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thermal runaway |
Also found in: Wikipedia | 0.01 sec. |
thermal runawayA repeating cycle in which excessive heat causes more heat until the operation ceases or an explosion occurs. For example, lithium ion batteries have been known to exhibit thermal runaway and explode. In germanium-based bipolar transistors, high temperatures cause current to leak. This, in turn, causes the transistor to heat even more and eventually become unstable or self-destruct. Obviously, after thermal runaway appears in new systems, the product is re-engineered to prevent it. thermal runaway [′thər·məl ′rən·ə‚wā] (electronics) A condition that may occur in a power transistor when collector current increases collector junction temperature, reducing collector resistance and allowing a greater current to flow, which, in turn, increases the heating effect. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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Thermal runaway is a condition where the battery cells get so hot that they destroy themselves. Schiffmann, the president of a microwave consulting company in Manhattan, wrote us recently that ``heating wood for five minutes on full power is especially dangerous and will certainly lead to some fires'' because materials like wood exhibit ``runaway heating or thermal runaway,'' meaning the hotter they get when microwaved, the faster they heat. The AMIS-39101 features over-temperature protection circuitry and is self protected against thermal runaway, even at low power supply voltages. |
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