Boeing 787 battery fire investigations in 2013 followed two serious lithium-ion battery incidents that helped ground the Dreamliner fleet.
Early Commentary Included Unverified Nuclear-Reaction Speculation
The original article below was published while the incidents were still under investigation. It raised a speculative question about low-energy nuclear reactions. That hypothesis was not established by the official investigation.
Jan. 17, 2013 – By Steven B. Krivit –
Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliners use high-capacity lithium-ion batteries. These batteries have materials similar to those used in the most common type of low-energy nuclear reaction experiment. Boeing is considering LENRs for future aerospace applications. On June 22 and 23, 2011, Boeing representatives met with NASA and the Federal Aviation Authority to discuss such applications. Will they meet again to consider the possible relationship between the battery fires and LENRs?
The Federal Aviation Administration grounded all U.S.-operated Boeing 787 Dreamliners on Wednesday as a result of unexplained lithium-ion aircraft battery fires. Two Boeing 787s have experienced battery fires in nine days. A battery fire occurred last week at Boston’s Logan International Airport, and another fire took place as an All Nippon Airways 787 flew over Japan this week.
Are Nuclear Reactions Causing Boeing Dreamliner Battery Fires?
The NTSB Identified an Internal Short Circuit and Thermal Runaway
The National Transportation Safety Board later determined that the Boston incident began with an internal short circuit inside a lithium-ion battery cell. The failure led to thermal runaway that spread to adjacent cells, producing smoke and fire.
The NTSB also cited battery-design deficiencies and shortcomings in the certification process.
Conclusion
The official investigation did not support the idea that nuclear reactions caused the Dreamliner battery fires. The documented cause involved lithium-ion battery failure, internal short circuiting and thermal runaway.
Source: National Transportation Safety Board — Boeing 787 Battery Fire.
