using to read these words. The tech has endured for good reason: It charges quickly, fits a ton of energy into a slim package (lithium is the lightest metal and is highly reactive), and is generally pretty safe. But when things go wrong, they go very wrong. Scores of Galaxy Note 7s and hoverboards have succumbed to the fiery embrace of a malfunctioning Li-ion battery. Here is what’s inside the little fuel packs that power your life—and how they can turn into battery flambé.
Lithium Cobalt Oxide
To store or release energy in a slim, efficient Li-ion power pack, lithium ions ping-pong between two electrodes: a sheet of lithium cobalt oxide and a sheet of graphite.
Graphite
A mineral form of pure carbon, best known as the writey part in pencils. Graphite forms the second electrode, and the lithium ions lodge within it as the battery charges.
Polypropylene
A thin slab of this plastic keeps the electrodes apart. The separator, as it’s called, is perforated with micron-scale holes to let Li ions pass through. It’s often to blame if your phone becomes a smoking inferno—faulty separators can let the electrodes touch, triggering a process known as thermal runaway.
Ethylene Carbonate
This clear, flammable, organic solvent helps shuttle ions back and forth. If a malfunctioning battery heats up enough (say, from a bad separator), the hot liquid can escape the case, react with oxygen in air, and kaboom!
Lithium Hexafluorophosphate
A white powdery substance that’s dissolved into the ethylene carbonate, LiPF6
Samsung surely wants to get over the Galaxy Note 7 debacle from last year and make sure that faulty units don’t affect more users. It took months for the company to retrieve Galaxy Note 7 units after discontinuing the product, but some units still remain in the wild.
Almost 97% of all Galaxy Note 7 units sold in South Korea were retrieved, but 3% of customers are still holding on to their smartphones, despite the risk of units overheating and catching fire. Samsung warned about the device’s vulnerabilities in its report that marked the end of months of investigation.
As it turned out, the Galaxy Note 7 was plagued by battery defects, which caused the phone to overheat. There have been reports of Samsung intending to refurbish some Note 7 units by replacing their batteries and selling them in certain emerging markets, but Samsung’s division in India officially denied the rumor.
Natt Garun / The Verge:
Samsung says returned Galaxy Note7 devices will be sold outside US as “refurbished phones or rental phones where applicable”, remaining devices will be recycled
Ahead of the Samsung Galaxy S8 launch, the company has released a statement regarding its plans to recycle Note 7 devices. The process comes in three parts: save salvageable components such as camera modules and semiconductors, extract metal parts with the help from “eco-friendly” third-party companies, and sell refurbished devices “where applicable.”
The announcement appears to walk back on what Samsung initially pledged last fall, when it said it would dispose of the Note 7 and had no plans to repair or refurbish them. Instead, Samsung has confirmed it will work with local authorities and carriers to sell it as a refurbished device, rumored to come with a smaller battery to prevent it from overheating and catching fire. The company said available markets are to be determined as they work with local regulators to approve of the sale
.
The challenge of testing and assessing a battery’s internal state and structure while it is being used, even in a lab setup, is formidable — but a new approach may offer an opportunity.
Samsung is releasing a new phone using parts from its Galaxy Note 7, which was axed after a battery fault led to some devices catching fire.
The firm said the Note Fan Edition would “minimise the environmental impact” of its high-profile flop.
The handset will go on sale only in South Korea on 7 July, with a safer, smaller battery, the firm added.
Samsung stopped production on its iPhone rival late last year after an earlier botched recall and re-release.
About 2.5 million handsets have since been recalled. The new phone features components from those recalled devices, as well as unused parts Samsung has in stock.
Smaller battery, smaller price tag
Environmentalists had been putting pressure on the firm to reuse Galaxy Note 7 components to reduce the amount of so-called e-waste.
It is thought about 400,000 handsets will be made available from Friday. It will be priced about 30% cheaper than the Galaxy Note 7 at around 700,000 Korean won ($615; £472).
The devices will be fitted with 3,200 mAh batteries that Samsung says have passed strict safety tests. The Note 7 used 3,500 mAh batteries.
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Tomi Engdahl says:
IDC survey says half of exploding Samsung Galaxy Note 7 users switching to iPhone following recall
https://9to5mac.com/2016/10/28/idc-survey-galaxy-note-switchers-iphone-apple/
In a new report from IDC aiming to determine the impact of Samsung’s recall of its defective Galaxy Note 7, a survey shows around half of those affected plan to switch to an iPhone.
While the report from IDC concludes that Apple is at least in some way benefiting from the exploding recalled device, Apple said during its recent Q4 earnings call that it currently wasn’t a factor as it’s already shipping as many phones as it can make.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Phone battery fires. The hype, the hypocrisy and a hopeful solution
http://www.electropages.com/2016/10/phone-battery-fires-the-hype-the-hypocrisy-and-a-hopeful-solution/?utm_campaign=&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=article&utm_content=Phone+battery+fires.+The+hype%2C+the+hypocrisy+and+a+hopeful+solution
The recent publicity frenzy focusing on the Samsung 7 phone fires has created more questions over the safety of Lithium batteries than any previous event, including a potentially catastrophic one such as whether or not Lithium battery fires could bring down a Boeing 787 Dreamliner passenger aircraft.
In fact the Samsung Lithium battery phone fires prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US to ban passengers from taking their Galaxy Note 7 phones onboard flights. To do so risked anything from having your phone confiscated to being criminally prosecuted if you tried to transport your phone by hiding it in checked luggage.
This all added to the blaze of media hype surrounding Lithium and certainly took attention away from a previous FAA decision regarding Lithium batteries bursting into flame on board Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
However, The FAA allowed US Dreamliners to return to service after changes were made to their battery systems that would help to contain battery fires. (Note the word contain here rather than resolve.)
So the Dreamliner continued to fly with FAA approval yet the actual cause of the fires remained unknown, just as it remains unknown in Samsung Note 7 phones.
There can be numerous reasons why a Lithium battery decides to combust and not all of these reasons are anything to do with the manufacturer of the battery or the company using them.
Lets not forget that ten years ago in 2006, product recalls where made by Apple, HP, Toshiba, Lenovo and Dell, after a small number of batteries used in their products overheated.
What’s The Problem?
The lithium ion batteries used by Samsung are in common use so what’s the problem? The problem is there can be any number of problems than can cause battery ignition.
Lithium batteries contain a cathode, an anode and lithium.
The cathode and anode are separated by an organic liquid called an electrolyte and a porous material called the separator. The lithium travels through the separator within the liquid between the cathode and anode.
The lithium-ion battery’s explosive tendencies are the result of a process known as thermal runaway. It’s essentially an energetic positive feedback loop whereby increasing temperature causes the system to get hotter, which increases the temperature, which causes the system to get even hotter and meltdown. Thermal runaway is a common phenomenon and can be found in numerous physical and chemical processes.
Alternative Technology
So given that it is the electrolyte fluid in Lithium batteries that is flammable what is the alternative? Basically dump the fluid and go solid-state. And plenty of work is being done to develop that principle.
