Fighting battery fires poses particular challenges, as they reach extremely high temperatures and are difficult to extinguish. The VLITEX fire blanket E-AUTO was specially developed for such scenarios. The effectiveness of the blanket was impressively demonstrated during a fire test in the laboratory of ACTS - Advanced Car Technology Systems GmbH, a leading competence center for vehicle safety.
Table of contents
The aim of the test: to safely contain battery fires
The aim of the test was to evaluate the suitability of the VLITEX fire blanket in the event of a battery fire. The most important requirements were:
- Heat protection for the surroundings: Temperatures in the vicinity of the battery fire should be kept below 200 °C.
- No flooding necessary: Lowering the temperature should enable controlled burnout.
- Smoke and gas containment: The ceiling should effectively contain smoke and gases.
The experimental setup
- Battery modules: Five prismatic cells of 150 Ah each with a total capacity of 7 kW.
- Simulation: A module was heated to 650 W to trigger a thermal reaction (thermal runaway).
- Measurement methods: Thermal imaging cameras and temperature measuring devices recorded the ambient temperatures and the load on the ceiling.
Results of the test
- Heat resistance:
The cover withstood peak temperatures of up to 1,300 °C and remained intact for over 2 hours. The ambient temperature dropped to less than 100 °C, while the battery modules themselves reached high temperatures. - Effective smoke trap:
The fire blanket significantly reduced smoke development and kept smoke and toxic gases under the ceiling. - No need for flooding:
The temperatures remained controllable so that the modules could burn out safely without using additional extinguishing water. - Stability:
Even when the volume increased due to the cells "passing through", the ceiling remained stable and prevented lifting.
Improvements and optimizations
The test identified minor optimization options that have since been implemented:
- Pressure relief: Technical adaptations allow gases to escape at high pressure.
- Weighted edges: The ceiling remains stable on the fire object even if gas escapes.
Areas of application for VLITEX fire blanket
The VLITEX fire blanket is ideal as initial protection in numerous scenarios:
- Parking garages and underground garages: securing electric vehicles in the event of battery fires.
- E-bike charging compartments: protection against battery explosions.
- Home storage and production lines: Containment of potential fires in industrial environments.
Effective protection with VLITEX fire blanket
The fire test has shown that the VLITEX fire blanket is a powerful and reliable tool for effectively containing battery fires. It meets the requirements for heat protection, smoke and gas containment as well as the possibility of controlled burnout.
With its optimized properties, it offers safety in sensitive areas such as parking lots, loading bays and production facilities - and thus sets new standards in modern fire protection.
