An experimental study of the use of liquid argon and argon-filled aqueous foams for the extinction of lithium fires

Abstract

The lithium pod temperatures nfa 10-g lithium fire in an insulated container approximate the lithium pool temperature {above 1000~ of a large-scale lithium fire. Addition of water or air-filled aqueous tham to a large-scale lithium fire generally results in a violent reaction. This violent reaction was observed when water or air-filled aqueous foam was added to an insulated 10-g size lithium fire.The use afa liquid argon spray against an insulated 10-g lithium fire resulted in substantial spattering of the hot, molten lithium. Consequently, a liquid argon spray is not recommended against a large-scale lithium fire.Although an argon-filled aqueous foam directed onto an insulated 10-g lithium fire resulted in an increase of the lithium pool temperature, in every experiment conducted in this effort the lithium fire was extinguished. The extinguishing action of the argon-filled loam is positively correlated to the foam flow rate directed to the fire.Aqueous argo n-fill ed foams from concentrated sodium silicate solution or cupric chloride solution did not appear to enhance the extinguishing action of the foam, compared to argon-filled water (only} foams.

Special Issue in Fire Hazards in Energy Systems

“…Just to name three examples; Nash and Whittle [1] studied in 1978 the firefighting of oil tank fires long before the 2005 Buncefield disaster. Nazarov [2] presented in 1982 on extinguishing fires in oil field; and Rhein [3] showed in 1992 experiments on the extinguishing of Lithium battery fires.…”