How do lithium battery fire extinguishing devices accurately extinguish fires?
Publish Time: 2025-10-16
With the rapid development of new energy technologies, lithium batteries have become widely used in electric vehicles, energy storage power stations, power tools, and various portable electronic devices. However, lithium batteries can experience thermal runaway under conditions such as overcharging, short circuiting, high temperatures, or physical damage, leading to fires or even explosions. Their rapid combustion, high temperatures, and tendency to reignite, along with the release of large quantities of toxic and hazardous gases, pose significant challenges to firefighting. Therefore, accurate detection and rapid extinguishing of lithium battery fires are crucial for ensuring safety. The lithium battery fire extinguishing device is designed to address this challenge. Its core principle is precision. By leveraging multi-dimensional technologies, it enables precise control of the entire process, from early warning to efficient fire extinguishing.1. Accurate Detection: Multi-Parameter Fusion for Early WarningPrecise firefighting requires accurate detection. Before thermal runaway occurs, lithium batteries typically undergo a series of physical and chemical changes, releasing detectable signals. Modern lithium battery fire extinguishing devices utilize multi-sensor fusion technology to comprehensively monitor multiple early warning signs, avoiding false alarms and missed alerts. First, a temperature sensor is a fundamental feature, used to monitor temperature changes within the battery module or battery compartment in real time. When a local temperature rises abnormally and exceeds a preset threshold, the system issues an alert. Second, a smoke detector captures tiny smoke particles released in the early stages of thermal runaway. Even more critical is gas detection technology. Lithium batteries release specific flammable gases, such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds, during thermal runaway. Highly sensitive gas sensors can detect these characteristic gases minutes or even longer before a fire breaks out, providing early warning. Furthermore, some high-end systems integrate voltage and current monitoring modules, which, combined with data from the battery management system, provide a comprehensive assessment of the battery's health status. This multi-parameter data is integrated and analyzed through intelligent algorithms, significantly improving detection accuracy and response speed, saving valuable time for subsequent firefighting.2. Targeted Discharge: Precise Positioning, Efficient CoverageAfter confirming a fire, the precision of fire extinguishing equipment lies in the targeted discharge of extinguishing agent. Traditional flooding systems, while effective, can waste extinguishing agent and cause unnecessary contamination or damage to surrounding equipment. The lithium battery fire extinguishing device employs a precise "point-to-point" or "area coverage" spraying strategy. Using a pre-set detector layout, the system can roughly locate the battery module or area where a fire has occurred. The device's nozzles or nozzles are designed for directional spraying, ensuring that the extinguishing agent directly and concentratedly targets the core of the fire. For example, within the battery pack, the extinguishing agent can be directed through dedicated pipes or nozzles to the vicinity of the battery cell experiencing thermal runaway, rapidly reducing its surface temperature and isolating it from oxygen. This precise spraying not only improves fire extinguishing efficiency but also minimizes interference with unaffected cells, protecting the integrity of the battery system.3. Specialized Fire Extinguishing Agents: Chemical Suppression to Prevent ReignitionLithium battery fires differ from ordinary solid fires in that the combustion process involves the decomposition of the internal electrolyte and the vigorous reaction of the positive and negative electrode materials. This "internal combustion" characteristic means that even after the surface flames are extinguished, internal heat generation may continue, leading to reignition. Therefore, conventional water-based or dry powder fire extinguishing agents are limited in effectiveness. The lithium battery fire extinguishing device utilizes specialized fire extinguishing agents, which are crucial for achieving precise firefighting. Currently, mainstream specialized fire extinguishing agents include perfluorohexanone, aerosols, and new composite fire extinguishing agents. Perfluorohexanone is a liquid at room temperature and rapidly vaporizes upon spraying, effectively absorbing heat and reducing temperatures. Its molecules also interrupt the combustion chain reaction, achieving chemical suppression. More importantly, it is electrically insulating, non-toxic, and residue-free, thus harming delicate electronic equipment. Aerosol fire extinguishing agents, through chemical reactions, produce a large number of micron-sized solid particles and inert gases that rapidly fill the air, diluting oxygen and absorbing heat. These specialized fire extinguishing agents are designed specifically for the specific characteristics of lithium battery fires. They not only quickly extinguish open flames but also penetrate into internal gaps within the battery, suppressing the spread and re-ignition of thermal runaway, truly addressing the root cause.4. Intelligent Interaction: System Integration, Closed-Loop ControlLithium battery fire extinguishing devices are no longer isolated devices; they are now intelligent safety systems deeply integrated with battery management systems, fire alarm systems, ventilation systems, and more. When an anomaly is detected, the system automatically disconnects the battery power supply, activates the fire extinguishing device, and activates the exhaust system to dissipate toxic gases. It also transmits an alarm to the monitoring center. This closed-loop control ensures precise management of the entire process, from early warning and response to subsequent processing, significantly improving overall safety.In summary, the lithium battery fire extinguishing device achieves precise extinguishing of lithium battery fires through its four core technologies: multi-parameter precision detection, targeted spraying, application of specialized extinguishing agents, and intelligent system integration. This is not only a technological advancement, but also a profound implementation of the concept of new energy safety, building a solid safety barrier for the widespread use of lithium batteries.
