Lithium storage containers (De Waak)
The customer
WAAK is a company that is in the Groep Maatwerk an that creates opporunities specifically for people distanced from the labour market. They focus on four major activity clusters: industrial assembly, assembly work, packaging work and on-site services.
Purpose
WAAK subcontracts to collect On Board Units returning from the market. They check the devices for damage, give them a software update if necessary and repackage them for reuse. As such devices run on lithium batteries, it is important that they are stored in a safe way.
Li-Ion batteries can in fact cause fire when batteries are thermally runaway (Thermal Runaway). This is caused by e.g. internal short circuits and is considered a special hazard with a high fire risk due to the large amount of energy stored in the cells.
Problem-solution
CGK has installed two fireproof lithium containers within WAAK's facility for storing new batteries and those awaiting recharging.
- The containers have 2 double doors with electromagnets to secure the doors when open.
- Each container has temperature control to regulate the temperature and a fan to dissipate heat.
- Any explosion is contained by a pressure relief hatch in the roof of the cabinet. The hatch contains a filter mat that stops the whirling lithium particles. There is also a drain on the hatch to discharge the highly toxic hydrogen fluoride gas.
- The lithium storage containers are equipped with a lithium extinguisher. In case of fire, the extinguisher pots spread an extinguishing powder in the cabinet and the mist is distributed over the products.
- Each storage container is connected to an electrical system (Siemens processor) that measures and controls all necessary parameters such as temperature (cooling, warming, fan), doors, visual and audible alarms, ...
