KULR Technology has supplied its internal short circuit (ISC) battery safety and testing device technology to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
According to data released by the FAA, since January 2017, an air/airport incident involving lithium batteries (smoke, fire, extreme heat, or explosion) has occurred on average about once every eight days. As the exclusive provider of ISC technology to the FAA, KULR’s devices will address the alarming increase in smoke and fire incidents aboard an aircraft due to passengers’ malfunctioning lithium-ion batteries.
Developed by researchers at NASA and the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), the ISC device reliably creates thermal runaway in lithium-ion battery trigger cells in controlled, laboratory conditions. Unlike most other evaluation methodologies that mechanically damage the battery exterior to activate the short, KULR’s ISC device triggers a true internal short. This method makes it possible to accurately pinpoint and fix problems leading to battery malfunctions.
“We’re excited to provide the FAA’s research and design engineers an advanced means to improve avionic battery safety,” said Michael Mo, CEO of KULR. “Designing safer battery enclosures and systems is a key element in aviation sector safety and a cornerstone of what we do at KULR. The FAA’s ISC order is just the latest example of KULR’s ongoing effort to provide our technology to regulators and industry trade groups in order to educate consumers and enhance battery safety.”