A critical condition arising during constant voltage charging in which the current and the temperature of the battery produce a cumulative mutually-reinforcing effect which further increases them and can lead to the destruction of the battery.
A conduction that exists when heat causes more electron-hole pairs to be generated, which, in turn, causes more heat and which may eventually cause diode destruction.
In batteries. Can occur if rating capacities are exceeded. Involves violent gassing, boiling of the electrolyte, damage to the plates and even melting of the battery case or explosion.
A chain reaction in which the heat generated within the battery by the overcharge current lowers the battery's internal resistance. This, in turn, progressively increases the charging rate and the heat being generated. In the final stages, enough excess heat may be generated to destroy the battery.
The recombination of hydrogen and oxygen in a VRLA causes some increase in temperature. This increases the rate of gassing and recombination. At high gassing rate this self-accelerating effect may result in an overheated (ultimately exploded) battery.
A condition whereby a cell on charge or discharge will destroy itself through internal heat generation caused by high overcharge or high rate of discharge or other abusive conditions.
Continuous heating of the electrolyte up the boiling point due to an increase in charging current as the charging voltage decreases (lead accumulator with falling charge characteristic).
Problem that can develop in an amplifier when an increase in temperature causes an increase in collector current. The increase in collector current causes a further increase in temperature and so on. Unless the circuit is designed to prevent this condition, the device can be driven into saturation.
Thermal runaway refers to a situation where an increase in temperature changes the conditions in a way that causes a further increase in temperature leading to a destructive result.