Boeing has finished about half of the testing on the redesigned battery system for its wide-body, twin-engine 787 Dreamliner, with the remaining ground and flight tests expected to be conducted in the next several days.
The ongoing tests are a part of the company’s efforts to demonstrate that the new lithium-ion battery system functions correctly and complies with regulatory safety standards.
The redesigned battery system includes improved insulation of the cells, a redesign of the internal battery components to lower initiation of a short circuit within the battery and a new containment and venting system.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will have to certify the Boeing’s redesigned battery system prior to returning of the 787 into service.
Boeing spokesman Marc Birtel said that the test results so far have been consistent with the testing conducted by the company when it was developing the new battery system.
The test pilots have started simulator sessions at the Boeing’s test and development complex in Seattle, and Boeing is submitting the results to the FAA as they are completed.
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By GlobalDataThe ground-testing phase will continue to focus on the evaluation of the redesigned battery system with the help of the 787 Integration Test Vehicle (ITV), a 75t hybrid test rig at Boeing Field.
ITV, which features flight control and hydraulic systems associated to test benches of systems software, is believed to be interconnected to other nearby laboratories and test facilities during the ground checks of the battery.
These laboratories and test facilities will simulate the electrical loads to be tested in the flight.
Boeing plans to conduct a demonstration flight for the battery fix in the coming days.
Following the upcoming flight and ground testing, Boeing expects FAA to approve the modifications and permit the 787 to resume commercial flights.
FAA grounded all 50 787s in-service worldwide on 16 January following a battery fire on a 787 that landed in Boston’s Logan International Airport and another case of an overheated battery, which prompted Japan’s All Nippon Airways’ jetliner to make an emergency landing.
Image: The test pilots have started simulator sessions on the 787 Dreamliner at the Boeing’s test and development complex in Seattle. Photo: Courtesy of Boeing.
