United States. Federal Aviation Administration

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The use of electronic-tablets (e-tablets) as replacements for conventional in-flight entertainment systems has gained popularity

among airlines globally. Innovative methods of storing and charging e-tablets in galley carts have been suggested or are already in

service with some airlines.

The danger of thermal runaway in the lithium-ion-pouch batteries that are used in these e-tablets is well known, but the potential

fire hazard resulting from e-tablets being stored and charged in galley carts or a similar enclosure has not been established. To

examine this potential fire hazard, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and the Federal Aviation Administration conducted a

series of tests to investigate the behavior of e-tablet fires.

Tests were conducted within a galley cart and thermal runaway of the e-tablet lithium-ion-pouch battery was initiated by either a

heat plate or an external alcohol fire. The arrangement of e-tablets inside the galley cart followed the typical methods of storage

proposed by airlines and design organizations. The objectives of the tests were to determine a suitable storage configuration for

the e-tablets, which would prevent the propagation of thermal runaway, and to determine the effect that thermal runaway would

have on a typical galley cart.

Ten tests were conducted. The results of these tests showed the potential fire hazards associated with bulk storage of e-tablets in a

galley cart or similar enclosure. Additional work is recommended to determine the desirable features of galley carts to contain a

lithium battery fire and prevent the danger associated with fire, smoke intensity, and explosion.

US Transportation Collection