Although it may be several years before such batteries become available, major car manufacturers already consider solid-state batteries as a key component in future electric vehicles. But there are design challenges related to functionality and also costs. Fundamentally it’s not easy to push Lithium ions through a solid-state electrolyte.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Blame Lithium Batteries for Samsung Note 7 Fires
http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1386&doc_id=281974&cid=nl.x.dn14.edt.aud.dn.20161102.tst004c
A major recall of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones could also be a wakeup call for manufacturers and consumers about lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.
“My brand new Note 7 exploded this morning while I was still asleep, it was plugged in and charging.” So begins a Reddit post from a user in Australia, detailing how a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 caught fire in a hotel room — causing $1,800 in damage.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Special Report: Beyond the exploding battery
By Paul O’Shea, Editor, Power Electronics News
http://www.powerelectronicsnews.com/technology/special-report-beyond-the-exploding-battery
Sit back in that comfy lounge chair in your favorite Wi-Fi hotspot, get your liquid refreshment at arm’s length, and turn on your reading device for a fascinating journey through an unfolding story about modern mobile life; this is the curious case of the exploding battery, brought to you by Power Electronics News.
Lithium-ion batteries catching fire have been in the news recently, causing many customers to reconsider which mobile phones to purchase and even prompting airlines to restrict the devices’ use when flying. It affects all of us who use rechargeable battery devices and certainly is critical to design engineers who create the mobile devices and the surrounding protection circuitry for these millions upon millions of everyday consumer devices.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Samsung washing machines recalled for risk of ‘impact injuries’
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/11/04/samsung-washing-machines-recalled-injury-risk/93281032/
The Galaxy Note 7 smartphone is not the only Samsung product consumers need to worry about.
On Friday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of 2.8 million top-loading washing machines because of a risk of “impact injuries.”
The washing machine recall is the latest headache for Samsung, after issuing recalls for the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone following reports of the device overheating and potentially catching fire or exploding. Samsung says the Note recall could cost them at least $5.3 billion.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Shara Tibken / CNET:
Samsung says 85% of recalled Note7 devices in the US have been replaced; software update will prevent remaining devices from charging beyond 60% — To spur more returns, past the current 85 percent level, Samsung will issue a software update that won’t let the devices charge beyond 60 percent.
Samsung to hobble Galaxy Note 7 charging in US with software
https://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-will-release-software-in-us-to-hobble-galaxy-note-7-charging/
To spur more returns, past the current 85 percent level, Samsung will issue a software update that won’t let the devices charge beyond 60 percent.
Most Galaxy Note 7 users in the US have returned their devices. For those who haven’t, Samsung will soon start limiting the device’s charging capabilities.
For the remaining holdouts in the US, Samsung said it will release a software update in the coming days to limit the phone’s ability to charge beyond 60 percent. It also will issue a reminder pop-up notification every time a consumer charges, reboots or turns on the screen of their Note 7 device.
“We remain focused on collecting the outstanding Galaxy Note 7 phones in the market,” the company said in a statement on its website.
Then came the battery problems, which caused some units to overheat and catch fire. Samsung issued a global recall of the popular device in September. But then some replacement units started having the same problem. That caused Samsung to issue a second recall in mid-October and permanently stop production of the device. It’s offering Note 7 owners $100 to exchange the device for another Samsung phone.
Samsung has said the Note 7 recall will cost it more than $5 billion over the next few quarters. The company on Friday also issued a recall for 2.8 million washing machines due to injury risk.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Samsung runs apology ad over Galaxy Note 7 recall
http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20161108000116
Samsung Electronics ran an apology ad in major U.S. newspapers on Monday, pledging to thoroughly look into what led to the massive recall of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone and renewing its commitment to consumer safety.
“An important tenet of our mission is to offer best-in-class safety and quality. Recently, we fell short on this promise. For this we are truly sorry,”
The ad also mentioned the company’s recent decision to voluntarily recall some 2.8 million washing machines due to a potential safety problem, saying the company is working hard to address the problem and offer customers remedy options.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Intersil
Putting Safety into Li-ion Battery Packs
http://www.intersil.com/content/dam/Intersil/whitepapers/battery-management/li-ion-battery-pack-safety.pdf?utm_source=nasa-techbriefs&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=battery-management&utm_content=isl94203
The power FET is an essential safety function in a battery management system (BMS).
The main purpose of the power FET is to isolate the battery pack from either a load or a charger in errant conditions. This white paper discusses the detection blocks and how they apply to the state of the power FETs to ensure safe operation of lithium ion (Li-ion) battery packs.
The power FET functional block seems straightforward: turn on the FET when a charger or load is connected; turn off the FET if anything goes wrong. Proper functionality of the power FETs requires the designer to understand the load conditions, the battery pack limitations and to have an understanding of the functional block circuitry.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Note 7 could have been saved this little chip
Electronica – Power management is a hot topic also at electronica. Time to Samsung’s multi-speaking hazards, Note 7. Exhibition halls are also one of the company, which Samsung has already made contact after the disaster.
responsible for Silegolla power components Adolfo A. Garcia explained that there is a final reason to Note 7 of the problem is still not resolved or explained. – Clearly this is a poor power planning, Garcia estimates.
In practice, the Note 7 in is more likely to be betrayed by someone the power component that is not adequately protected.
Source: http://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5372&via=n&datum=2016-11-09_15:29:14&mottagare=30929
Tomi Engdahl says:
Smart phones are not the only exploding products from Samsung in the USA:
Samsung Recalling Almost 2.8M Washers Due to Impact Injuries
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/samsung-recalling-almost-2-8m-washers-due-impact-injuries-n677891
Samsung has one more fire to put out: The South Korean company announced on Friday that it was recalling 2.8 million top-load washing machines, following reports of “impact injuries” that included a broken jaw.
The problem stems from unbalanced drums, which can separate from the washer and generate enough internal force to cause other parts of the washer to detach — and, in some cases, be launched out of the machine.
Samsung is also the subject of an August lawsuit from owners who said their machines “explode during normal use.”
Samsung recalls 2.8m washing machines after reports of explosions
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/04/samsung-washing-machine-recall-explosion-risk
First it was phones, now washing machines – US consumer safety regulator ordered the recall after more than 700 complaints and several injuries
Samsung and US safety officials announced a recall on Friday of nearly 3m washing machines after reports that the appliances – just like the company’s Note 7 smartphones – are exploding and injuring people.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Friday that Samsung has received 733 reports of washing machines “experiencing excessive vibration or the top detaching from the washing machine chassis”.
Injuries in the reports include a broken jaw, an injured shoulder, and bruises and blunt force injuries, the agency said. The recall will affect 34 models of washing machines, about 2.8m machines in total, sold since 2011. Customers can either have a free repair and one-year warranty, an exchange rebate on a new washing machine (with “loyalty incentive up to $150”) for a Samsung purchase), or a full refund for eligible new customers.
The CPSC also said that customers will receive a safety kit and instructions until their machines can be repaired, and they should be warned to use slower spin settings for bulky items until then.
