How do you discharge lithium-ion batteries?
With the increasing use of high-performance lithium-ion batteries, the topic of firefighting is also becoming more and more of a focus of discussion. In addition to the many advantages of lithium batteries, these mobile energy storage devices pose a number of risks, including fire or explosion. This makes it all the more important to fight fires involving lithium-ion batteries quickly and in a targeted manner should problems arise. In the best case scenario, however, safe storage of the lithium-ion batteries will ensure that a fire does not occur. If a battery fire does occur, the following measures are recommended.
Table of contents
- Basic information on extinguishing lithium-ion batteries
- Suitable fire extinguishers for extinguishing battery fires
- Extinguishing blankets for batteries - easy to use and ideal for containment
- Special measures for extinguishing by battery type
Basic information on extinguishing lithium-ion batteries
Li-ion batteries have become an integral part of everyday life, although there is a wide range of different types - especially in terms of storage capacity and therefore the potential risks and difficulties when extinguishing batteries. Starting with small batteries, e.g. in an electric toothbrush or a cell phone, through the batteries in household appliances and e-bikes to very powerful lithium-ion batteries used as storage in PV systems or in electric cars. In general, extinguishing a battery becomes increasingly difficult with increasing capacity, so that, for example, a battery fire extinguisher may still be an efficient extinguishing agent for a cell phone battery, but if the storage battery of a PV system, a plug-in hybrid or a purely electric car starts to burn, the same battery fire extinguisher is then only the frequently described drop in the ocean. This makes prevention all the more important, i.e. storing the battery correctly and safely and only handling it as recommended by the manufacturer. Here, for example, you can find tips on storing e-bike batteries and general information on correct battery storage. Particularly important: Always call the fire department in the event of a battery fire!
Quick action is important to extinguish the battery
It is particularly important to act quickly when extinguishing all types of batteries. Targeted and rapid action against a battery fire can often prevent the uncontrolled spread of the thermal reaction. In the best case scenario, the lithium-ion battery fire can then be limited to a few battery cells and the spread to all cells of a lithium battery as part of a chain reaction is prevented. This can be achieved, for example, by initiating initial measures with battery fire extinguishers or - especially with high-performance batteries - by using special extinguishing blankets that at least contain the sources of danger and bridge the time until professional help arrives.
Notify the fire department
Due to the potential dangers of a battery fire, the fire department should generally be called in to extinguish it. Even supposedly small battery fires, e.g. from an e-bike battery, can take on dangerous proportions (up to the explosion of the e-bike battery), which only professional firefighters can handle with the necessary caution. Of course, initial measures can also be taken to extinguish the Li-ion battery, but the fire department should be alerted independently of this.
Suitable fire extinguishers for extinguishing battery fires
The choice of the right extinguishing agent has a decisive influence on the success of extinguishing a burning battery. Traditional extinguishing agents such as CO2, powder or normal foam, which are often found in fire extinguishers, are only suitable for fighting battery fires to a very limited extent. Much better are fire extinguishers specially developed for battery fires, which can be used quickly and efficiently to combat the threat of danger from burning batteries. Gel fire extinguishers, LithiumX extinguishers and fire extinguishers with pyrobubbles have proven to be very effective in this area. At the same time, these extinguishing agents are easy to use, even by private individuals, so that smaller battery fires can be fought quickly.
Gel fire extinguishers - ideal for small and medium-sized Li-ion batteries
Gel fire extinguishers use so-called water-glue as an extinguishing agent and are perfect for fighting fires involving smaller, less powerful batteries. For example, they are often kept on hand by private individuals to extinguish e-bike batteries. They are easy to use, relatively inexpensive and available in a wide range, making gel fire extinguishers the perfect first response to a battery fire.
Lithium-X fire extinguishers for fighting battery fires
If larger Li-ion or LiPo batteries catch fire, gel fire extinguishers are usually no longer sufficient to prevent a thermal chain reaction. For these cases, so-called Lithium-X fire extinguishers / silicon fire extinguishers have been developed, which use an aqueous dispersion of silicon crystals as an extinguishing agent. Spraying this extinguishing agent onto burning lithium batteries vaporizes the water. The microscopically small silicon platelets swell and fuse together to form an impermeable barrier layer. To fight the fire and in particular to prevent the chain reaction, the thermal radiation above the barrier layer is immediately reduced to below 100°C, preventing or slowing down the spread of the fire (thermal runway).
Water fire extinguisher with IMPREX C for cooling the batteries
With the WKL-PRO series, the manufacturer Gloria - one of the leading manufacturers in the field of firefighting and fire extinguishers in Germany - has specially developed water fire extinguishers in its range that are suitable for fighting battery fires. The water in combination with the IMPREX C additive is primarily used to cool Li-ion batteries and reduces the damage caused by the fire spreading to the surrounding area.
Active firefighting of Li-ion batteries with Pyrobubbles
In addition to Water-Glue and LithiumX (or silicon), pyrobubbles are available as extinguishing agents for lithium-ion batteries. Pyrobubbles are often used when transporting lithium-ion batteries, for example as extinguishing granules in battery transport containers. There are also special fire extinguishers for pyrobubbles, which are used directly on burning lithium-ion batteries and thus offer maximum safety when handling both intact and defective lithium batteries and enable quick and efficient firefighting.
Extinguishing blankets for batteries - easy to use and ideal for containment
While the battery fire extinguishers listed above are used for smaller and medium-sized batteries, they quickly reach their limits with high-performance batteries. However, these batteries are also becoming more and more common in everyday life, for example in plug-in hybrid vehicles or electric cars. If there is a problem with the battery, a fire extinguisher is basically no longer effective and the fire department must be called immediately. On the other hand, even private individuals can take very effective measures to minimize the potential damage caused by an e-car fire. It should always be borne in mind that extinguishing or even just attempting to contain a battery fire can be extremely dangerous.
Extinguishing blankets in many sizes for different battery types
The fire blankets for Li-ion batteries are available in a variety of sizes and designs - starting with the lithium fire blankets measuring 1.80 m x 1.8 m, which can be used by one person and pulled directly over the burning battery. The fireproof material then insulates the source of the fire, minimizing damage. Special fire blankets for electric cars are specially designed to contain fires in electric cars. Due to their dimensions of 6x8m, these fire blankets can only be used by two people and are used by fire departments in particular.
Special measures for extinguishing by battery type
The measures listed above are more of a general recommendation for initial measures and extinguishing agents for fighting fires involving burning lithium-ion batteries. In addition, there are special tips and instructions for the different battery types on what to do in the event of a fire, e.g. for e-bike batteries, LiPo batteries, which are widely used in model making, and much more. Information on firefighting and how to extinguish fires involving these batteries can be found on the following pages: