EP3546027B1 - Method for extinguishing fires containing a high proportion of batteries, e.g. vehicles with drive batteries installed therein - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for extinguishing strong battery fuel sources of fire, z. B. Vehicles with built-in drive batteries.

The number of electrically powered vehicles on the road is increasing and will increase even more in the coming years. Such vehicles have particularly powerful battery systems. However, it is precisely these battery systems that have also turned out to be a source of highly problematic fires. This applies in particular to lithium-ion batteries as traction batteries.

Fires in road vehicles have existed for as long as vehicles have existed. The source of the fire was usually in the engine compartment of the vehicle and the source of the fire was often the fuel supply of the combustion engine with petrol or diesel fuel. Such fires triggered by flammable fuels can in most cases be fought in the conventional manner by the source of the fire in the engine compartment e.g. B. is fought using a standard hand fire extinguisher.

This conventional fire-fighting technique fails in the case of fires in modern, particularly powerful traction batteries, which is why fire-fighting methods have already been proposed specifically for vehicles with traction batteries that have caught fire. However, these procedures require special measures and appropriate technical equipment that is not available everywhere or readily available. In addition, the use of these special firefighting measures requires appropriately trained specialist personnel.

From the DE 2017 002 156 U1 an extinguishing device formed from rigid pipes is known, which is designed to be placed under a burning electric vehicle, wherein the extinguishing agent can be distributed evenly under the electric vehicle through slanted sprinkler openings, whereby a cooling or extinguishing effect can occur. The device is also suitable for cooling heated gas tanks.

The DE 20 2005 021 584 U1 proposes a fluid distributor consisting of a conventional fire hose provided with side outlet nozzles along its length, the outlet nozzles being arranged in two rows along the longitudinal axis of the hose, the rows being slightly angularly offset from the cross-section of the fire hose are arranged to each other.

Furthermore, the JP 2009 125235 A an extinguishing device that confines the body of fire. A pipe ring is placed around the seat of the fire and a wall of water is created by nozzles arranged on it to prevent the inflow of further oxygen to the fire.

The invention is therefore based on the object of being able to effectively delete battery-intensive sources of fire using conventional fire-fighting agents as far as possible, e.g. B. burning vehicles with a large number of highly efficient traction batteries installed in them.

• Bereitstellen von Flüssigkeitsverteilern, die jeweils aus einem Düsenschlauch aus einem in drucklosem Zustand biegeschlaffen, faltbaren Gewebematerial und aus identisch gestalteten Schlauchkupplungen an beiden Schlauchenden bestehen, wobei jeder Düsenschlauch mit Austrittsdüsen versehen ist, die über die Schlauchlänge verteilt angeordnet sind und aus denen Flüssigkeit nur auf einem Umfangssegment des Düsenschlauchs austreten kann, das über einen Teilumfang des Düsenschlauchs reicht,
• Anschließen eines Flüssigkeitsverteilers am einen und eines weiteren Flüssigkeitsverteilers am anderen Ende eines gebogenen Rohrstücks, vorzugsweise eines Viertelkreisrohrstücks,
• Platzieren der Flüssigkeitsverteiler und des gebogenen Rohrstücks in solcher Anordnung, dass sich die Flüssigkeitsverteiler entlang unterschiedlicher Seiten des Brandherds erstrecken,
• Einspeisen von Löschflüssigkeit in die Flüssigkeitsverteiler.

To solve this task, a deletion method with the following steps is proposed:

• Provision of liquid distributors, each consisting of a nozzle hose made of a pliable, foldable fabric material when not under pressure and identically designed hose couplings on both hose ends, with each nozzle hose being provided with outlet nozzles which are distributed over the length of the hose and from which liquid is only on one Circumferential segment of the nozzle hose can exit, which extends over a partial circumference of the nozzle hose,
• Connecting a liquid distributor to one end and another liquid distributor to the other end of a bent piece of pipe, preferably a quarter-circle piece of pipe,
• Placing the liquid distributors and the bent pipe section in such an arrangement that the liquid distributors extend along different sides of the seat of the fire,
• Feeding extinguishing liquid into the liquid distributor.

