LI-ION BATTERY ACTIVE FIRE PREVENTION

USING N2 OXYGEN REDUCTION SYSTEM

Problem Overview
Due to the electrolysis during battery charge, hazardous gases can be produced and flow
out of the battery cells with the exception of gas-tight sealed cells. The gases produced are
hydrogen and oxygen. When these gases spread to the surrounding atmosphere, an
explosive mixture can be created, as the figure below shows:

When a cell reaches its fully charged state, electrolysis of water occurs according to
Faradays Law.
Under standard conditions (Temperature = 273 [K], Pressure = 1013 [h Pa]):
• 1 [Ah] decomposes H20 into 0.42 [dm3] H2 and 0.21 [dm3] 02;
• decomposition of 1 [cm3] H20 requires 3 [Ah];
• 26.8 [Ah] decomposes H20 into 1 [g] H2 and 8 [g] 02.
When battery charging is stopped, the production of gas from the cells ends one hour after
the charging current is disconnected. Flammable/explosive gaseous mixtures can be
controlled by reducing the hydrogen concentration below the LEL (Lower Explosion Limit)
threshold or by reducing the oxygen concentration below the LOC (Limiting Oxygen
Concentration, i.e. the concentration of oxygen below which ignition and explosion cannot
occur) threshold. The risk is higher is areas with a reduced ACH (air exchange per hour) like
the ones protected by N2 ORS.

Alternatives for battery rooms protected by N2 ORS.

Since it is preferred not to have a continuous ventilation for battery rooms protected by
N2 ORS, we have considered 2 different alternatives. The first option is the preferred one,
but it is applicable only if the battery room is part of a building where more areas are
protected by N2 ORS.

Option 1 - Venting battery room with N2 ORS

The purpose of venting a battery room is to keep the hydrogen concentration below 4% vol
hydrogen LEL threshold. Battery rooms can be considered safe from explosion when the
hydrogen concentration is kept below the LEL. An additional safety margin of 3% is
considered as well.

Battery room is normally protected with an N2 ORS but, in addition, it is equipped with
hydrogen sensors which can detect if hydrogen concentration goes above 1% (high
hydrogen level): in such a case an additional supply of oxygen reduced air coming from the
surrounding areas protected by N2 ORS is activated. The additional ventilation rate shall be
sufficient to reduce below 1 % the hydrogen level in the battery room. At the same time,
since the supply air has a reduced oxygen content, the fire preventive atmosphere is
maintained inside the battery room.

In case the hydrogen concentration is not reduced after the activation of the additional
oxygen reduced air supply from surrounding areas or the hydrogen level goes above 2%
(very high hydrogen level) it is recommended to quickly change the air in the room with
fresh air from outside. In this case the fire prevention atmosphere is lost but it is justified
by a high risk of explosion.

It is also recommended to place a thermo camera in each battery room. Thermal imaging
can early detect battery overheating which can later cause battery explosion.

In the immediate vicinity of the battery, the dilution of explosive gases is not always
ensured. Therefore, a clearance around batteries must be observed, an area where sparks
or hot surfaces (max. 300 [deg C]) are prohibited. For calculation of the safety distance from
the batteries, please refer to EN 50272-2

Option 2 - Inertisation of battery room

Hydrogen explosion is prevented by keeping the oxygen concentration below the LOC
threshold. LOC threshold of hydrogen if nitrogen is used as inert gas is 5% by volume. NFPA
69 (Standard on Explosion Prevention Systems) states that LOCs must be reduced by a safety
margin of 2% and higher temperatures and higher pressures must be taken into account.
Therefore, it is considered that oxygen concentration must be kept at least below 3% Vol.
If the battery room is part of a building where more areas are protected by N20RS@, the
inertisation can be performed by the same N2 ORS equipment. However, the design of the
N20RS@ system shall consider the very low oxygen concentration required in the battery
room (normally areas protected by N2 ORS requires an oxygen concentration between 13-
15%).

Hydrogen sensors are to be installed anyway inside the battery room and the possibility of
venting the battery room with fresh air shall be guaranteed in case the N2 ORS is not
working (e.g. during maintenance) as in such case the low oxygen concentration cannot be
ensured. Access to battery room is possible only by wearing a breathing apparatus because
an oxygen concentration of 3% Vol. is lethal.
Because oxygen levels are very low, the battery room shall be extremely airtight to avoid
high operational cost of the N2 ORS.

The N20RS@ system shall take into account the oxygen produced by the electrolysis during
battery charge: the nitrogen flow shall be indeed increased to compensate for the oxygen
produced by batteries and additional oxygen sensors should be installed.

It is also recommended to place a thermo camera in each battery room. Thermal imaging
can early detect battery overheating which can later cause battery explosion.

In the immediate vicinity of the battery, the dilution of explosive gases is not always
ensured. Therefore, a clearance around batteries must be observed, an area where sparks
or hot surfaces (max. 300 [deg C]) are prohibited. For calculation of the safety distance d
from the batteries, please refer to EN 50272-2.