Sustainable & Environment Friendly Encapuslator technology for Lithium-Ion Battery Fires

One of the biggest revolution in energy sector in a past decade is seen in Lithium-Ion Battery technology. In comparison to its traditional competitors in battery segment, LIBs has been proved to be advantageous on multiple parameters resulting in higher energy, high power densities, longer cycle times, higher voltages, negligible memory effects, wider operating temperature ranges, easiness in integration, etc. With continuous development in materials and technology, LIBs can now attain higher energy density resulting in small units delivering high energy output and storage capacity.

However the flip side of the same coin seems to be darker than expected. As high energy density of LIBs has proven to be advantageous, in certain extreme conditions such as crushing/ accidents, overcharge, high temperatures, seawater immersion, mechanical abuse, short-circuiting etc., the large amount of energy stored inside a limited space (battery casing) can be discharged abruptly and transforms into heat energy. This transformation of energy into heat leads to thermal runaway of the battery unit eventually leading to fire and explosions. To make it even more critical and complicated, the safety issue for grid scale storage has higher risk of fire and explosions as it contains large number of cells and it's difficult to extinguish this fire.

Lot of experiments have been done and going on in finding the perfect solution to extinguish this battery fire using various agents, mediums and ways. It needs gallons and gallons of water/foam to completely put out electric battery or vehicle fire while chances of re-ignition are very high. Other extinguishing agents such as dry chemical powder, aerosols, water based agents has failed to prove to be the best solution in these scenarios because of reasons such as longer time for extinguishment, large amount of agent dosage required, no action on re-ignition of fire etc. These reasons also proves them to be environmentally unfriendly for application on LIB fires.

Aiming at rapid extinguishment of LIB fires and effective and efficient fire suppressing agent was a need of an hour and encapsulating agent technology has proved to be the most suitable agent negating all defections of other agents mentioned above and most important its environment friendly making it as a sustainable developed product.

The fire hazard of lithium-ion batteries stems primarily from the flammable electrolytes-not the lithium-inside the battery that may ignite in the event of an increase in temperature.

In practice, the layers (e.g. metal fire powder, self-hardened layers) that cover the battery to help prevent oxygen from feeding a burning battery have been shown to fail. A burning lithium-ion battery may release oxygen, and the resulting explosion of the cells will destroy these layers. Encapsulator technology encapsulates the particles that catches fire at molecular level which helps in extinguishment in addition to its cooling effect.

The repeated tests have been carried out by experts at premium institute IIT, to understand the nature of Lithium-ion battery fire and to evaluate the parameters affecting the Fire extinguishment. The Fire extinguishment operations have been carried out with each test and highly satisfactory results have been obtained proving the effectiveness of F500 agent on quick and complete knock down of Fire in Lithium Ion battery.

Battery Cells- Burnt, Partially Burnt and Unburnt Cells with No Re-ignition of Fire/Flames with F500 Agent application

The F500 Encapsulator technology has a remarkable ability to cool a fire and surrounding structures, with the ability to absorb 6-10 times more heat energy than plain water without the creation of super-heated steam. Secondly, it forms Spherical Micelles or "chemical cocoons" that encapsulates fuels rendering them non-flammable and non-ignitable. Finally, this technology interrupts the free radical chain reaction of the fire tetrahedron. This interruption results in greater visibility, reduced smoke and soot and most importantly a drastic reduction in toxins. It is proven to be the most environment friendly technology with minimum harm product through agent. Similar results have been obtained by multiple agencies including renowned global testing agencies such as Fraunhaufer, Dekra, Kiwa, TU Clausthal etc. when they carried similar experiments and found satisfactory result and acceptance by these global players. The agent which is based on Spherical micelle technology also finds its reference in NFPA 18A for its acceptance as a suitable agent on Lithium Ion battery Fires.

The agent used with this technology is 100% biodegradable and is non-hazardous, containing no ingredients reportable under the SARA Title III, Section 313 or the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Extending its application, the technology can be used for vapour explosions and fires, cooling applications, cleaning application etc. It's a multifaceted technology being most suitable for environment and sustainable for future generations.