A Study on ESS Fire Suppression Technology Using Halogenated Extinguishing Agents

A method for extinguishing lithium-ion battery fires in Energy Storage Systems (ESS) at an early stage using the cooling properties of halogenated extinguishing agents was investigated. FK-5-1-12 and HFC-227ea were employed as coolants. Thermal runaway fire suppression experiments were conducted on a module consisting of 28 pouch-type NCM cells charged to over 90% capacity. The surface of a single cell was heated at 7 °C/min to induce thermal runaway, after which halogenated extinguishing agents were injected into the module for 20 minutes. Both agents not only extinguished the fire but also halted the propagation of thermal runaway, preventing complete module destruction. Furthermore, propagation to adjacent modules was successfully blocked. This study demonstrates a method for applying halogenated extinguishing agents to ESS fire suppression systems. Because these agents are non-conductive, extinguishing ESS fires at an early stage can significantly reduce recovery costs by preserving battery integrity compared to water-based method.