Why can't lithium battery fire be controlled

1, the chemical characteristics of lithium batteries;

High energy density: Lithium batteries have a high energy density, which means that a large amount of energy is stored in a limited volume. Once a fire starts, this energy is released quickly, causing the fire to rage. Internal short circuit: Internal short circuit of lithium battery is one of the main reasons for fire. A short circuit will cause a surge in current and generate a lot of heat, which will trigger a thermal runaway of the battery. This thermal runaway process can spread quickly, making fires difficult to control. The electrolyte is flammable: The electrolyte in the lithium battery is flammable, and once the battery breaks, the electrolyte will flow out and come into contact with oxygen in the air, forming a combustible mixture and further aggravating the fire.

2. The fire spreads rapidly;

Thermal runaway propagation: Lithium batteries will release a lot of heat during the thermal runaway process, which will be quickly transferred to adjacent batteries, resulting in a chain reaction that makes the fire spread rapidly. Gas release: Chemical reactions inside the battery will produce a large amount of gas, which will accumulate inside the battery and cause the battery to expand and rupture. After the rupture, gas and electrolyte will be expelled, forming a larger source of fire.

3, the fire is difficult;

Risk of extinguishing with water: Although water can be used to extinguish lithium battery fires in some cases, if it is a large battery pack or module fire, water may cause a short circuit outside the battery, generating large current and a lot of heat, but aggravate the fire.

Special fire extinguishing agent requirements: For large lithium battery fires, special fire extinguishing agents that are non-conductive, can quickly extinguish the fire and can cool the battery need to be used. However, these fire extinguishing agents may not be widely available, adding to the difficulty of fighting fires.

High personal protection requirements: lithium battery fire will produce toxic smoke and high temperature, fire extinguishing personnel need to wear professional protective equipment, such as smoke masks, high temperature gloves, etc. This increases the complexity and risk of fighting fires.

4. Insufficient preventive measures

Design flaws: Some lithium batteries may have design flaws, such as mismatch of positive and negative electrode capacities, improper selection of diaphragm materials, etc., which can increase the risk of battery fire.

Improper use: Users may have improper behaviors when using lithium batteries, such as overcharge, overdischarge, short circuit, etc., which may lead to battery fire.

Insufficient maintenance: Lithium batteries require regular maintenance and inspection to ensure that they are in good condition. However, in practical applications, there is often insufficient maintenance, increasing the risk of battery fire.