Such an extinguishing process does not use the fire protection measures and corresponding technical equipment that are specialized for battery fires, since both are If necessary, is not always available at short notice. Instead, largely conventional means of firefighting are used, which are also easy to use and can also be handled without trained specialist personnel. These conventional means include hose-like liquid distributors, each of which is composed of a nozzle hose equipped with lateral outlet nozzles and hose couplings at both ends. Such liquid distributors are z. B. in the EP 1 773 501 B1 described in detail.

In the extinguishing process, a first such liquid distributor is connected to one end and a second such liquid distributor is connected to the other end of a bent pipe section. The liquid distributors are arranged with the piece of pipe connecting them in relation to the seat of the fire in such a way that one liquid distributor extends along one side of the seat of the fire. A suitable extinguishing liquid is then fed in. This then emerges in the form of liquid jets rising almost vertically from those outlet nozzles with which the liquid distributors are provided along their longitudinal extent. As a result, liquid walls that are highly efficient in terms of fire protection are formed. These liquid walls represent a measure that is as simple as it is effective to absorb radiant energy emanating from the seat of the fire and to prevent the spread of the fire, which is particularly critical in practice, as well as radiant heat to neighboring combustible objects.

In particular, the liquid distributors and bent pipe sections can be joined together in such a way that a frame or ring of liquid distributors is formed around the seat of the fire. When the extinguishing liquid is then fed in, it emerges upwards from the outlet nozzles on all sides of the seat of the fire, as a result of which vertical walls of liquid are formed on all sides, which prevent the seat of the fire from spreading outside the frame formed in this way.

Of particular advantage is the use of conventional elements that are already well known in fire protection technology and already exist in many places. This applies in particular to the liquid distributors, which are closely related and compatible with the fire hoses commonly used by fire brigades, but with the addition of the additional outlet nozzles. The coupling systems used are also of the usual type, as they are also commonly used to connect conventional fire hoses. The curved pipe sections through which the liquid distributors are in flow connection are not conventional. However, the pipe sections are also provided with those couplings that are also used to connect conventional fire hoses.

Overall, a high degree of compatibility is achieved using standardized elements and components known from firefighting technology, and sources of fire such as e.g. B. fighting burning vehicles with large numbers of drive batteries installed in them.

Advantageous refinements of the method are specified in the dependent claims.

One embodiment proposes that the peripheral segment of the nozzle hose, on which liquid can emerge from the outlet nozzles, extends over a partial circumference of no more than 1/4 and preferably no more than 1/16 of the nozzle hose. When extinguishing liquid is fed in, it only escapes from the nozzle hose of the liquid distributor over a limited partial extent and if possible only in one direction, so that a very large proportion of the available extinguishing liquid is actually used to form the vertical liquid wall and not for firefighting is lost. It is of particular advantage that no active rotational alignment of the hose is necessary. Rather, due to the recoil effects on the nozzles, the nozzle hoses rotate themselves into a rotational position in which the nozzles radiate away from the ground, i.e. upwards.

For fighting a fire without special aids, it is also advantageous if the liquid distributors are placed in such a way that they lie directly on the ground surrounding the seat of the fire. Special mounts, holders or frames for the liquid distributors are therefore not required, and the extinguishing process can be carried out in almost any environment.

With one embodiment of the method, it is proposed that a total of four liquid distributors and four bent pipe sections are joined together to form a ring of such a size that it is able to completely enclose the seat of the fire.

• zunächst an den beiden Ecken einer Seite des Brandherdes zwei in dem Ring aufeinanderfolgende Rohrstücke abgelegt werden, wobei sich die zwei weiteren Rohrstücke vorläufig ebenfalls noch an dieser Seite des Brandherds befinden,
• anschließend die zwei weiteren Rohrstücke einschließlich der an ihnen angeschlossenen Schlauchabschnitte an die beiden übrigen Ecken umgesetzt und an diesen Ecken abgelegt werden, vorzugsweise ebenfalls auf dem Boden.

