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EP-4739403-A1 - A FLUORINE-FREE FIRE EXTINGUISHING FORMULATION FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY STORAGE AND CONVERSION SYSTEMS

EP4739403A1EP 4739403 A1EP4739403 A1EP 4739403A1EP-4739403-A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to use of a fluorine-free fire extinguishing formulation for extinguishing a fire in electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems, said fluorine-free fire extinguishing formulation comprising: one or more fire retardant agents, one or more surfactants, an organic solvent, and water, water is present in an amount of between 90,00 wt.% and 99,99 wt.%.

Inventors

  • RACHIDI, Saïd
  • BOUZID, Hobalah
  • Daeseleire, Pieter

Assignees

  • Uniteq S.A.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240705

Claims (15)

  1. 1. Use of a fluorine-free fire extinguishing formulation for extinguishing a fire in electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems, said fluorine-free fire extinguishing formulation comprising: one or more fire retardant agents, one or more surfactants, an organic solvent, and water, characterized in that, said water is present in an amount of between 90,00 wt.% and 99,90 wt.%.
  2. 2. Use according to claim 1, characterized in that, said water is present in an amount of between 95,00 wt.% and 98,00 wt.%.
  3. 3. Use according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, said fire is a fire which has the characteristics of at least two fire classes chosen from the group of class A fires, class B fires, class D fires, class E fires, or combinations thereof.
  4. 4. Use according to any one of preceding claims 1-3, characterized in that, said one or more fire retardant agents are chosen from the group of ammonium phosphates, phosphate esters, halogenated phosphates, phosphonates, red phosphorus, calcium silicate, sodium silicate, aluminium trihydroxide, magnesium dihydroxide, melamine, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), brominated phenol, or combinations thereof.
  5. 5. Use according to any one of preceding claims 1-4, characterized in that, said one or more surfactants comprise: a mixture of at least two different amphoteric surfactants, and a mixture of at least two different anionic surfactants, characterized in that, said mixture of amphoteric surfactants and said mixture of anionic surfactants are respectively present in a concentration of between 0,05 and 1,00 wt.% and of between 0,05 wt.% and 1,00 wt.% based on the total weight of the fire extinguishing formulation.
  6. 6. Use according to claim 5, characterized in that, said mixture of amphoteric surfactants comprises at least three different amphoteric surfactants, and that said mixture of anionic surfactants comprises at least three different anionic surfactants.
  7. 7. Use according to any one of preceding claims 1-6, characterized in that, said organic solvent has a concentration of between 0,05 wt.% and 1,00 wt.% based on the total weight of the fire extinguishing formulation.
  8. 8. Use according to any one of preceding claims 1-7, characterized in that, said fire extinguishing formulation comprises a foam stabilizer, said foam stabilizer is present in a concentration of between 0,05 wt.% and 1,00 wt.% based on the total weight of the fire extinguishing formulation.
  9. 9. Use according to any one of preceding claims 1-8, characterized in that, said fire extinguishing formulation comprises a heat stabilizer, said heat stabilizer is present in a concentration of between 0,05 wt.% and 1,00 wt.% based on the total weight of the fire extinguishing formulation.
  10. 10. Use according to any one of preceding claims 1-9, characterized in that, the fire retardant agent is present in a concentration of between 0,50 wt.% to 2,00 wt.% based on the total weight of the fire extinguishing formulation.
  11. 11. Use according to any one of preceding claims 1-10, characterized in that, said fire extinguishing formulation comprises: between 0,50 wt.% and 2,00 wt.% of fire retardant agent; between 0,05 wt.% and 1,00 wt.% of amphoteric surfactants; between 0,05 wt.% and 1,00 wt.% of anionic surfactants; between 0,05 wt.% and 1,00 wt.% of foam stabilizer; between 0,05 wt.% and 1,00 wt.% of heat stabilizer; between 0,05 wt.% and 1,00 wt.% of organic solvent; and between 95,00 wt.% and 99,00 wt.% of water.
  12. 12. Use according to any one of preceding claims 1-11, characterized in that, said amphoteric surfactants are chosen from the group of betaines, sultaines, alkylamphoacetates, amphodiacetates, alkylampho-propionates, alkyliminodipropionates, amphodipropionates, aliphatic quaternary ammonium compounds, aliphatic quaternary phosphonium compounds, aliphatic quaternary sulfonium compounds, derivatives or combinations thereof.
  13. 13. Use according to any one of preceding claims 1-12, characterized in that, said anionic surfactants are chosen from the group of alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl ether sulfonates, sulfate esters of an alkylphenoxy polyoxyethylene ethanol, alcohol ammonium sulfates, alpha-olefin sulfonates, beta alkoxy alkane sulfonates, alkylauryl sulfonates, alkyl monoglyceride sulfates, alkyl monoglyceride sulfonates, alkyl carbonates, alkyl ether carboxylates, fatty acids, fatty alcohol sulfates, sulfosuccinates, sarcosinates, octoxynol or nonoxynol phosphates, taurates, fatty taurides, fatty acid amide polyoxyethylens, isethionates, anionic derivatives of alkyl polyglucosides, or combinations thereof.
  14. 14. Use according to any one of preceding claims 1-13, characterized in that, extinguishing said fire in electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems is performed by means of a fire extinguisher comprising said fire extinguishing formulation.
  15. 15. Use according to claim 14, characterized in that, said fire extinguisher comprises a fire extinguishing nozzle (1), said nozzle comprising a mixing chamber (2), a ventilation chamber (3) comprising at least three air inlet holes and a foaming chamber (4), wherein said ventilation chamber is coupled to said mixing chamber and said foaming chamber is coupled to said ventilation chamber and wherein: said ventilation chamber and/or said foaming chamber comprise a mesh (7), wherein said mesh is oriented in the radial plane of the inner cross-section of the ventilation chamber and/or foaming chamber, and said foaming chamber (4) comprises a foam separator element (13) suited to separate a foamed foam in the foaming chamber into at least two streams, wherein the foam separator element is oriented in the radial plane of the inner cross-section of the foaming chamber (4).