“Our priority is to minimize any safety risk and address the conditions that lead to the rare instance when the top of the washer unexpectedly separates from the unit,”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Coating Stops Exploding Batteries
Thermal breakdown beat at a cost
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1330796&
The exploding battery debacle of Samsung’s Note 7 got it recalled, replaced, recalled again and now permanently cancelled. Any remaining units in the field are banned by the FAA from airline flights. But it all could have been avoided, according to Forge Nano (Denver, Colo., formerly PneumatiCoat Technologies), if their nano coating had been used. Forge Nano’s nano coatings boost the breakdown temperature of flammable electrolyte Li-Ion batteries, putting it way far into the safe zone for nominal environmental usage. The key, according to Forge Nano (Denver) is nano-pattern atomic layer deposition (ALD).
“The atomic layer coatings are chemically bonded on the surface of active material particles that make up the Li-Ion battery cathode. It works like a protective coating on an M&M. Independent testing and research has shown that ALD coatings can prevent or reduce the formation of these unwanted chemical species within Li-Ion batteries that can lead exothermic reactions [thermal runaway],” Dr. James Trevey, vice president of engineering told EE Times.
When you draw too much power from a Li-Ion battery it heats up the internal separator between the two flammable electrolytes, melting it and allowing its full charge to be released instantaneously igniting a chemical reaction between the electrolytes causing them to explode.
The peer-reviewed Nature magazine featured the ORNL’s ALD work earlier this year. Since then Forge Nano has been working on a commercial version of the product that they finally believe they have in place (too late for Samsung Note 7, but perfect timing for the upcoming 8th generation due out next year).
In fact, Forge Nano has just landed its Series A of funding. PneumatiCoat Technologies—newly named Forged Nano
according to Elegus Technologies which is trying to toughen up Li-Ion batteries with Kevlar electrolyte dividers, Li-Ion companies believe that safety levels are “adequate,” and are instead spending all their R&D dollars are giving them more capacity.
Hopefully safety will eventually prevail over quarterly profits
Tomi Engdahl says:
Galaxy Note 7 recall did not damage Samsung brand in U.S.: Reuters/Ipsos poll
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-samsung-elec-recall-brand-idUSKBN13F146
A global recall of fire-prone Galaxy Note 7 smartphones did not appear to hurt U.S. consumers’ willingness to buy Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) phones, a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Sunday showed.
The survey conducted Oct. 26 to Nov. 9 found that current Samsung smartphone users were as loyal to their brand as Apple Inc (AAPL.O) iPhone customers. It also found that people who knew about the recall were as interested in Samsung phones as those who did not.
Among those aware of the recall, 27 percent would first consider a Samsung smartphone if they were to shop for a phone, the poll showed.
The poll found that Samsung’s customers were fiercely loyal to their brand. Some 91 percent of current Samsung users would likely purchase another Samsung smartphone, and 92 percent of current users would probably buy another Samsung product in general.
That was similar to the brand loyalty among current iPhone owners: 92 percent would likely buy another iPhone and 89 percent would likely buy another Apple product.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Science Behind Exploding Li-ion Battery
https://www.eeweb.com/electronics-quiz/the-science-behind-exploding-li-ion-battery
There are many reasons why a battery can become a fire hazard from both perspectives of battery design, construction and operation, but did you know that even a well-designed lithium ion battery can be unsafe during its charging and discharging process?
The phenomenon that is said to develop is called Lithium plating. This metallic lithium formation is a potentially dangerous degradation mechanism that may cause internal short circuit and explosion. It is formed during fast charging of lithium-ion batteries which creates lithium metals on the surface of the anode (the negative electrode during charging).
The faster the charging means the more metallic lithium is formed. If this metallic lithium deposits thicken and cross over the battery’s separator, an electrical short circuit may occur leading to excessive heating and potential fire since metallic lithium is highly flammable.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Samsung is basically making the Note 7 unusable in Canada
http://www.theverge.com/2016/12/7/13876968/samsung-galaxy-note-7-canada-cutting-off-wireless-connections
If you live in Canada and are still, somehow, for some ridiculous reason, hanging onto a Galaxy Note 7, your days of using the phone for pretty much anything will soon be over.
Samsung plans to make the Note 7 effectively unusable in Canada from next week forward. The phone will still turn on, but it won’t be able to connect to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or any cellular networks. So if you were planning to do anything like browse the internet or even make a phone call on the device, you’re going to be out of luck in the very near future.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are supposed to be cut off first, on December 12th. Cellular connections will follow, on the 15th. It’s not clear if Note 7 owners will be able to avoid this by dodging an update, or if Samsung can simply push the change out to any active phones.
This is the second time Samsung has disabled the Note 7’s cell access for an entire country. It previously did so in New Zealand, about a month ago, but for some reason it hasn’t spread to anywhere else until now.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Jacob Kastrenakes / The Verge:
Samsung says next update will stop US Galaxy Note7s from charging starting December 19 — Update will be released December 19th and rolled out within 30 days — Samsung will render remaining Galaxy Note 7s in the United States useless and inoperable with its next and final update for the recalled smartphone.
Samsung confirms it will render the US Note 7 useless with next update
Update will be released December 19th and rolled out within 30 days
http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/12/9/13897794/samsung-galaxy-note-7-update-shut-down-inoperable
Samsung will render remaining Galaxy Note 7s in the United States useless and inoperable with its next and final update for the recalled smartphone. Today the company confirmed that it plans to release an update on December 19th — to be distributed across all major carriers within 30 days — that will “prevent US Galaxy Note 7 devices from charging and will eliminate their ability to work as mobile devices.”
This final shutdown of the phone appears to be Samsung’s last effort to get all Note 7s back in its possession. Samsung says that 93 percent of US-sold Note 7 units have now been returned, which puts about 133,000 phones unaccounted for.
Samsung will ramp up communication with customers still holding onto them for some reason:
Together with our carrier partners, we will be notifying consumers through multiple touchpoints to encourage any remaining Galaxy Note7 owners to participate in the program and to take advantage of the financial incentives available.
The Note 7 was recalled back in September after multiple reports of units that caught fire. Replacement units were quickly sent out, and those units were then quickly recalled in mid-October when it became apparent that they had the same problem.
Samsung has been trying out different methods across the globe for getting Note 7 owners to return their phones.
Removing the phone’s charging capability — and, therefore, disabling it once and for all — as it’s doing in the US next week is the farthest that Samsung has gone yet.
George Koroneos / Verizon Fios & Custom TV:
Verizon says it will not push Samsung’s Galaxy Note7 disabling update to customers — Comments in this article can be attributed to Jeffrey Nelson, Vice President, Global Corporate Communications, Verizon — In October, Samsung announced a voluntary recall of the Samsung Galaxy Note7 …
Verizon statement regarding Samsung Galaxy Note7
http://www.verizon.com/about/news/verizon-statement-regarding-samsung-galaxy-note7
Today, Samsung announced an update to the Galaxy Note7 that would stop the smartphone from charging, rendering it useless unless attached to a power charger. Verizon will not be taking part in this update because of the added risk this could pose to Galaxy Note7 users that do not have another device to switch to. We will not push a software upgrade that will eliminate the ability for the Note7 to work as a mobile device in the heart of the holiday travel season. We do not want to make it impossible to contact family, first responders or medical professionals in an emergency situation.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Explodes on Woman’s Desk
Not charging, not in use, the woman complains
http://news.softpedia.com/news/samsung-galaxy-s7-edge-explodes-on-woman-s-desk-511004.shtml
The Note 7 is no longer up for grabs, and Samsung’s struggling to get it off the market, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that the exploding nightmare ended.
A Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge has burst into flames on a woman’s desk for no clear reason, even though the phone was not in use and not charging.
Ashleigh Deakin posted on Facebook photos of the aftermath, explaining that she decided to buy an iPhone because she can no longer trust Samsung (by the way, there were also reports of iPhones catching fire, so hopefully she didn’t buy an iPhone 6).
“Samsung tightlipped”
There’s no information on whether Samsung was informed about the explosion or not
And even if we can’t tell for sure if it’s a fake explosion or not, there’s one thing that everyone should have in mind: all these explosions prove that lithium-ion batteries aren’t entirely safe, so always, but always, keep an eye on your phone when charging. Overheating is the first thing that should worry you, so be careful out there.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Chris Welch / The Verge:
Verizon will roll out update for Galaxy Note 7 that disables device on January 7, after previously saying it would not
Verizon changes its mind and will kill Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 on January 5th
Waiting until after the holidays
http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/12/15/13974482/verizon-samsung-note-7-update-january-5
Tomi Engdahl says:
Video: Note 7 was the biggest news of the year for mobile
Samsung’s Note 7 model met with disaster has been named the world’s mobile news of the year.
Source: http://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5622:video-note-7-oli-mobiilivuoden-suurin-uutinen&catid=13&Itemid=101
Video: https://www.mobileworldlive.com/videos/feature-2016-in-review/?utm_campaign=MWL_YearInReview16&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&elqTrackId=dee374db86c84f199a879fc6ecda5350&elq=0a8d36a844174b38aefc453e9f59b8d4&elqaid=17759&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=7486
Tomi Engdahl says:
The ceramic electrolyte makes the battery safe
Lithium-ion batteries of today are literally hot problems stem mainly from the fact that they use a liquid electrolyte. the University of Maryland have developed a solution that makes it possible to use a solid ceramic electrolyte. It makes the battery safe.
Energy Research Centre of the University researchers invested lithium electrodes and crystalline form of the ceramic electrolyte between the extremely thin aluminum oxide. This reduces the resistance of the ceramic electrolyte up to 300-fold.
Strong resistance of solid electrolytes has been a problem because it is blocked by the energy transfer between the anode and the cathode. In practice, the battery is not fully charged or discharged as desired.
Adding a thin film between the electrodes and the electrolyte, virtually eliminating obstacles to the flow of electrical charge from the road.
According to researchers, great stability of the solid electrolyte crystalline form allows the list of lithium metal, with a theoretical energy density is highest is used as anodes.
Source: http://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5624:keraaminen-elektrolyytti-tekee-akusta-turvallisen&catid=13&Itemid=101
Tomi Engdahl says:
There are more Galaxy Note 7s still in use than LG V20 and OnePlus 3T combined
https://9to5google.com/2016/12/19/more-note7s-in-use-than-lg-v20/
The Galaxy Note 7 was discontinued over two months ago, but we still talk about it a lot for good reason, there are still quite a lot of them out there. Just last month Samsung confirmed that 90% of Note 7s had been taken off the market, but that last 10% is still a lot of phones. In fact, it’s so many that it still outnumbers the total sales of some other smartphones which are still available.
According to research firm Apteligent, there are more Samsung Galaxy Note 7s currently in use (as of last week) than there are LG V20 and OnePlus 3T combined, and only a handful less than the Moto Z. To put that even further in context, the Google Pixel, Pixel XL, and Sony Xperia XZ (which unbelievably beats out both Pixels) all went on sale around the same time as the recall, and all three of those devices outnumber the number of Note 7s still on the market.
Tomi Engdahl says:
T-Mobile rolls out battery shutdown update to remaining Galaxy Note 7s
http://www.androidauthority.com/t-mobile-galaxy-note-7-battery-update-738605/
Samsung’s previously announced plan to kill the battery in the remaining active Galaxy Note 7 smartphones in the US has begun. T-Mobile is the first of the four major carriers to begin rolling out the battery shutdown update for the recalled phone.
T-Mobile’s support page for the Note 7 states that the update’s version number will be N930TUVU2APL2. The changelog says that the update will offer an on-screen reminder to owners of the phone about the recall order, along with what steps they should take to send back the Note 7. Once the update is installed, the changelog says it will “prevent the charge ability of the device.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Samsung Electronics to reveal Galaxy Note 7 probe results this month: JoongAng Ilbo
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-samsung-elec-smartphones-idUSKBN14M008
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS) will announce this month the results of an investigation into what caused some of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones to catch fire, the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported on Monday citing unnamed sources.
The world’s top smartphone maker warned of a $5.1 billion hit to its operating profit over three quarters following its decision to permanently halt Galaxy Note 7 sales in October.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Samsung Galaxy Note 7: Explosion diagnosis and prevention
http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/brians-brain/4443233/Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7–Explosion-diagnosis-and-prevention?_mc=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_today_20170105&cid=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_today_20170105&elqTrackId=b6d2168cc9424e9890ef79e4316e1c70&elq=cc86a8b76c0f454a9bc53cd057b60692&elqaid=35413&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=30960
Tomi Engdahl says:
Samsung Electronics probe finds battery was main cause of Note 7 fires: source
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-samsung-elec-smartphones-idUSKBN150019
A Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS) investigation into what caused some Galaxy Note 7 smartphones to catch fire has concluded that the battery was the main reason, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday.
The results of the investigation will likely be announced on Jan. 23,
Tomi Engdahl says:
Researchers Create A Lithium-Ion Battery With Built-In Flame Retardant
https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/17/01/16/062242/researchers-create-a-lithium-ion-battery-with-built-in-flame-retardant?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slashdot%2Fslashdot%2Fto+%28%28Title%29Slashdot+%28rdf%29%29
One big problem with lithium-ion batteries is that they have the tendency to catch fire and blow up all kinds of gadgets like toys and phones. To solve that issue, a group of researchers from Stanford University created lithium-ion batteries with built-in fire extinguishers. They added a component called “triphenyl phosphate” to the plastic fibers of the part that keeps negative and positive electrodes separate.
Batteries with built-in flame retardant could prevent fiery mishaps
It can stop batteries from blowing up within 0.4 seconds.
https://www.engadget.com/2017/01/15/built-in-flame-retardant-lithium-ion/
Triphenyl phosphate is a compound commonly used as a flame retardant for various electronics. If the battery’s temperature reaches 150 degrees Celsius, the plastic fibers melt and release the chemical. Based on the researchers’ tests, the method can stop batteries from burning up within 0.4 seconds.
