Past Presentation - Science and Technology of Battery Fire Safety - Prof. Guillermo Rein, Imperial College London

Speaker: Prof. Guillermo Rein, Imperial College London 

Presentation synopsis:

The Lithium-ion battery (LIB) is an important technology for the present and future of energy storage, transport, and consumer electronics. However, many LIB types display a tendency to ignite or release toxic gases. This talk provides an overview of the existing research, the industrial challenges, the causes of LIB fires, and the layers of protection. The talk recommends a closer collaborations between the battery and fire safety communities, which, supported by major industries, could drive improvements, integration and harmonization of LIB safety across sectors.

Speaker Bio: 

Guillermo Rein is Professor of Fire Science at the Department of Mechanical Engineering  of Imperial College London and Editor-in-Chief of the journal Fire Technology.

His research is centred on heat transfer, combustion and fire. The purpose of his work is to reduce the worldwide burden of accidental fires and protect people, their property, and the environment. His research portfolio is ample, but over the last 20 years he is best known in three areas: 1) how polymers and wood ignite so we can avoid fires from starting; 2) how engineers can design better structures that resist fire; and 3) how wildfires spread and how to fight them. He leads the research group Imperial Hazelab which currently counts 15 fire researchers.

A video recording of this presentation is now available to download from the members area of the OPERA website - for current members only.