Preferably, the liquid distributor and pipe sections combined to form a ring are then designed to form a rectangular frame with four corners by

• first of all, at the two corners of one side of the seat of the fire, two consecutive pieces of pipe are laid down in the ring, with the two other pieces of pipe still being located on this side of the seat of the fire for the time being,
• then the two other pieces of pipe, including the hose sections connected to them, are transferred to the two remaining corners and placed at these corners, preferably also on the floor.

The conversion of the two other pieces of pipe can each be carried out with the help of a rod. The rod is provided with a handle at one end and with a gripper that can be connected to the piece of pipe at the other end. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the piece of pipe is provided with an integrally formed eyelet to which the gripper can be attached.

A further embodiment of the method proposes that the extinguishing liquid be fed into the liquid distributor on the bent pipe section or on one of the bent pipe sections, and that the pipe section has two openings for the pressure-tight connection of liquid distributors and a third opening for the pressure-tight connection of a feed hose.

Either only one of the bent pipe sections can have the third opening, or each of the bent pipe sections can have the third opening, in which case the feed hose is only connected to the third opening of one of the pipe sections, whereas the third openings of the remaining pipe sections are blocked so that no extinguishing liquid can escape there. To block these unneeded third openings z. B. Caps are placed on the openings.

In one embodiment of the extinguishing method, when the connected liquid distributors and pipe sections are placed, at least one pipe section, including the hose sections connected to it, is picked up at one location and transferred to another location. To do this, the piece of pipe is gripped by an eyelet formed on it.

For the greatest possible freedom in the use and arrangement of the pipe sections, it is advantageous if all pipe sections used are provided with the eyelet formed on them and can thus be easily moved depending on the fire situation. In addition, the eyelet serves as a towing eyelet to exert a pulling force directed away from the source of the fire on the relevant piece of pipe, e.g. B. by means of a rope or a pull rod.

Figur 1

einen Endabschnitt eines aus einem Düsenschlauch und einer Kupplung am Ende des Düsenschlauchs bestehenden Flüssigkeitsverteilers, wie er bei dem hier beschriebenen Verfahren zum Einsatz kommt;

Figur 2

einen Schnitt durch den Düsenschlauch in der in Figur 1 eingezeichneten Schnittebene II-II;

Figur 3

eine Anordnung aus drei Flüssigkeitsverteilern, welche über zwei gebogene Rohrstücke zu einer einen Brandherd umgebenden U-Form verbunden sind;

Figur 4

eine Anordnung aus vier Flüssigkeitsverteilern und vier gebogenen Rohrstücken, die insgesamt einen den Brandherd allseitig umgebenden, rechteckigen Rahmen bildet;

Figur 5

eine schematische Draufsicht auf einen Brandherd, auf Flüssigkeitsverteiler und auf Rohrstücke in einem ersten Stadium des Löschverfahrens, und

Figur 6

die Gegenstände nach Figur 5 in einem zweiten, so weit vorbereiteten Stadium des Löschverfahrens, dass Löschflüssigkeit eingespeist werden kann.

Details and other advantages of the fire fighting method are explained and described below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

figure 1

an end portion of a liquid distributor consisting of a nozzle tube and a coupling at the end of the nozzle tube, as used in the method described herein;

figure 2

a cut through the nozzle hose in the in figure 1 marked cutting plane II-II;

figure 3

an arrangement of three liquid distributors, which are connected via two bent pipe sections to form a U-shape surrounding a seat of the fire;

figure 4

an arrangement of four liquid distributors and four bent pipe sections, which together form a rectangular frame surrounding the seat of the fire on all sides;

figure 5

a schematic plan view of a source of fire, liquid distributor and pieces of pipe in a first stage of the extinguishing process, and

figure 6

the items after figure 5 in a second stage of the extinguishing process that has been prepared to such an extent that extinguishing liquid can be fed in.

figure 1 12 shows a plan view of a tubular liquid distributor 10 composed of an elongate nozzle hose 11 and a hose coupling 12 at each of the two ends of the nozzle hose 11. FIG. The two hose couplings 12 of the liquid distributor are designed identically. They are those widely used couplings 12 that are used by fire brigades to connect conventional fire hoses.