Previous attempts at building mini fire extinguishers inside batteries significantly reduced their performance. Yi Cui, this project’s lead scientist, says this doesn’t have the same effect and that the chemical won’t be released under normal temperatures
Flame Retardant in Lithium-ion Batteries Could Quench Fires
http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/semiconductors/devices/flame-retardant-in-lithiumion-batteries-could-quench-fires
A powerful flame retardant added to lithium-ion batteries that only gets released when the devices get too hot could help keep them from catching on fire, a new study finds.
When lithium-ion batteries overheat, they can burn through clothing, burst into flames and even explode. Such “thermal runaways” have led some engineers to explore the creation of lithium-ion batteries with their own fire alarms or chemical additives that can prevent short circuits.
Researchers previously tried adding flame retardants directly into the batteries’ electrolytes
During normal battery operation, the flame retardant stays encapsulated within plastic fibers. If the separator gets hotter than 150 degrees C, the plastic melts, releasing the flame retardant. In experiments, the chemical completely quenched flaming electrolyte in 0.4 seconds.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Dangerous exploding batteries also on other devices made by other companies:
‘Exploding e-cig cost me 7 teeth, burned my face – and broke my sink!’
‘Healthy’ smoking puts American bloke in hospital
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/01/18/explosive_ecig_broke_seven_teeth_and_sink/
man claims his e-cigarette exploded mid-puff, blew out seven of his teeth, gave him second-degree facial burns, wrecked his bathroom, and put him in intensive care.
From what we can tell, Hall was using a customized vaping doodad that’s nothing like the off-the-shelf devices available in gas stations and convenience stores. The e-cig was powered by an LG HG2 3000mAh battery, which is only slightly smaller than those found in top cellphones.
Hall said he unclipped the charger from the battery and fired up the faux coffin nail. It then exploded and left him in such poor shape he was rushed to hospital, we’re told.
While the former psychology student insists the vaping gizmo was fitted together correctly in the shop, it seems likely that it was either built wrong, or the battery was overcharged or faulty.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nick Statt / The Verge:
Samsung and independent experts to release findings of investigation into Galaxy Note7 explosions at 10AM KST on January 23 in Seoul (8PM ET January 22)
Samsung will reveal the cause of the Galaxy Note 7’s exploding battery this Sunday
The press conference takes place in Seoul
http://www.theverge.com/2017/1/19/14331316/samsung-galaxy-note-7-recall-investigation-findings-cause
Samsung announced today that it would reveal its investigative findings on the recalled Galaxy Note 7 this Sunday evening. The press conference is taking place in Seoul, South Korea on Monday, January 23rd at 10AM. Due to the time difference, it will be live streamed for English speakers at 8PM ET on Sunday, January 22nd.
Tomi Engdahl says:
James Vincent / The Verge:
WSJ sources: Samsung investigation finds Galaxy Note7 fires were caused by irregularly sized batteries that didn’t properly fit the phone, manufacturing issues
Samsung Note 7 investigation will blame ‘irregularly sized’ batteries and manufacturing flaws, says WSJ
http://www.theverge.com/2017/1/20/14334376/samsung-note-7-flaw-batteries-wsj-report
Samsung’s official investigation into the cause of widespread faults with the Galaxy Note 7 will blame “irregularly sized” batteries and manufacturing faults, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The company is set to announce the results of its inquiry this weekend, but the WSJ claims to have revealed its conclusions early, citing information from “people familiar with the matter.”
Samsung Investigation Blames Battery Size for Galaxy Note 7 Fires
Report to be released Monday also cites manufacturing problems
http://www.wsj.com/articles/samsung-investigation-blames-battery-size-for-galaxy-note-7-fires-1484906193
An investigation into the cause of faulty batteries that led Samsung Electronics Co. to pull all of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones last year found that some batteries were irregularly sized, causing overheating
Tomi Engdahl says:
Shara Tibken / CNET:
Samsung says battery in original Galaxy Note 7 was too large for surrounding casing, and replacements had manufacturing defect, causing overheating
Samsung answers burning Note 7 questions, vows better batteries
The company opens up about the source of one of history’s worst tech product recalls.
https://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-answers-burning-note-7-questions-vows-better-batteries/
Sure, blame the batteries. But it’s not quite that simple.
During a press conference Sunday, Samsung said two separate battery defects caused both the original batch of Galaxy Note 7 phones and the replacement units to overheat.
The first battery, it said, suffered from a design flaw. The battery’s external casing was too small for the components inside, causing it to short-circuit and ignite.
The second battery, which came from another supplier, didn’t have the same flaw
In the rush to pump out enough batteries for the replacement units, though, the supplier introduced a manufacturing defect that led to the same result
The explanation puts to rest the mystery behind the exploding Note 7, but it kicks off a new challenge for the embattled company: winning back your trust after a disastrous several months that included two recalls and the decision to kill the critically acclaimed phone.
The biggest task for Samsung this year will be regaining consumer trust
The engineers looked at software, hardware, manufacturing process, quality and assurance testing, and supply chain
US Consumer Product Safety Commission said Samsung SDI (which is separate from Samsung Electronics but has the same parent company, Samsung Group) supplied the batteries responsible for the first recall.
Hong Kong-based Amperex Technology acknowledged on its site that it was the second supplier.
One of the biggest questions facing Samsung during the Note 7 fiasco was how its quality and assurance process (the tests its phones go through before being sold) didn’t catch the problem.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.wired.com/2017/01/why-the-samsung-galaxy-note-7-kept-exploding/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Agam Shah / Computerworld:
HP recalls 101K laptop batteries for fire hazard in US, Canada, and Mexico, in brands including HP, Compaq, ProBook, Envy, Compaq Presario, and Pavilion
HP recalls 101,000 more laptop batteries for fire hazard
The move expands a recall first announced last year
http://www.computerworld.com/article/3161207/windows-pcs/hp-recalls-101000-more-laptop-batteries-for-fire-hazard.html
HP is expanding its recall of laptop batteries with overheating issues that can cause computer damage and even fire.
The company is recalling an additional 101,000 batteries in some laptops sold between March 2013 through October 2016. This is an expansion of the recall initiated in June 2016, which involved HP’s recalling 41,000 batteries.
Overall, HP received one report of a laptop catching fire in Canada, and eight reports of the battery overheating, catching fire or melting in the U.S.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Protecting Your Lithium-Ion Batteries Isn’t So Hard
http://electronicdesign.com/power-sources/protecting-your-lithium-ion-batteries-isn-t-so-hard?NL=ED-003&Issue=ED-003_20170130_ED-003_24&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_1_b&utm_rid=CPG05000002750211&utm_campaign=9468&utm_medium=email&elq2=024b9bca2e58422885ed206c8d97dde9
Lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries are increasingly finding their way into portable and mobile devices. These highly efficient battery technologies pack more energy into a smaller size than almost any other battery type.
However, such energy efficiency comes at a price—lithium batteries are subject to overheating, catching fire, or exploding if they’re overcharged, short-circuited, overheated, or otherwise misused. For safety purposes, some protection circuitry must be incorporated when lithium batteries are designed into a product. This article discusses one approach to battery protection.
Battery packs are rated by the number of the series-connected cells making up the battery. A single cell is 1S, two cells is 2S, on up to 15S and beyond.
