Is the VLITEX Extinguishing Blanket Premium M suitable to control a battery fire? Is it suitable as a so-called fire barrier ceiling? How hot does such a fire get and can the ceiling retain the heat? All of this was tested using state-of-the-art measurement methods in the laboratory of ACTS – Advanced Car Technology Systems GmbH, the center of excellence for vehicle safety in the Magna Steyr Group.

During investigations of battery fires, temperatures of over 700 °C were found in the vicinity of the modules. In some cases, extreme developments of well over 1,000 °C occurred. Flooding the battery cells was the only way to create a controllable situation.

Now the suitability of the fire blanket for battery fires is to be investigated. Targets include:

• Keep heat generation in the immediate vicinity of the modules below 200 °C (heat shield).
• Avoidance of flooding due to lower temperatures that allow controlled burnout.
• Function as a flue, that is, trap smoke and gases under the ceiling.

The VLITEX extinguishing blanket is a very good product, which seems to be suitable especially in parking garages, e-bike loading spaces, home storage facilities, production lines and the like as the first protection for the environment.

The requirements for use as a heat shield and smoke screen in battery fires are clearly met. Small possibilities for optimization have been identified (meanwhile technically solved).

Participant

• Magna Steyr
• Schwender GmbH
• Würzburg Fire Brigade School
• Local fire department Karlstein

Location
ACTS Advancet Car Technology Systems GmbH - Sailauf

Date
27.07.2020

• Material: special fiberglass fabric with silicone coating on both sides
• developed for battery fires
• Temperature resistance: up to 1,000 °C, in peaks even 1,300 °C
• Can be used several times depending on the fire load
• Available in different sizes

• Five battery modules with prismatic cells of 150 Ah each with a capacity of 7 kW were installed to form a complete system.
• The first module is heated with 650 W to generate a thermal reaction at the first cell of the module.

Comment:

• The chain reaction begins
• Two modules are located in the Thermal Runaway
• Ambient temperature ~ 220 °C measured by thermal imaging camera

Comment:

• Fire blanket easy to handle
• In the first moment strong smoke development
• Immediate "cooling effect": ambient temperature drops, although the temperatures of the modules rise significantly

Comment:

• Smoke development over after a short time
• Surface temperature of the fire blanket at 120 °C
• Ambient temperature < 100 °C
• Blanket lifts when "going through" cells

• The fire blanket withstood peak temperatures of up to 1,300 °C (see "1").
• In total, the fire blanket survived 2 hours of heat exposure undamaged (see "2").
• The ambient temperatures were ~ 120 °C.

• The expectations placed on the fire blanket were met.
• It is suitable as a heat shield and keeps the temperatures around the burning modules below 200 °C.
• Flooding of the modules is not necessary because controlled burnout is possible at these low temperatures.
• The fire blanket acts as a smoke trap, trapping smoke and gases.

There are opportunities for optimization for use beyond trial operation.

• Defined possibility to let gas or pressure escape. (This has now been technically solved)
• Weighted edges so that the ceiling does not lift in case of gas leakage or volume increase.

"In principle, the VLITEX extinguishing blanket is a very good product, which we see especially in parking garages, e-bike charging rooms, home storage, production lines, etc. as the first protection in case of a battery fire for the surrounding area."

Of course, our products are not only examined by specialized institutes. We enable testing in various scenarios at fire departments and more. Please feel free to ask! Our wide range of fire blankets and accessories offers the right solution for your application. And if not, we will work with you to develop special sizes and shapes. Almost anything is possible