The basis for the nozzle hose 11 is also a conventional fire hose. The hose therefore consists of a pressure-resistant, flexible fabric material, which can be provided with a rubber coating both on the inside and on the outside. The fabric material causes the hose to behave essentially slack when not under pressure. The tube then takes on a flat, slit-shaped cross-section, it has hardly any bending elasticity and therefore behaves in a limp manner. Associated with this is the advantage that the hose can be folded in a zigzag shape over its length for transport purposes or can also be rolled up flat. It can therefore be accommodated in a particularly space-saving manner when not in use. The hose only assumes its circular cross-section when liquid pressure is fed into the inside of the hose.

The nozzle hose 11 is provided with a hose coupling 12 at each of its ends. The hose coupling 12 is made of metal and is a bayonet coupling that can be connected quickly and that can be locked with the respective counter-coupling by rotating it about the hose axis by no more than 90°. In the locking position, the coupling can be secured against unintentional turning back by means of an additional pawl.

Both hose couplings 12 of the nozzle hose 11 are designed identically and are therefore in principle interchangeable. In particular, the bayonet elements in the couplings are also designed in such a way that each end of the tubular liquid distributor 10 can be connected to another liquid distributor 10 having a similar coupling. The bayonet elements include bayonet hooks, which are locked in relation to the counter-coupling when the coupling rotates partway.

The turning is carried out on a locking and unlocking ring 13 which can be easily grasped by hand and which is also designed in the same way on both couplings 12 involved.

The special feature of the hose 11 of the liquid distributor 10 is that it is provided with outlet nozzles 15 distributed over its length and preferably evenly distributed.

The outlet nozzles 15 are not distributed over the entire circumference of the hose jacket, but rather they are all located on the same partial circumference of the hose. This partial circumference is no more than 1/4 and preferably no more than 1/16 of the circumference of the nozzle tube 11 figure 1 an arrangement in which all the outlet nozzles 15 of the nozzle tube 10 are in a row, ie are on a uniform longitudinal line. Alternatively, the outlet nozzles 15 can be distributed over two or three longitudinal lines, but these lines are so close together that, as already mentioned, all outlet nozzles 15 are only on a partial circumference of the nozzle hose 11, which is no more than ¼ of the total circumference .

The figure 2 shows a section through the nozzle hose in the area of one of the outlet nozzles 15. It can be seen that the outlet nozzle 15 is composed of a nozzle housing 16 and ring disks 17. This configuration ensures that the outlet nozzle 15 is supported with its nozzle housing 16 on the outside of the hose, and at the same time one of the ring disks 17 is supported from the inside against the hose jacket. The outlet nozzles 15 are therefore not just openings in the material of the hose jacket, but separately attached nozzle parts. This results in a durable nozzle hose that can be used again and again. If, on the other hand, there were only openings in the hose material, the openings would tear open over time due to the pressures used and destroy the hose.

In each case two of the liquid distributors 10 are connected in a pressure-tight manner via a bent pipe section 20 forming a flow connection. The pipe section 20 is preferably a quadrant pipe section so that it connects two liquid distributors 10 at right angles to one another. The pipe section 20 has hose couplings 12 of the same coupling type as the liquid distributor 10 at both ends. Additional markings are attached to the hose couplings 12 forming the two pipe ends. These indicate which rotational position the hose 11 to be connected there should have in order to ensure the optimum direction of emission from the outlet nozzles 15 .

figure 3 shows a source of fire 1, z. B. a burning electric vehicle, with a surrounding the source of the fire 1 U-shaped arrangement of three liquid distributors 10 and two bent pipe sections 20, 20A. The curved piece of pipe 20A differs from the other piece of pipe 20 in that it not only has the two openings for connecting the liquid distributor 10, but also a third opening 21 and thus a further flow connection for the pressure-tight connection of a feed hose 35. This connection also takes place under Use of the same type of coupling used in fire hoses. The feed hose 35 is a conventional fire hose, i.e. a hose without lateral outlet nozzles 15.

extinguishing liquid such as B. Water is supplied via the feed hose 35 and is distributed at the pipe section 20A into the liquid distributor 10 connected to it.