Battery-pack protection comes in two basic types: voltage protection and current protection. Voltage protection uses comparators to monitor individual cell voltages to see how they compare to thresholds that determine an overvoltage (OV) or undervoltage (UV) condition. As for current protection, a series sense resistor measures the current passing through the battery and compares it to predetermined overcurrent or undercurrent thresholds. This includes short-circuit conditions as well as levels for excessive charge or discharge.
Most battery packs use MOSFET switches to control the charge and discharge paths; these also disable circuits if established thresholds are exceeded.
When it comes to any type of protection, monitoring, and/or gauging, the solution should be simple and low cost. The solution may be a multi-chip circuit, although a single-chip resolution is available in Texas Instruments’ bq77905.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Researcher Develops Completely Explosion-Proof Lithium Metal Battery With 2X Power Of Lithium Ion
http://hothardware.com/news/researcher-develops-ionic-battery-2x-energy-density
It seems that we’re constantly hearing about promising new battery technologies and eventually one of them will stick. Mike Zimmerman, a professor at Tufts University and founder of Ionic Materials, hopes that his remarkably resilient ionic battery technology will be the one that does. At a glance, his ionic battery technology appears to a legitimate shot at finally pushing the category forward in a significant way.
The reason scientists and researchers pay so much attention to battery design is because today’s lithium-ion units have several downsides. As we saw recently with Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 recall, they can overheat and catch fire.
Zimmerman’s ionic battery trades the flammable liquid for a piece of plastic film to serve as the electrolyte. It isn’t prone to overheating and catching fire.
Zimmerman’s ionic batteries use actual lithium-metal, which can store twice as much power. Lithium-ion batteries don’t contain lithium-metal because they’re even more prone to overheating and exploding than lithium-ion, but that risk is removed by Zimmerman swapping out the liquid electrolyte for a solid.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Batteries Get Safer Enclosures
http://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=36&doc_id=1331299&
Safer battery enclosures may be one solution to the issues plaguing lithium-ion batteries.
The recently released data from Samsung regarding the fires associated with the Galaxy Note 7, indicate that the battery design appears to be the primary case of the fires. This is another instance in a string of lithium-ion (Li+) battery issues over the past decade.
The problem is that no matter how well you design a Li+ cell and battery pack, there will always be some small statistical chance that a cell will fail and trigger a fire. The chance increases exponentially if there is physical damage to the battery, as in the case of the Tesla electric car fires.
The issue arises from the very chemistry of the battery. The most common chemistry is lithium-cobalt-oxide, which contains a flammable electrode and reactive substance under pressure. When a cell is damaged or the cell overheats, there is potential for fire. Once one cell catches fire, the fire can spread to other cells causing a chain reaction called thermal runaway propagation (TRP).
In many cases, such as the Tesla solutions for cars and home storage, the battery cells are incased in liquid. So, if any cell is damaged and catches fire, the liquid prevents TRP by preventing the spread to other cells. While Tesla cites very low statistics on the potential cell failures (one in 50 million), third party data is not available.
NASA also experimented with a machined aluminum battery carriers for replacing its current battery technology with Li+ used in everything from spacesuits to space craft. The individual aluminum holes physically separate the battery cells.
As with any battery pack experiencing a damaged cell, it would need to be replaced, but the potential damage to other cells and the rest of the system are mitigated.
The same system being developed for space applications could be adapted to uses such as personal transportation devices and renewable energy storage. This is not a complete solution to the Li+ battery flammability issue, but it is a unique solution for creating a safer battery pack.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Se Young Lee / Reuters:
South Korean regulator will strengthen battery safety requirements, increase inspections, and monitor Samsung’s QA process improvements, following Note 7 fiasco — South Korea said on Monday it will strengthen lithium-ion battery safety requirements and conduct regular inspections …
South Korea to strengthen battery safety rules after Note 7 fires
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-batteries-idUSKBN15L05Z
South Korea said on Monday it will strengthen lithium-ion battery safety requirements and conduct regular inspections to avoid repeats of fires which forced Samsung Electronics Co Ltd to withdraw its premium Galaxy Note 7 handset.
Manufacturers of lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in portable devices, would be subjected to greater oversight and regular inspections
Tomi Engdahl says:
Note 7: no defect was found handsets
Galaxy Note 7 is a device that Samsung will be happy to forget. The company’s own analysis equipment catching fire located the cause of defective batteries, and now the same result has become an official investigation Korean technology and standards organization KAT.
KAT’s research shows that self-Note 7 devices can not found anything that could cause overheating of the equipment and eventually even fire.
Based on the analysis of SDI’s battery rounding corners led to the fact that the battery was pressed against the negative plate. ATL batteries cause of the problems was bad anode connection.
KAT’s studies, Note 7 to the software’s own security features are working properly.
Note 7: The structure was the same amount of room for expansion of the battery than the Galaxy S7 Edge model, so the device design could not be the cause of overheating.
Source: http://www.etn.fi/index.php/13-news/5786-note-7-puhelimista-ei-loeytynyt-vikaa
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nobody can agree on exactly how Samsung’s battery factory fire started
http://mashable.com/2017/02/09/fire-factory-samsung-batteries/#d.xAQJuc4kqf
Samsung definitely doesn’t need this right now.
Accounts of what started yesterday’s fire at a Samsung SDI factory have been conflicting, with Samsung and Tianjin’s fire department giving differing accounts of exactly how the fire was started.
While fire personnel said batteries on the production line were behind the incident, Samsung says it was caused by already-discarded faulty batteries.
Supplier that built the Note7′s explosion-prone batteries catches on fire
http://mashable.com/2017/02/08/samsung-note-7-battery-supplier-factory-catches-fire/?utm_cid=a-seealso#OYuWM4uBRhqm
Sometimes the irony is just too much.
According to Bloomberg, a fire broke out at a factory in Tianjin, China, that may have manufactured the faulty batteries that led to Galaxy Note7 smartphones catching on fire worldwide last year.
A factory of Samsung SDI, a Samsung affiliate battery division that was responsible for the Note7′s batteries, experienced a “minor” fire and a Samsung SDI spokesperson told Bloomberg it happened at a waste depository within the factory and had no affect on battery production. However, it still took 19 fire engines and 110 firemen to control the situation, according to the South China Morning Post.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Amar Toor / The Verge:
Harris Poll: Samsung’s reputation drops to #49 among US consumers, from #3 in 2016, following Note7 fiasco, as Amazon tops list for second consecutive year — Korean smartphone maker ranks 49th in annual reputation ratings, after coming in third in 2016 — Samsung’s reputation among US …
Samsung’s reputation nosedives in the US after Galaxy Note 7 snafu
Korean smartphone maker ranks 49th in annual reputation ratings, after coming in 7th in 2016
http://www.theverge.com/2017/2/20/14667182/samsung-corporate-reputation-ranking-apple-google-harris-polls
Samsung’s reputation among US consumers took a major hit last year, an annual survey has found, as the Korean manufacturer struggled with the fallout over its Galaxy Note 7 recall. As The Korea Herald reports, Samsung came in 49th in this year’s Reputation Quotient Ratings from Harris Poll, which ranks the 100 most visible companies in the US according to public reputation. In last year’s ratings, Samsung ranked seventh, and it ranked third in 2015, ahead of Apple and Google.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Lead-Acid Battery Applications Drive the Li-ion Market
http://electronicdesign.com/power/lead-acid-battery-applications-drive-li-ion-market?NL=ED-003&Issue=ED-003_20170227_ED-003_620&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_2_b&utm_rid=CPG05000002750211&utm_campaign=9862&utm_medium=email&elq2=4e4869f9f9ce45dab5f4b3ab8acfcef0
Although important, neither consumer electronics nor electric vehicles are the main forces behind the growth in new battery technologies—instead it’s coming from “everything else.”
