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Fire Hazards Associated with the Use of Water and Glycol as Coolants for Li-Ion Battery Systems

Nilsson, Elna J.K. LU orcid and Runefors, Marcus LU orcid (2025) In Fire Technology
Abstract

A few large fires in Lithium-ion battery systems are known to have been caused by leaking coolant, and experience from fire testing indicate that coolant can be the origin of violent fires triggered before the onset of thermal runaway in the battery. It is here hypothesized that the common coolants water and ethylene glycol can form flammable gases via electrolysis in the electrical environment found in battery modules and packs, and that electric breakdown can subsequently be triggered and result in formation of thermal plasma that further enhance evaporation and gas formation from the coolants. In this short communication, the potential hazards are analyzed with a basis in evidence from the literature, and in a theoretical... (More)

A few large fires in Lithium-ion battery systems are known to have been caused by leaking coolant, and experience from fire testing indicate that coolant can be the origin of violent fires triggered before the onset of thermal runaway in the battery. It is here hypothesized that the common coolants water and ethylene glycol can form flammable gases via electrolysis in the electrical environment found in battery modules and packs, and that electric breakdown can subsequently be triggered and result in formation of thermal plasma that further enhance evaporation and gas formation from the coolants. In this short communication, the potential hazards are analyzed with a basis in evidence from the literature, and in a theoretical perspective, as well as from anecdotal experience.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
Cooling liquid, Discharge, Ethylene glycol, Fire, Hydrogen, Lithium-ion battery
in
Fire Technology
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:105000905631
ISSN
0015-2684
DOI
10.1007/s10694-025-01717-x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9dd36101-68e1-4e61-bd7a-536c10a5a71c
date added to LUP
2025-09-10 10:40:50
date last changed
2025-09-10 10:45:41
@article{9dd36101-68e1-4e61-bd7a-536c10a5a71c,
  abstract     = {{<p>A few large fires in Lithium-ion battery systems are known to have been caused by leaking coolant, and experience from fire testing indicate that coolant can be the origin of violent fires triggered before the onset of thermal runaway in the battery. It is here hypothesized that the common coolants water and ethylene glycol can form flammable gases via electrolysis in the electrical environment found in battery modules and packs, and that electric breakdown can subsequently be triggered and result in formation of thermal plasma that further enhance evaporation and gas formation from the coolants. In this short communication, the potential hazards are analyzed with a basis in evidence from the literature, and in a theoretical perspective, as well as from anecdotal experience.</p>}},
  author       = {{Nilsson, Elna J.K. and Runefors, Marcus}},
  issn         = {{0015-2684}},
  keywords     = {{Cooling liquid; Discharge; Ethylene glycol; Fire; Hydrogen; Lithium-ion battery}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Fire Technology}},
  title        = {{Fire Hazards Associated with the Use of Water and Glycol as Coolants for Li-Ion Battery Systems}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10694-025-01717-x}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10694-025-01717-x}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}