How Fike Blue Solves Cascading Thermal Runaway

Fike Blue is the first third-party tested and patented solution proven to not only suppress battery fires but also a cascading thermal runaway event. Learn how Fike Blue works to control these extremely dangerous hazards and makes the deployment of BESS’ into nearly any environment possible!

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How Does Fike Blue Work?

Many have tried to solve the thermal runaway problem with clean agents, water mist, aerosols and more. These solutions have the ability to suppress battery fires, but internal testing by Fike and evidence from real-world situations have proven that they are ineffective at solving the thermal management problem of thermal runaway, resulting in battery cells with a high chance to re-ignite and making BESS deployment into populated areas difficult.

1. Anomaly Detected

When a heat or gas anomaly is detected, a releasing panel activates the cylinder to flow Fike Blue throughout the piping network.

2. Targeted Discharge

However, only in the module where the fire is located will the nozzle open and discharge Fike Blue.

3. Immersive Suppression

Fike Blue fills the battery module and immerses the overheated cells.

4. Absorption

With a boiling point far greater than that of water, Fike Blue absorbs the exothermic heat without breaking down.

5. Temperatures Decrease

The temperatures for all cells dramatically decrease until the event and chance for re-ignition is over.

Fike Blue vs Other Protection Strategies

Sprinklers or Firefighter Water

Requires potentially thousands of gallons to control the fire
Chemicals from battery cells run off into the groundwater and environment
May cause arcing which can provide an ignition source for combustible gasses and vapors.

Chemical Agents

May degrade at extreme temperatures
A ventilation system may push out the protective gases as the event continues
Have a boiling point much lower than water, and will evaporate and dissipate very early; do not have a meaningful thermal capacity for absorbing heat.

Containment (Let it Burn)

Many AHJs won’t accept ESS’s without a protection system within their jurisdiction
If all batteries are allowed to burn, an exorbitant amount of toxic gas is released
ESS deployment is projected to exponentially grow, so this strategy is untenable

Fike Blue vs Letting it Burn

"Letting it burn is a strategy I find to be irresponsible at best and dangerous in typical scenarios for two main reasons. One, is the incredible thermal load you subject other structures and batteries to, and the other being the immediate danger to the environment and life in occupied spaces. If you have 1,000 cells inside a battery and you let all those burn, you generate 1,000 cells worth of toxic gas that is going into occupied spaces and render them unoccupiable for some time. If this is in an urban setting, this can have disastrous consequences."
Tom Farrell, Fike Principal Engineer of Test & Validation

Fike Blue FAQs

Q. How does Fike Blue work?: With a heat capacity far greater than that of water, Fike Blue absorbs the intense exothermic heat produced from thermal runaway without breaking down. For comparison, 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid boils at a little under 50°C.

Q. Does Fike Blue have any environmental impact?: Blue uses exponentially less liquid than the water required by sprinklers and especially by fire fighters, resulting in far less runoff into the surrounding environment. Furthermore, the liquid does not fall under the family of PFAS, many of which are currently under investigation around the world.

Q. How is Fike Blue stored and discharged?: The liquid is stored as a pressurized liquid and also discharged as a liquid.

Q. Is Fike Blue electrically conductive?: Blue is far less conductive than water, as all tests performed either by Fike or by a third party have yet to witness the shorting of any cells.