CLOU's New White Paper on Advanced Ventilation Systems Post 59-Hour Fire Test

CLOU's Comprehensive Approach to Fire Safety

CLOU, a recognized Tier 1 provider in energy storage solutions, has made significant strides in enhancing safety standards with the release of its latest white paper, which details the architecture of its innovative active ventilation and explosion-proof systems. This pivotal release follows a monumental fire endurance test that lasted an impressive 59 hours and 10 minutes, conducted on their liquid-cooled Aqua C2.5 battery storage system, boasting a capacity of 5 MWh.

The large-scale testing, attended and documented by CSA Group, recreated a scenario of extreme thermal runaway. During the test, four Aqua C2.5 containers were densely arranged to simulate a real-life high-density setup. The container labeled 'A' was deliberately ignited, and the combustion persisted throughout the testing period, with internal temperatures soaring above 1,300 °C. Notably, no fire extinguishing systems were activated, demonstrating the effectiveness of CLOU's fire resistance measures and the capabilities of its active ventilation and explosion-proof systems. Furthermore, there was no thermal propagation to adjacent units, emphasizing the reliability of their technology in densely packed deployments.

Recent years have witnessed an escalation of safety concerns in the energy storage sector, with numerous reports of fires and explosions. In response, North America has established one of the strictest safety regulatory frameworks in the world, overseeing risk management throughout the entire lifecycle of energy systems. The principal standards in this area include NFPA 855, NFPA 68, NFPA 69, UL 9540, and CSA/ANSI C800. CLOU has developed a multi-tiered fire protection system to safeguard client assets at every stage of the lifecycle. This system, which is elaborated on in their white paper, integrates Lean Engineering principles and encompasses various crucial components:

1. Early Detection and Alerting of Thermal Runaway: The Battery Management System (BMS) continuously monitors voltage and temperature in real-time, triggering alarms and disconnecting circuits to prevent fire spread. Sensors activate the explosion-proof active ventilation systems, effectively neutralizing explosion risks before combustion can commence.

2. Double-Layer Fire Extinguishing System: CLOU enhances traditional total flooding gaseous fire suppression systems through immediate cooling to avert reignition, all while synchronizing the ventilation system to lower flammable gas concentrations.

3. Explosion Protection: The active-passive defense mechanism employs preemptive control; the ventilation systems maintain flammable gas concentrations below 25% of the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL), thus avoiding explosive conditions at their source, in compliance with NFPA 69. Moreover, pressure relief structures manage explosion blasts to prevent chain reactions.

4. Active Ventilation and Explosion-Proof Design: This design incorporates five natural air exhausts and two air intakes to keep flammable gases under 25% of the LEL, even if an air intake fails, as stipulated by NFPA 69 standards. The exhausts simultaneously act as decompression vents in case of an explosion, directing flames upwards to prevent propagation between containers while ensuring ongoing ventilation through thermal pressure differentials in power outages.

CLOU's latest innovations reflect their unwavering commitment to advancing industry safety standards. The white paper, now available for download, serves as a practical resource for developers, EPCs, regulatory bodies, and asset owners striving to enhance long-term safety and reliability across their systems. For more detailed information, interested parties can download the white paper here and view the related video here.