The consumer market for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries is huge—about $10 billion worth of battery packs—but it’s also relatively flat with only a modest 2% growth rate. Of course, there’s a news-grabbing growth market for electric vehicle batteries, with a forecasted compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10%, reaching $10 billion in 2025. Surprisingly, though, the biggest growth area for adoption of new batteries is “everything else,” from forklifts to ventilators. This battery market, which often falls into the “medium format” category, is maintaining a robust 11% CAGR and is also expected to reach $10 billion by 2025.
These “other” applications for Li-ion batteries generally have one thing in common—they’re devices that were typically powered by sealed lead acid (SLA). SLA batteries cornered the portable power market for the last nearly 200 years, but that’s finally changing thanks to Li-ion chemistry formulations with more diverse capabilities and more sophisticated electronics available.
Lead acid was the first rechargeable battery developed for commercial use in the 1850s. Although lead acid has been around for more than 150 years, it continues to be widely used.
The first, and perhaps only, significant innovation to lead-acid technology came in the 1970s, namely sealed lead acid (or maintenance-free lead acid). It includes valves to control venting of gases during charge or rapid discharge.
SLA batteries are often categorized by type or application. Two types of SLA technology are common today: gel, also known as valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA), and absorbent glass mat (AGM).
Remarkably, the market dominance of lead-acid batteries remained relatively unchallenged for hundreds of years until the introduction of Li-ion batteries in the 1980s.
The Li-ion battery was first invented in the 1970s.
The first Li-ion cells introduced to the market were in hard aluminum or steel cans
However, as more applications adopted Li-ion technology, more variations on the cells emerged in terms of physical form, chemical performance, and price point.
Modern, thin Li-polymer cells enabled smartphones, tablets, and wearable electronics.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Lithium-Ion Battery Inventor Introduces New Technology for Fast-Charging, Noncombustible Batteries
https://news.utexas.edu/2017/02/28/goodenough-introduces-new-battery-technology
A team of engineers led by 94-year-old John Goodenough, professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin and co-inventor of the lithium-ion battery, has developed the first all-solid-state battery cells that could lead to safer, faster-charging, longer-lasting rechargeable batteries for handheld mobile devices, electric cars and stationary energy storage.
Goodenough’s latest breakthrough, completed with Cockrell School senior research fellow Maria Helena Braga, is a low-cost all-solid-state battery that is noncombustible and has a long cycle life (battery life) with a high volumetric energy density and fast rates of charge and discharge. The engineers describe their new technology in a recent paper published in the journal Energy & Environmental Science.
“Cost, safety, energy density, rates of charge and discharge and cycle life are critical for battery-driven cars to be more widely adopted. We believe our discovery solves many of the problems that are inherent in today’s batteries,” Goodenough said.
Additionally, because the solid-glass electrolytes can operate, or have high conductivity, at -20 degrees Celsius, this type of battery in a car could perform well in subzero degree weather. This is the first all-solid-state battery cell that can operate under 60 degree Celsius.
Another advantage is that the battery cells can be made from earth-friendly materials.
“The glass electrolytes allow for the substitution of low-cost sodium for lithium. Sodium is extracted from seawater that is widely available,” Braga said.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Introduction to lithium-ion rechargeable battery design
http://www.edn.com/design/power-management/4458054/Introduction-to-lithium-ion-rechargeable-battery-design
Tomi Engdahl says:
Introduction to lithium-ion rechargeable battery design
http://www.edn.com/design/power-management/4458054/Introduction-to-lithium-ion-rechargeable-battery-design
This article will provide an overview on how to design a lithium-ion battery. It will look into the two major components of the battery: the cells and the electronics, and compare lithium-ion cell chemistry to other types of chemistries in the market, such as sealed lead acid (SLA), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), and nickel-cadmium (NiCd), and how that affects the design. We’ll dive into the safety aspects of lithium-ion batteries and how the battery management system (BMS) ensures that the battery is being used in a safe operating manner. Future articles will dive into each of these facets in great detail.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Damage Control: Samsung Faces Note 7 Controversy Head-On
http://electronicdesign.com/blog/damage-control-samsung-faces-note-7-controversy-head?NL=ED-003&Issue=ED-003_20170315_ED-003_885&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_1_b&utm_rid=CPG05000002750211&utm_campaign=10118&utm_medium=email&elq2=f6a0b299d6d34a2083fcd98f1d4c909c
During a recent press conference at Samsung’s Seoul, South Korea headquarters, the company revealed the findings of its investigation into well-publicized reports of its Note 7 smartphones catching fire. In a very technical, in-depth presentation that lasted almost an hour, the cause of the fires was definitively traced to the phones’ batteries.
In addition to Samsung’s investigation, three independent companies—UL, Exponent, and TUV Rheinland—had been brought in to do their own investigation. Representatives from all four firms were on hand for the presentation, and their conclusions were in agreement.
Samsung’s studies included aspects like hardware, software, and related processes (e.g., assembly, quality assurance, testing, and logistics). The company’s engineers also conducted tests with fast-charging features turned both on and off, used wired and wireless chargers methods, and conducted tests for charging/discharging without the back cover.
In addition, the engineers tested the electrical current used with the iris scanner and ran electrostatic tests to determine whether the USB Type-C was the cause of the problem.
The company also replicated the incidents in the field by creating a test facility for thorough battery analysis, where more than 200 thousand devices and 30 thousand batteries were analyzed.
When charge/discharge tests were ran, the engineers found that Battery A has a deflection of the negative electrode that consistently occurred on the upper right corner of the jellyroll (Fig. 2). Also, incorrect positioning of the negative electrode tip had caused the negative electrodes to bend.
When Battery B was analyzed, Samsung’s engineers consistently found melting copper on the negative electrode area facing the positive tap. Therefore an internal short circuit was generated as a result of abnormal welding process
As for the third-party investigations, they did not find any battery system design that could have triggered the battery failures. Nor did they find any danger affecting battery safety integrity in the factories during assembly.
In summary, the consensus opinion was that design and manufacturing issues with the batteries were responsible for the Note 7 device fires (Figs. 4 and 5). It appears that a very unlikely event had happened: the malfunction of two different Li-Ion batteries in a row.
The company has enhanced existing procedures and implemented new safety tests, creating an “8-point battery safety check.” The new safety tests are as follows:
Charge/discharge Test: The batteries undergo a large-scale charging and discharging test.
Total Volatile Organic Compound (TVOC): Additional testing to make sure there isn’t the slightest possibility of leakage of the volatile organic compound.
