Lithium-ion battery fire suppression using water mist systems

Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) have superior energy density and lifetime compared to battery technologies such as lead acid. Despite the widespread application of LiBs in energy storage systems, electronic devices, aerospace and the automotive industry, they present a fire risk. In this study, experiments were conducted to characterize the thermal behavior of the electrolyte (as the main contributor to LiB fires) using a cone calorimeter; investigate the interactions of water mist and a Bunsen burner, as a precursor to examining the effectiveness of a water mist suppression system in extinguishing a LiB fire. In the present work, we have endeavored to systematically study the fire suppression efficacy of water mist by adopting to some novel approaches. This involved carefully planned laboratory scale explorations that involved a propane gas fueled flame, and subsequently by using bespoke set up that mimicked fire owing to fuel surge from typical Li-ion cell (18650 cells). In the latter set of fire suppression tests, water droplets were produced by a fan nozzle and sprayed horizontally toward the jet flame of replica 18560 battery containing only the electrolyte. The results showed that both fire types (Bunsen burner and LiB) are suppressed rapidly on activation of the water mist fire suppression system for geometries that enable the water mist direct access to the lift-off zone, between the gas source and base of the flame. © 2021, Global Digital Central. All rights reserved.