International experience in ensuring fire safety using lithium-ion batteries

Introduction. The necessity of analyzing international experience in ensuring fire safety in the use of lithium-ion batteries (LIB) was substantiated. The relevance of the paper is due to the large number of incidents involving fires and explosions at various facilities where LIB are used. The aim of the work is to provide an analytical review of research in the field of all possible aspects of fire safety in the use of LIB in different countries around the world.

Analysis of LIB accidents with fires and explosions. The accidents with fires and explosions taking place at LIB applications were analyzed. The three types of conditions leading to the LIB accidents were revealed: overheating or flame action; overcharge or short circuit; mechanical destruction.

Conditions of an initiation and evolution of LIB accidents. Main phenomena taking place at the LIB accidents were described. A thermal runaway with heating and decomposition of the electrolyte with a generation of high quantities of flammable gases occurs. An ignition of these gases may cause an explosion with the following fire. These gases can include hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane, ethylene, propane and other hydrocarbons. A state of charge (SOC) of a battery influences strongly the consequences of the accident — the higher is SOC the more probable is the accident and the heavier are its consequences.

Methods for elimination of LIB accidents and fires. It was mentioned that an extinguishing of LIB fires is complicated by the circumstance that self-accelerating runaway reactions inside batteries proceed without a presence of oxygen. Therefore an application of gaseous, powder and aerosol fire extinguishing agents can lead to secondary ignitions after a liquidation of a flame if the necessary cooling of the battery is not made. A conclusion is made that water is more suitable and reliable agent for a fire extinguishing of LIB.

Conclusions. Based on the analysis, it was concluded that accidents and fires involving LIBs are caused by self-accelerating reactions in the battery electrolyte. In addition to heat release, this process generates a large amount of combustible gases. It was noted that water is recommended as a fire extinguishing agent.

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