Accelerated Usage Test: intensive test simulating accelerated consumer usage scenarios.
Additionally, Samsung formed a battery advisory group of external advisers made up of academic and research experts, ensure that the company maintains a clear and objective perspective on battery safety and innovation.
Not everyone agrees with initiative, however. “Most of the Samsung 8-point tests are standard in the industry. What is more important are their internal safety processes and maintaining increased safety focus over time”
“Our opinion is that manufacturing screening alone is not sufficient to avoid similar issues with small statistical failure rates in the future,” Maluf continued.
“Battery safety can only improve through implementation of real-time control systems that can identify unsafe conditions during device operation as they evolve, and take proactive steps to shut down devices before they represent a safety hazard.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Protect, Monitor & Balance Rechargeable Battery Packs
http://www.intersil.com/en/products/power-management/battery-management/cell-balancing-and-safety/ISL94202.html?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=battery-management&utm_content=isl94202&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTW1GbFl6Y3dOR1F5WkdFNCIsInQiOiJtRlhrMlZIUHEwUHlNWmRKbDBidThDUjg1VXJlMXY1b3dmMkp6ZndcL0cxUkN6Tm9RRnh0ZDJ5UUQrVHFnV2pTblNpTTIrcmkrSjBrcFRaQ2RNZ1hDaFFMT3ZxOWE0amFvM2tkME16OE1kdjcwK3c4cEFZUFVyVmdxdGx6ZWRsYjkifQ%3D%3D
The ISL94202 battery pack monitor enables ultra-small 2-terminal designs, and accurately monitors, protects and cell balances rechargeable battery packs to ensure safe operation and charging. The device supports Li-ion and other battery chemistries used in applications such as vacuum cleaners, lawn equipment, handheld power tools, e-bikes, scooters, toys, and energy storage systems.
Tomi Engdahl says:
How Lithium-Ion Batteries Turn Into Skin-Searing Firebombs
https://www.wired.com/2017/03/lithium-ion-batteries-turn-skin-searing-firebombs/
Who runs the world? Lithium-ion batteries!
Ever since Sony commercialized the chemistry in 1991, Li-ion cells have powered everything from the Mars Curiosity rover to the device you’re using to read these words. The tech has endured for good reason: It charges quickly, fits a ton of energy into a slim package (lithium is the lightest metal and is highly reactive), and is generally pretty safe. But when things go wrong, they go very wrong. Scores of Galaxy Note 7s and hoverboards have succumbed to the fiery embrace of a malfunctioning Li-ion battery. Here is what’s inside the little fuel packs that power your life—and how they can turn into battery flambé.
Lithium Cobalt Oxide
To store or release energy in a slim, efficient Li-ion power pack, lithium ions ping-pong between two electrodes: a sheet of lithium cobalt oxide and a sheet of graphite.
Graphite
A mineral form of pure carbon, best known as the writey part in pencils. Graphite forms the second electrode, and the lithium ions lodge within it as the battery charges.
Polypropylene
A thin slab of this plastic keeps the electrodes apart. The separator, as it’s called, is perforated with micron-scale holes to let Li ions pass through. It’s often to blame if your phone becomes a smoking inferno—faulty separators can let the electrodes touch, triggering a process known as thermal runaway.
Ethylene Carbonate
This clear, flammable, organic solvent helps shuttle ions back and forth. If a malfunctioning battery heats up enough (say, from a bad separator), the hot liquid can escape the case, react with oxygen in air, and kaboom!
Lithium Hexafluorophosphate
A white powdery substance that’s dissolved into the ethylene carbonate, LiPF6
Tomi Engdahl says:
Samsung to Cut Galaxy Note 7 Battery Charging Functionality
Samsung intends to disable Note 7 units in the wild
http://news.softpedia.com/news/samsung-to-cut-galaxy-note-7-battery-charging-functionality-514233.shtml
Samsung surely wants to get over the Galaxy Note 7 debacle from last year and make sure that faulty units don’t affect more users. It took months for the company to retrieve Galaxy Note 7 units after discontinuing the product, but some units still remain in the wild.
Almost 97% of all Galaxy Note 7 units sold in South Korea were retrieved, but 3% of customers are still holding on to their smartphones, despite the risk of units overheating and catching fire. Samsung warned about the device’s vulnerabilities in its report that marked the end of months of investigation.
As it turned out, the Galaxy Note 7 was plagued by battery defects, which caused the phone to overheat. There have been reports of Samsung intending to refurbish some Note 7 units by replacing their batteries and selling them in certain emerging markets, but Samsung’s division in India officially denied the rumor.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Natt Garun / The Verge:
Samsung says returned Galaxy Note7 devices will be sold outside US as “refurbished phones or rental phones where applicable”, remaining devices will be recycled
Samsung confirms the Note 7 is coming back as a refurbished device
Pending approval by local regulators
http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/27/15072560/samsung-note-7-refurbished-device-recyling-announced
Ahead of the Samsung Galaxy S8 launch, the company has released a statement regarding its plans to recycle Note 7 devices. The process comes in three parts: save salvageable components such as camera modules and semiconductors, extract metal parts with the help from “eco-friendly” third-party companies, and sell refurbished devices “where applicable.”
The announcement appears to walk back on what Samsung initially pledged last fall, when it said it would dispose of the Note 7 and had no plans to repair or refurbish them. Instead, Samsung has confirmed it will work with local authorities and carriers to sell it as a refurbished device, rumored to come with a smaller battery to prevent it from overheating and catching fire. The company said available markets are to be determined as they work with local regulators to approve of the sale
.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Li-ion Battery Pack Tests: Easier Said Than Done
http://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=36&doc_id=1331747&
The challenge of testing and assessing a battery’s internal state and structure while it is being used, even in a lab setup, is formidable — but a new approach may offer an opportunity.
Tomi Engdahl says:
(VIDEO) SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 7 EXPLOSION CAUGHT ON CAMERA COMPILATION
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPYMrXcPNY8
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 explosion compilation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cT_AoQTwvlI
Tomi Engdahl says:
Samsung salvages Galaxy Note 7 parts for new phone
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-40477351
Samsung is releasing a new phone using parts from its Galaxy Note 7, which was axed after a battery fault led to some devices catching fire.
The firm said the Note Fan Edition would “minimise the environmental impact” of its high-profile flop.
The handset will go on sale only in South Korea on 7 July, with a safer, smaller battery, the firm added.
Samsung stopped production on its iPhone rival late last year after an earlier botched recall and re-release.
About 2.5 million handsets have since been recalled. The new phone features components from those recalled devices, as well as unused parts Samsung has in stock.
Smaller battery, smaller price tag
Environmentalists had been putting pressure on the firm to reuse Galaxy Note 7 components to reduce the amount of so-called e-waste.
It is thought about 400,000 handsets will be made available from Friday. It will be priced about 30% cheaper than the Galaxy Note 7 at around 700,000 Korean won ($615; £472).
The devices will be fitted with 3,200 mAh batteries that Samsung says have passed strict safety tests. The Note 7 used 3,500 mAh batteries.