A Review of Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Suppression

Overview

The review asks how the fire risk of Li-ion batteries (LiBs) can be reduced and which agent is actually effective against these fires. The method is a literature survey: cathode, anode, separator and electrolyte components, battery systems, thermal runaway and fire, safety at cell, module/pack and compartment level, fire detection and extinguishing agents (water, foam, powder, CO2, halon-based) and LiB suppression studies are covered in turn, followed by detail on water-mist characterisation, nozzle characteristics and extinguishing mechanisms.

In thermal abuse, internal temperatures of 90-120 °C cause exothermic SEI decomposition, and above 200 °C the hydrocarbon electrolyte can decompose and release heat. Heat detectors are reported as the slowest way to detect LiB fires and are not recommended; combined smoke-heat detectors are reported as the fastest and are recommended. LiB fires straddle classes A, B and E, and the authors stress that cooling cells in a large pack to stop propagation matters more than extinguishing a single cell's flames.

On agents: halon-based agents can extinguish a LiB fire but cannot stop the internal temperature rise or prevent re-ignition. HFC-227ea outperformed CO2 and powder in cited tests, and Novec 1230 was also found effective. In DNV-GL tests, F500, FireIce, PyroCool foam, Stat-X aerosol and sprinklers all extinguished the fires, but the water-based systems cooled better over time. When water mist vaporises its volume grows by more than three orders of magnitude, diluting oxygen and fuel vapour, and a cited study found mist cut radiant heat flux to enclosure walls by 70%.

The conclusion is that water mist with additives and surfactants, or combined with a gaseous agent, is the most promising extinguishing and cooling method for LiBs. Limits: as a review it has no new measurements, and the cited tests used different cell types, scales and set-ups and cannot be compared directly.

Key points

1. Thermal abuse: internal temperatures of 90-120 °C cause exothermic SEI decomposition, and above 200 °C the hydrocarbon electrolyte can decompose and release heat.
2. Heat detectors are reported as the slowest way to detect LiB fires and are not recommended; combined smoke-heat detectors are reported as the fastest and are recommended.
3. LiB fires straddle classes A, B and E; cooling cells in a large pack to stop propagation matters more than extinguishing a single cell's flames.
4. Halon-based agents can extinguish a LiB fire but cannot stop the internal temperature rise or prevent re-ignition; HFC-227ea outperformed CO2 and powder in cited tests and Novec 1230 was also effective.
5. In DNV-GL tests, F500, FireIce, PyroCool foam, Stat-X aerosol and sprinklers all extinguished the fires, but the water-based systems cooled better over time.
6. When water mist vaporises, its volume grows by more than three orders of magnitude, diluting oxygen and fuel vapour; a cited study found mist cut radiant heat flux to enclosure walls by 70%.
7. The authors conclude that water mist with additives and surfactants, or combined with a gaseous agent, is the most promising extinguishing and cooling method for LiBs.

Using it in design

• In Li-ion UPS and BESS areas, set up detection with combined smoke-heat detectors; do not rely on heat detectors alone.
• Define the suppression design goal as cooling neighbouring cells (stopping propagation and re-ignition) as well as knocking down flames; do not treat a gaseous agent alone as sufficient.
• Evaluate water mist, or water mist plus a gaseous agent, with its nozzle and droplet-size characteristics among the suppression alternatives for BESS and battery rooms.

Who should read it

Fire-safety engineers designing fire detection and suppression for Li-ion battery rooms, UPS and BESS.

Document contents

1. 1. Introduction
2. 2. Lithium-Ion Battery Components (cathode, anode, separator, electrolyte)
3. 3. Lithium-Ion Battery Systems
4. 4. Thermal Runaway and Fire
5. 5. Fire Protection Techniques (safety at cell, module and pack, and compartment level)
6. 6. Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Detection and Suppression (types of extinguishants: water, foam, powder, CO2, halon-based; LiB suppression studies; water mist characterisation: droplet size distribution, spray cone angle, velocity, mass flow rate, momentum; nozzle characteristics; mechanisms of extinguishment; water mist system characteristics)
7. 7. Summary and Outlook

Related standards

• NFPA 855
• NFPA 750
• NFPA 2001
• UL 9540A

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Publication details

Authors

Mohammadmahdi Ghiji; Vasily Novozhilov; Khalid Moinuddin; Paul Joseph; Ian Burch; Brigitta Suendermann; Grant Gamble

Publisher

Energies (MDPI AG)

Year

2020

Volume

13

Issue

19

Pages

5117

Document language

English

Source type

Scientific

Access

Open licence — downloadable

DOI

10.3390/en13195117

Licence

CC BY 4.0 — share with attribution

Licence evidence

www.mdpi.com

Citation