Fike invites energy storage system manufacturers into BPA Programme

Fike Battery Protection Analysis Programme procedures determine and validate the protection approach using Fike Blue as the thermal management and fire protection solution to protect lithium-ion battery assemblies from thermal runaway.

Battery Protection Analysis provides energy storage system manufacturers with confidence that their solutions, when equipped with Fike Blue, will pass UL 9540A certification at a nationally recognised testing laboratory, meet the requirements of local authorities having jurisdiction and, most importantly, keep nearby people and property safe.

This is achieved through various means:

*designing a custom energy storage system thermal management and fire protection solution using Fike Blue that fulfils the demands of the unique application

*validating the Fike Blue solution in a Unit-Level Test guided by UL 9540A

*identifying potential risks within the energy storage system design that could render the suppression of a thermal runaway event difficult (or impossible), as well as identifying risk mitigation solutions

*producing a thoroughly documented, yet easy-to-read Battery Protection Analysis Report to submit to local authorities having jurisdiction, fire marshals and insurance providers, etc.

Design feedback

“Fike’s goal in the Battery Protection Analysis Programme is to provide energy storage system design element feedback that will enhance the efficacy of Fike Blue and further increase the probability of success during certification testing through a process that’s intended to be fast and cost-effective,” explained Tom Farrell, testing and validation manager at Fike. “This enables energy storage system manufacturers to rapidly iterate their design, while also demonstrating the effectiveness of a custom, performance-based thermal management and fire protection solution.”

The information provided in the Fike Battery Protection Analysis Report includes the following:

Section 1: Executive Summary

Assessment of the test results through the lens of requirements listed in UL 9540A. This section will have significant value re: conversations with local authorities having jurisdiction and fire marshals, as well as guidance for the next steps in testing (if indicated).

Section 2: Introduction

General overview of the objectives of the test programme, the intended use of the energy storage system under testing and any other pertinent background information. Identified performance risks (ie excessive venting, leaky cabinets or lack of thermal isolation between cells, etc) will be discussed and all details regarding the cell manufacturer, cell chemistry, cell voltage and battery assembly part numbers documented.

Section 3: Experimental set-up and validation approach

Details the test set-up, discusses the measurement equipment used and notes the location of all instrumentation installed within the energy storage system under test. Any modifications to the energy storage system module under testing (necessary for instrumentation and/or to address possible risks to efficacy of Fike Blue) will also be noted and documented in detail. Upon successful test results, system design that would be applied in the field will also be provided.

Section 4: Results and discussion

Documents the approximate two hours of test results: heating (typically one hour), thermal runaway and fire (typically five-to-30 minutes) and thermal equalisation after the last cell undergoes thermal runaway (typically one hour). A discussion of the efficacy of Fike Blue in the current energy storage system configuration, recommendations for energy storage system modifications to enhance the efficacy of Fike Blue (if necessary), recommendations for additional testing, analysis of collected data and an overall assessment of the performance of the protective system will be provided.

Testing and analysis

Fike Battery Protection Analysis Programme projects are conducted at Fike’s headquarters in Blue Springs, Missouri, where testing and analysis may be observed in person or virtually from anywhere in the world.

As stated, Fike Blue is the first third party-tested solution proven to stop thermal runaway by absorbing the heat from a malfunctioning lithium-ion battery and cooling the module to eliminate the possibility of reignition.

*Further information is available online at www.fikeblue.com