Description

A FLUORINE-FREE FIRE EXTINGUISHING FORMULATION FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY STORAGE AND CONVERSION SYSTEMS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to a fire extinguishing formulation. More in particular, the invention relates to use of a fluorine-free fire extinguishing formulation for extinguishing a fire in electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems. BACKGROUND Fire extinguishing formulations generally contain mixtures of surfactants that act as foaming agents, together with solvents and other additives that provide the desired mechanical and chemical properties to the foam. There is a general desire to improve the foaming characteristics of known fire extinguishing compositions, in order to obtain a fire extinguishing process that is faster, more efficient, and in particular, specifically tailored towards a certain fire class. One way of improving the foaming characteristics of fire extinguishing compositions, is by altering the composition itself. For this purpose, fluorinated surfactants have long been used to improve foaming properties, however they have recently come under scrutiny in the light of environmental safety. Fire extinguishing compositions comprising fluorinated surfactants are described in e.g. EP 0 208 682. Other examples of fire extinguishing compositions comprising fluorinated surfactants can be found in US 4 090 967, CN 106 730 567 and CN 1 1 1 686 397. Alternatively, high molecular weight polymeric additives such as acrylic polymers and polysaccharide gums have been added to fire extinguishing compositions in order to lower the amount of fluorinated surfactants needed, while still obtaining a reasonable foam expansion and stability. Such a composition is described in e.g. EP 2 969 052. The present alternatives however comprise some drawbacks, like increased viscosity and thus a difficult application of the fire extinguishing foam. Furthermore, often these fire extinguishing foams are not equally applicable for extinguishing different fire classes, and thus may not be suitable for extinguishing more complex fires, such as fires in electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems. A variety of electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems have gained prominence due to their high energy conversion efficiency and environmental advantages. However, they inherently pose a risk of fire due to the involvement of flammable fuels like hydrogen and the presence of electrical components. Electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems furthermore come in many variants, each possessing unique operating conditions and materials, which influence the nature and severity of potential fires. Fires in electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems present unique challenges due to the variety of materials involved, the high flammability and invisibility of hydrogen fires, and the potential electrical hazards. Consequently, there remains a need in the art for a fire extinguishing formulation which further improves foaming characteristics, i.e. yields a better foam expansion, improved foam stability, which is fluorine-free, and/or which is better suitable for extinguishing complex fires, in particular fires showing characteristics of multiple fire classes, such as fires in electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems. The present invention aims to resolve at least some of the problems and disadvantages mentioned above. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention and embodiments thereof serve to provide a solution to one or more of above-mentioned disadvantages. To this end, the present invention relates to use of a fluorine-free fire extinguishing formulation for extinguishing a fire in electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the us formulation are shown in any of the claims 2 to 15. A particular embodiment is shown in claim 14, wherein extinguishing said fire in electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems is performed by means of a fire extinguisher comprising said fire extinguishing formulation. By preference, said fire extinguisher comprises a fire extinguishing nozzle according to claim 15. FIGURES Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a fire extinguishing nozzle according to the present invention, which nozzle comprises a single, indivisible body. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a fire extinguishing nozzle according to the present invention, which nozzle comprises a single, indivisible body. Figure 3a shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an assembled fire extinguishing nozzle according to the present invention, which nozzle comprises three separate and/or detachable parts. Figure 3b shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a disassembled fire extinguishing nozzle according to the present invention, which nozzle comprises three separate and/or detachable parts. Figure 4a shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an