EV fire extinguisher injects water directly into batteries

[enzoalec92]

https://www.thedrive.com/tech/43172/ev-fire-extinguisher-pumps-water-straight-into-the-batteries

<EV Fire Extinguisher Pumps Water Straight Into the Batteries
The extinguisher hopes to make fighting EV fires easier for emergency crews.

Electric vehicles pose a unique risk on the road, in that their lithium-ion batteries can catch fire and burn fiercely in an accident. Fighting these fires poses a challenge for emergency responders, which Austrian firm Rosenbauer hopes to solve with its new extinguisher specially designed for the task, as reported by Rideapart.

The system consists of an extinguishing unit which is placed under the target vehicle, and a control unit which can be operated by firefighters from a safe distance, with the two connected by hoses. For cars on their side or roof, the extinguisher unit can be placed on the top of a vehicle, or even in the interior or luggage compartment, in order to best access the battery. Once activated from the control unit, the extinguisher drives a piercing nozzle into the battery pack, allowing it to pump water directly where it's needed to cool the battery modules or the cells themselves. It's an effective way to bring the battery temperature down, calming the thermal runaway that makes lithium-ion battery fires so spectacular.

Being able to directly fill the battery with water is a far more efficient way of fighting a battery fire than simply blasting away with a hose from the outside. Rosenbauer notes that this has multiple benefits, allowing crews to put out EV fires more quickly, while also reducing the amount of harmful smoke and gases released along the way. The system also allows firefighters to remain at a safe distance, 25 feet away from the vehicle, operating the control unit rather than having to hold a hose. 

The extinguishing unit can also be left attached to the vehicle during transport, once the fire has been put out. Damaged batteries can sometimes catch fire again after initially being extinguished, so having the unit still attached allows more water to be pumped into the battery if necessary at a later time.

The system has been tested in partnership with several organizations to ensure the hardware is fit for service. Patrick Looß, head of the Securitas Fire and Safety department in Leipzig, Germany, noted that "The extinguishing system is currently one of the best and most innovative of its kind to contain the spread of battery fires. Operation is very user-friendly and effective. From my point of view, the system is a must-have for every fire department."

Expect to see this and other similar solutions become popular with fire departments as more electric cars get on the road. Alternatively, if solid-state batteries ever go mainstream, their lower flammability could also go a long way to solving the fire issue. Until then, however, fire crews around the world will need to be prepared to deal with battery fires, and gear like this goes a long way to helping in those situations.>

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Being a firefighter nowadays clearly isn't as cut-and-dry as it used to be; you not only need to possess great fitness but also technological expertise to do your work.

I just wonder when SCDF will start placing their orders for this? When they do get hold of it, we won't have as many spectacular videos of blazin' Vezels to watch though! 🔥

 

[kobayashiGT]

when there is an electric fire, the best is to let it burn until finished. Very hard to put out one. hahaha.

[Fitvip]

Extra equipment for the firemen to carry.

[Jamesc]

No never spray water to an electrical fire!

[enzoalec92]

On 11/19/2021 at 8:49 PM, kobayashiGT said:

when there is an electric fire, the best is to let it burn until finished. Very hard to put out one. hahaha.

 

On 11/20/2021 at 12:00 PM, Jamesc said:

No never spray water to an electrical fire!

I'm sure the company which designed and engineered this system (Rosenbauer) knows what's the best approach to take, or else it'd have been a massive waste of their R&D money! 🤑

On 11/20/2021 at 10:56 AM, Fitvip said:

Extra equipment for the firemen to carry.

Yeah, the firetrucks are gonna get heavier with each new generation of tech that comes along. At this rate, they'll need to be electric themselves to have the torque to haul all that stuff! But when the electric firetrucks catch fire, who's gonna put it out? 🤔

[Mustank]

Spray what not important 

Important is spray inside 

[Beregond]

how are they going to do it when the EV  is burning like crazy like we see in the video?