4 ms·

Won't batteries be a problem now?

by damsta 5y ago

zinekeller 5y ago
Good point. The Dreamliner has such problems in its Li-ion batteries to the point that the weight savings due to composite construction was subsequently nullified by metal retrofits to contain battery fires (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_787_Dreamliner_battery_problems https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_787_Dreamliner_battery_...). Additionally, IATA has put strict limits on Li-ion cargo due to Lithium being too reactive, so any plane with Lithium batteries must consider that.
- mastax 5y ago
  It negated the benefits of the lighter batteries, not the benefit of the composite airframe.
tokai 5y ago
Probably even worse, as fuel can be dumped.
- gameswithgo 5y ago
  you can dump batteries too
  - 5555624 5y ago
    That could be more of a problem. Regardless of the height, dumping a battery means a projectile falling, which could injure someone or cause property damage. If fuel is dumped high enough, it pretty much evaporates and doesn't fall to the ground. If the plane is low when it dumps fuel, it can hit the ground and bystanders; but, it's not going do much, if any damage. (Assuming it doesn't hit someones barbecue or a smoker.)
    - GravitasFailure 5y ago
      Don't forget that lithium batteries tend to burst into flames if you hit them hard enough. Dumping your batteries can too easily become a bombing run. Also, Jet-A doesn't burst into flames like gasoline. Even if you soak an area with it, you don't have a firestorm just waiting to blow up.
  - iSnow 5y ago
    Not really, imagine a troubled plane bombing a city with huge and explosive battery packs.
- ThePadawan 5y ago
  Isn't fuel generally only dumped because landing a (nearly) fully fueled plane exceeds the maximum landing weight of the runway? Or alternatively, if a plane develops a leak in one of the tanks, it can dump fuel to balance the weight. Is there a scenario where a plane in flight has its fuel on fire and dumping said fuel helps in any way?
aeternum 5y ago
Batteries could be used as part of the structure itself (similar to the transition we made from separate fuel tanks to simply putting fuel in the wings). That saves a lot of weight.

Won't batteries be a problem now?

by damsta 5y ago

Won't batteries be a problem now?

Good point. The Dreamliner has such problems in its Li-ion batteries to the point that the weight savings due to composite construction was subsequently nullified by metal retrofits to contain battery fires (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_787_Dreamliner_battery_problems https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_787_Dreamliner_battery_...). Additionally, IATA has put strict limits on Li-ion cargo due to Lithium being too reactive, so any plane with Lithium batteries must consider that.

mastax 5y ago
It negated the benefits of the lighter batteries, not the benefit of the composite airframe.

tokai 5y ago

Probably even worse, as fuel can be dumped.

gameswithgo 5y ago
you can dump batteries too
- 5555624 5y ago
  That could be more of a problem. Regardless of the height, dumping a battery means a projectile falling, which could injure someone or cause property damage. If fuel is dumped high enough, it pretty much evaporates and doesn't fall to the ground. If the plane is low when it dumps fuel, it can hit the ground and bystanders; but, it's not going do much, if any damage. (Assuming it doesn't hit someones barbecue or a smoker.)
  - GravitasFailure 5y ago
    Don't forget that lithium batteries tend to burst into flames if you hit them hard enough. Dumping your batteries can too easily become a bombing run. Also, Jet-A doesn't burst into flames like gasoline. Even if you soak an area with it, you don't have a firestorm just waiting to blow up.
- iSnow 5y ago
  Not really, imagine a troubled plane bombing a city with huge and explosive battery packs.
ThePadawan 5y ago
Isn't fuel generally only dumped because landing a (nearly) fully fueled plane exceeds the maximum landing weight of the runway? Or alternatively, if a plane develops a leak in one of the tanks, it can dump fuel to balance the weight. Is there a scenario where a plane in flight has its fuel on fire and dumping said fuel helps in any way?

aeternum 5y ago

Batteries could be used as part of the structure itself (similar to the transition we made from separate fuel tanks to simply putting fuel in the wings). That saves a lot of weight.