Seminar on Fire and explosion mechanism in lithium battery energy storage system

16 Apr 2026 02.45 PM - 03.30 PM MAE Meeting Room D (N3.2-02-59) Current Students, Public

Professor Lu Shouxiang

State Key Laboratory of Fire Science

University of Science and Technology of China

Seminar Abstract

With the rapid development of lithium-ion battery energy storage systems under the carbon neutrality agenda, fire and explosion safety has become a critical challenge for large-scale energy storage applications. This report reviews the development background of lithium-ion battery energy storage, analyzes representative fire and explosion accidents in energy storage stations, and summarizes the fundamental mechanisms of battery thermal runaway, gas generation, fire propagation, and explosion. The results show that thermal runaway, triggered by mechanical, electrical, or thermal abuse, is the essential cause of battery fire accidents. It involves self-accelerating heat generation, combustible gas release, jet fire, and propagation from cell to cell, which may ultimately lead to system-level fire and explosion. The report further highlights the important role of combustible gas accumulation in confined spaces and proposes an integrated control strategy involving thermal management, gas monitoring, thermal insulation, venting, cooling, flame suppression, and system-level risk prevention. The findings provide important scientific support for the safe design, application, and fire protection of lithium-ion battery energy storage systems.

Speaker's Biography 

Prof. Lu is a leading researcher in fire safety and combustion dynamics, focusing on lithium-ion battery fire safety, extreme-environment fire dynamics, complex system fire risk assessment, and eco-friendly fire extinguishing technologies. As Principal Investigator (PI), he has secured approximately 21.7 million RMB in research funding from national strategic programs, government agencies, and industrial collaborations, supporting China’s key sectors including aerospace, shipping, and new energy vehicles. His flagship research addresses fire risks in liquid oxygen-kerosene rocket refueling (NSFC Grant No. 52076203): his team developed specialized oxygen-rich ignition and fire spread test platforms, revealed the nonlinear effects of oxygen concentration on kerosene flash point, ignition energy, and fire propagation mechanisms, and built predictive models for key fire parameters, providing critical scientific support for rocket launch site safety monitoring and refueling process optimization. For ship engine room fires (NSFC Grant No. 50976109), he led the development of a variable-top-opening compartment fire test rig, discovered the self-extinguishment threshold of oil pool fires in confined spaces with horizontal openings, and modified compartment fire models to accurately predict smoke temperature and filling dynamics, laying a theoretical foundation for marine fire risk assessment and rescue strategies. He also led lithium-ion battery thermal runaway research, publishing insights on insulation material effects on thermal runaway propagation in Process Safety and Environmental Protection. With over 300 high-quality papers in top-tier journals (e.g., Combustion and Flame, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, Reliability Engineering and System Safety), he holds 15 authorized invention patents focused on eco-friendly aqueous film-forming foam extinguishing agents and performance testing devices. His research has won prestigious honors including the 2025 China Fire Protection Association Science and Technology Innovation First Prize, 2006 National Science and Technology Progress Second Prize, and 2000 State Council Special Allowance. He has led key national projects (National 173 Program, 973 Program, National Key R&D Program sub-projects), providing technical support for national safety in aerospace, shipping, and petrochemical sectors.

 

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