{"id":4771,"date":"2020-04-15T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-15T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=4771"},"modified":"2020-04-14T20:51:16","modified_gmt":"2020-04-15T00:51:16","slug":"why-are-battery-arrays-often-made-with-cylindrical-batteries-rather-than-square-prisms-so-they-could-pack-even-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2020\/04\/15\/why-are-battery-arrays-often-made-with-cylindrical-batteries-rather-than-square-prisms-so-they-could-pack-even-better\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Why are battery arrays often made with cylindrical batteries rather than square prisms so they could pack even better?&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The working guts of Li-ion batteries start as flat sheets. For many heavier-duty and general purpose applications, these sheets are rolled into cylinders because a cylindrical battery can be safer than a flat one:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Stacked cylinders allow spaces between them, which can be used to keep hard-working batteries safely cool and responsive. Tesla autos circulate liquid coolant between their batteries, for example; electric Nissans use blown air to cool theirs.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Cylinders are inherently stronger than flat packages, everything else being equal. Overstressed Li-ion cells can produce flammable, toxic gases; a cylinder can withstand internal pressures that might cause a flat-sided package to swell and deform.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right has-small-font-size\"><em><strong>Permalink:<a href=\" https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=4771\"> https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=4771<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"104\" height=\"6\" data-attachment-id=\"1999\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/02\/10\/around-boston-the-nearly-snowless-winter-continues\/seperator-short-grey\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/SEPERATOR-short-grey.png?fit=104%2C6&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"104,6\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"SEPERATOR short grey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/SEPERATOR-short-grey.png?fit=104%2C6&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/SEPERATOR-short-grey.png?resize=104%2C6\" alt=\"[seperator]\" class=\"wp-image-1999\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align:left\"><strong>COMMENT \/ QUESTION<\/strong>  on <strong>THIS ITEM?<\/strong> <em>See the<\/em> <strong>Comment box<\/strong> <em>at bottom of this page!<\/em><br><b><em><br><\/em>NEW QUESTION? <\/b><em>Ask<\/em><b> <u><font color=\"#000117\"><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a><\/font><\/u><\/b>!<br><br>(<em>Want free notification of new content? Click<\/em><b><strong> <\/strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/09\/09\/get-free-automatic-notification-of-new-content\/\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a><\/b>!)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The working guts of Li-ion batteries start as flat sheets. For many heavier-duty and general purpose applications, these sheets are rolled into cylinders because a cylindrical battery can be safer than a flat one: Stacked cylinders allow spaces between them, which can be used to keep hard-working batteries safely cool and responsive. Tesla autos circulate&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3571,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7,30,10,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-a-reader-asks","category-hardware","category-science-and-tech","category-smartphones"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/18650-batteries.jpg?fit=241%2C256&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paaiox-1eX","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2505,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/04\/08\/how-to-make-lithium-ion-batteries-last-for-years\/","url_meta":{"origin":4771,"position":0},"title":"How to make lithium-ion batteries last for years","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-04-08","format":false,"excerpt":"The older column reprinted below was originally published in the August 13, 2015 , Windows Secrets newsletter. This older content supplements brand-new content posted today (April 8, 2019) in the AskWoody Plus newsletter, available here. An upcoming column will update and refine the information below. (I\u2019m reprinting selected Windows Secrets\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;AskWoody Plus&quot;","block_context":{"text":"AskWoody Plus","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/askwoody-plus\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/W20150813-TS-BatteryFromTop.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1599,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/01\/12\/a-reader-asks-can-you-take-your-electric-assisted-bicycle-with-you-on-a-train-or-a-plane-in-the-united-states\/","url_meta":{"origin":4771,"position":1},"title":"A reader asks: &#8220;Can you take your electric assisted bicycle with you on a train or a plane in the United States?&#8221;","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-01-12","format":false,"excerpt":"If you can remove the batteries, then an e-bike is just like any other bike, and is subject to the same rules. A battery-less, totally inert e-bike can be shipped by almost any means. Li-ion batteries, if damaged or defective, can cause a very serious, very energetic chemical fire. That's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;A reader asks...&quot;","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3656,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/10\/29\/how-long-does-it-take-for-a-li-ion-battery-to-degrade\/","url_meta":{"origin":4771,"position":2},"title":"&#8220;How long does it take for a Li-ion battery to degrade?&#8221;","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-10-29","format":false,"excerpt":"(Answer requested by Jake Timchak) Degrade by how much? Lithium-ion batteries are \u201cconsumables\u201d that inevitably get used up, even just sitting on the shelf. Li-ion batteries actually start degrading (very slowly) the moment they\u2019re assembled at the factory. Each discharge\/recharge cycle then accelerates the irreversible chemical changes in the battery,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;A reader asks...&quot;","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3551,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/10\/08\/is-there-any-way-to-revive-an-over-discharged-li-ion-18650-battery\/","url_meta":{"origin":4771,"position":3},"title":"&#8220;Is there any way to revive an over-discharged Li-Ion 18650 battery?&#8221;","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-10-08","format":false,"excerpt":"Not a good idea. The protective circuitry (in the Li-ion battery or in the device that the battery powers) is designed to prevent dangerous over- and undercharging, which can cause the battery to overheat and catch fire. (Remember all those hoverboard fires a couple years ago? That's what you get\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;A reader asks...&quot;","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/18650-batteries.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2980,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/06\/21\/update-on-lithium-ion-fire-suppression-in-small-devices\/","url_meta":{"origin":4771,"position":4},"title":"Update on Lithium-ion fire suppression in small devices","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-06-21","format":false,"excerpt":"After reading \"What is the fastest and safest method for putting out a lithium-ion battery fire?\", frequent correspondent \"App\" wrote: According to the FAA, water is not a last resort\u2026it\u2019s your first choice, because you don\u2019t only want to put the fire out, you want to cool it, too. So\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Reader Comment&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Reader Comment","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/reader-comment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/20190621_103107.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/20190621_103107.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/20190621_103107.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/20190621_103107.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/20190621_103107.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/20190621_103107.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3759,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/11\/19\/what-is-the-best-way-to-store-a-2000mah-cell-phone-battery-for-1-to-2-years-charged-or-as-it-is-packed\/","url_meta":{"origin":4771,"position":5},"title":"&#8220;What is the best way to store a 2000mAh cell phone battery for 1 to 2 years, charged or as it is packed?&#8221;","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-11-19","format":false,"excerpt":"(Answer requested by Md-Abdur-Rahim) Store it the same way it probably arrived from the factory: with about a 30%-40% charge, which is the \"sweet-spot\" for long-term storage with minimal self-discharge for LI-ion batteries. Once charged to around 40%, carefully pack the battery in nonconductive material (e.g. a cardboard box), and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;A reader asks...&quot;","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4771","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4771"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4771\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4778,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4771\/revisions\/4778"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3571"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4771"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}