SECURITY RELIABILITY DEVELOPMENT
Civil Safety
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How and what to extinguish lithium batteries: causes of ignition
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries look like ordinary rechargeable batteries, but have a huge advantage over them in terms of current and capacity. They are used in modern appliances: from smartphones to camcorders.
Keep in mind that like any other battery, a lithium-ion battery carries some risks. Despite the fact that such a battery is relatively small, the consequences of its explosion can be very sad. Improper operation and disposal can cause burns, poisoning and pollution.
But perhaps the worst thing that can happen in an apartment is a fire. So, everyone must be aware of what to do if the cause of the fire was a lithium-ion battery.
First of all, it should be noted that the ignition of a battery of this type is extremely rare. The battery swells faster, and electrolyte leaks from it, but nevertheless in the news every year describe cases of explosion of batteries in smartphones and other devices.
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What are the causes of the explosion of the Li-ion battery?
Most often, batteries whose service life has long expired explode. After 4-5 years, the body and interior of the battery change due to the action of the electrolyte, and therefore the battery becomes extremely vulnerable to temperature changes, vibration, short circuits and mechanical damage. Due to the short circuit, the chemicals contained inside the battery react and form gases. The battery starts to heat up and swells.
Of course, the battery has protection: it is a special valve that opens under a certain pressure and allows the gases to escape. But sometimes the reaction rate inside is so great that there is a real explosion of the battery, in which you see streams of sparks. This is how gases ignite when in contact with oxygen from the atmosphere.
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How to put out such a fire?
If the device has been connected to the mains, you must first unplug it. The burning of the battery will not stop, but this way you will protect yourself and your apartment from major damage. Try to remove the battery from the device and take it to a fireproof place, such as a bathroom or kitchen sink. If possible, just let it burn out and cool, then throw it away.
Powder fire extinguisher is the most effective means of combating a burning lithium-ion battery. But in a critical situation, any standard fire-fighting measures are suitable: extinguishing with water, sand, dense cloth.
It should be recalled that we are talking about a small battery. Extinguishing large Li-ion batteries, which are equipped with electric vehicles, is extremely dangerous due to the stormy reaction of lithium with water.