Just as batteries are the portable power of choice in the commercial world, they a so play an important role in man-portable military electronics. For the foot soldier, power sources with maximum energy output per unit weight are highly desirable. In the environmental extremes of the military world where commercial battery technologies falter, lithium primary (non-rechargeable) batteries provice an attractive solution. However, one of the unfortunate attributes of lithium primary batteries is that they occasionally vent gas violently. This paper discusses the safe design of battery enclosures housing lithium primary batteries, specifically the lithium sulfur dioxide and lithium manganese dioxide chemistries. A description of lithium batteries is given. A brief summary of US Army field incidences concerning lithium sulfur dioxide batteries is also provided in order to give a historical background for the lithium primary battery venting hazard. Next, safe design of lithium primary battery enclosures is discussed. This discussion inch des methods and design features to safely vent gas in case of a violent battery venting as well as test nethods to verify a safe design. Finally, three US Army man-portable battery enclosures are examined tc show how safety design features were successfully implemented on actual hardware.
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