The lithium-
The ion batteries used in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner are at the heart of the aircraft\'s design, which has been advertised as lighter and fuel-efficient 20% over previous generations.
This type of battery has an unusually high energy density, which means that these units can be smaller and therefore lighter than conventional batteries at a given power.
All aircraft have batteries, but Dreamliner needs particularly powerful batteries because its control system is driven entirely by electrical signals rather than the hydraulic controls seen on earlier jets.
To meet the demand for low weight and high power output, the designer chose the same lithium-ion technology as most modern smartphones and laptop batteries, where the demand is quite similar but much smaller. Lithium-
There is also a big advantage of ion units: they can be molded into a variety of shapes.
This flexibility means that the battery can be designed to fit in awkward places, which is important when the space is tight.
Boeing is not the only aircraft manufacturer using lithium batteries.
The Airbus A380 has such a battery on it, but the Dreamliner has a wider scale than the other nearest aircraft.
At the design stage, the regulator expressed concern and insisted on introducing a new special design --
Regulations are in place to ensure battery safety.
It is well known that there are many potential serious safety defects in lithium ion batteries.
They need to be managed more carefully than other types of batteries.
In recent years, battery packs have caught fire on laptops and smartphones.
A few years ago, this problem with Sony\'s Vaio laptop caused great media attention.
Unless managed carefully, lithium-ion batteries are prone to so-called \"thermal runaway\" due to their chemical properties \".
Once the battery reaches a certain temperature, it can start from
Heating that could have disastrous consequences.
These devices are also considered particularly vulnerable to battery fluid problems and leaks.
Once the problem begins, the fluid is easily ignited.
So far, it is not clear what caused the two battery accidents that caused the US regulatory authorities to order the 787 grounding.
It may be the battery itself, the charging system, or the electrical system of the aircraft.
Experts say the problem with the battery is unlikely to be a fundamental problem that requires a redesign of the aircraft or a complete replacement of the battery.
This can be a manufacturing problem or a failure of how the battery pack is taken care.
Boeing has put its future on the success of the plane, which has taken years and billions of dollars to develop.
It is reported that it needs to sell thousands of vehicles in order to break even.
At Boeing headquarters, this will be a tense moment, although the battery problem may be corrected without a fundamental redesign.