We have been following a rather lengthy report put together by the European Union. The authors title it ‘Can a lithium-ion battery fire be put out on a vessel?’ which is a question we need answering urgently. Commercial shipping puts out 5% of global emissions across largely unregulated oceans. Thus, fires in marine lithium batteries could convince it to stay with fossil fuel forever.
Fires in Marine Lithium Batteries: The Chain of Events
When a technical mishap occurs, it may cause a cell or group of cells to enter thermal runaway. Sufficient heat generates thereafter to spread the event to adjacent cells. A fire flares up rapidly as each cell in turn ruptures and releases its contents.
The chain reaction releases flammable electrolyte. However, we cannot use conventional fire-extinguishing technology to quench fires in marine lithium batteries. This is an enormous issue for the green movement. Vessel crews need specialist equipment, and specific training to face these abnormal threats. Quite understandably, no one wants to increase the risk attached to crossing lonely oceans where storms may rage.
What If the Fire is in the Lithium-Ion Battery Housing?
The EU identifies the need earlier in the report to keep marine batteries in protective housings, to avoid accidental damage. However, they concede this makes it difficult to access the location of a fire.
Moreover, by the time responders arrive it may be too late to late to take remedial action. The risk of an explosion and jet flaming may be high. Furthermore, conventional extinguishers including water, foam, and CO2 can accelerate the fire, not quieten it down. The vessel may come to a flaming end far out to sea and far from rescue.
We turn our attention to detecting, containing, suppressing, cooling, and isolating fires in marine lithium batteries in the next post in this series.
Related
Containing a Lithium Battery Fire: EU Update 4
Battery Management and Lithium Fires EU Update 6
Preview Image: Lithium Battery Research at Adelphi Lab Center
Video Share Link: Thermal imaging Li-ion cells in Thermal Runaway
