Cargo Compartment Fire Test Results

Impact of on-board fire protection capabilities

Sabatair Closing Event – 14 Nov 2019

Dr. André Freiling – Airbus Operations GmbH

Motivation

The goal of the full-scale fire tests is to

evaluate the effects that the implementation

of certain mitigating measures (FCCs, thermal

insulation) may have on the involvement of

cells/batteries in an external fire event

(i.e. starting from cargo items other than

cells/batteries)

Test Sequence

Cold Test:

Proof that the Halon

concentration is 3% at

the location of the

battery box

Commissioning Test:

Place half amount of

cells (400) next to the

ignition box – do not use

the Fire Suppression

System

No Fire Suppression test

800 cells

Halon

Fire Suppression test

800 cells

FCC + Halon

Fire Suppression test

800 cells

Full scale tests

Test Infrastructure

FAA MPS Test configuration

Pushed air inside the cargo compartment through

the Halon Nozzles by massflow controller 20l/s

FAA: Federal Aviation Administration (American Regulatority Authority)

MPS: Minimum Performance Standard for Aircraft Cargo Compartment Halon Replacement

Fire Suppression Systems (2012 Update), U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, DOT/FAA/TC-

TN12/11, May 2012

Cardboard burn box

filled with shredded paper

Test System Architecture

Fire Containment Cover

Test Batteries – Supplier 118650

Carboard paper dividers

between every cell

2 sub boxes stacked on top

of each other in one outer

cardboard box

96 Batteries in one sub-box

Test Batteries – Supplier 2

100 Batteries in one sub-box Corrugated Carboard dividers

between every second cell

2 sub boxes stacked side

by side in one outer

cardboard box

Full scale fire test setup

Legend

MPS requirements

followed as close as

possible for cardboard box

arrangement

100 cells @

100%SOC

100 cells @

50%SOC

100 cells @

100%SOC

100 cells @

50%SOC

Box 1

Box 2

These boxes are placed directly on the pallet

TC09

TC010

On the side of the boxe

Front facing the flames

100 cells @

50%SOC

50 cells @ 50%SOC

&

50 cells @100%SOC

50 cells @ 100%SOC

&

50 cells @50%SOC

100 cells @

50%SOC

TC

05

TC

08

TC

07

TC

06

Box 3

Box 4

TC011 on the

side of box 4

TC012 on the

side of box 3

The 50 cells @100%SOC are placed as shown in the picture.

Front facing the flames

These boxes are on the metallic support

Full scale fire test without Fire SuppressionT

[°C

]

t [hh:mm:sec]

Temperature inside the Battery Boxes

Full scale fire test without Fire Suppression

Ceiling Temperature at different sample points Oxygen concentration at different sampling points

Full scale fire test without Fire Suppression

Full scale fire test with Fire Suppression

Ceiling Temperatures93.3°C@ceiling

MPS Halon

Discharge

criterion

Actual Halon

Discharge

(145°C@Battery)

Full scale fire test with Fire Suppression

T [

°C]

t [hh:mm:sec]

Temperature inside the Battery Boxes

T [

°C]

t [hh:mm:sec]

93.3°C@ceiling

MPS Halon

Discharge

criterion

Actual Halon

Discharge

(145@battery)

Full scale fire test with Fire Suppression

93.3°C@ceiling MPS Halon Discharge

criterion

Actual Halon

Discharge

REMARK!!!!

Full scale fire test with Fire Suppression

Many batteries were involved

Full scale fire test with FCC and Fire Suppression

Test setupCardboard boxes coverd by FCC

Full scale fire test with FCC and Fire Suppression

Ceiling Temperatures

93.3°C@ceilingActual Halon

Discharge

93.3°C@ceilingActual Halon

Discharge

Full scale fire test with FCC and Fire Suppression

Temperature inside

the Battery Boxes

Full scale fire test with FCC and Fire Suppression

Boxes inside the FCC were impactedThe cover was impacted but not burnt through

Full scale fire test with FCC and Fire Suppression

Impact to the batteries was minimal

Conclusions

The Aircraft built-in fire

suppression system inhibits

further propagation of thermal

runaways for the tested batteries

under specific SoC.

For the tested scenario, a Fire

Containment Cover provides

significant protection against the

threats of an external fire event.

No Suppression Halon Fire Suppression Halon Fire Suppression + FCC

Thank you

o Questions / comments?

Brand LGChem MJ1 Samsung 35E

Nominal Capacity (based on manufacturer

Datasheet 3500mAh 3500mAh

Chemistry LiNiCoAlO2 LiNiCoMnO2

Dimensions 18650 18650

SOC 50% 50%

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