To follow the arrangement 3 to prevent extinguishing liquid from escaping from the ends of the liquid distributor 10 , closure covers 37 are placed on these ends by means of the couplings 12 . For this purpose, the closure covers 37 are provided with similar couplings 12 .

figure 4 shows an extinguishing arrangement with a total of four liquid distributors 10 and four pipe sections 20, 20A, which are connected together to form a closed ring through which extinguishing liquid can flow. The liquid distributor 10 and bent pipe sections 20, 20A are arranged in such a way that they surround the source of the fire 1 as a rectangular extinguishing frame with a required safety distance.

In the embodiment according to figure 4 two pipe sections 20A have the third openings 21 suitable for feeding, whereas the other two pipe sections 20 do not have the third openings. The feed hose 35 is only connected to one of the pipe sections 20A, whereas the second pipe section 20A, which is provided with a third opening 21, has no feed function here. For this purpose, a closure cap 37 is screwed onto its third opening, for which purpose the closure cap 37 is provided with a corresponding coupling 12 .

Preferably all bent pipe sections 20, 20A are provided with at least one eyelet 40. The respective piece of pipe can be easily grasped by hand at the eyelet 40 . Above all, it can be adjusted using a long rod 50 ( figure 5 ) to grasp the piece of pipe, including the hose sections connected to it, from a certain distance record a first place to raise and to a second place, based on the fire 1, to be able to implement. A pull rope 42 can be latched to a further eyelet 41 by means of a snap hook. The traction cable 42 is then used to pull the piece of pipe 20, 20A lying on the ground, to pull it away from the source of the fire 1, for example.

Instead of two eyelets 40, 41, the pipe section 20, 20A can also be provided with only one eyelet. This one eyelet is then attached to the piece of pipe in such a way that the eyelet is as in 3 and 4 pipe section 20, 20A resting on the ground, extending obliquely outwards. The eyelet then preferably extends at an angle of 30° to 60° to the plane in which the bend in the pipe section is located.

The Figures 5 and 6 schematically show a possible procedure. In figure 5 four liquid distributors 10 and four pipe sections 20, 20A are already connected in such a way that they form a ring through which flow can take place.

However, all parts are still on only one side of the source of the fire 1. It is preferable to first connect all the required liquid distributors 10 and pipe sections 20, 20A to one another and also the ones that are still depressurized Feed hose 37 already connected.

In the preparatory phase after figure 5 two pipe sections 20, 20A following one another in the ring are already placed on the ground at locations which are located at the two corners A, B of the relevant side, where they are to remain later. In this phase, the other two pipe sections 20 are provisionally on the same side of the source of the fire 1. However, they are not yet at their intended location for fighting the fire.

Then these other, until then only temporarily stored pieces of pipe, including the hose sections hanging therefrom, are implemented at locations which are located at the other two corners C, D of the seat of the fire 1, and are placed at these locations C and D on the ground.

Because of the heat generated at the source of the fire 1, this repositioning takes place by gripping the eyelet 40 attached to the respective pipe section 20 with the aid of the aforementioned rod 50, and thus the pipe section 20 with the hose sections hanging thereon is lifted and relocated. This can be assisted by the traction cable 42 acting on the eyelet 40 or on the other eyelet 41 .

The rod 50 is provided with a handle at one end and a gripper suitable for grasping the eyelet 40 at its other end, e.g. B. a hook. Preferably, the rod 50 is a telescopic rod of adjustable length.

By pulling outwards on the traction cable, which was previously latched to the eyelet 40 or the other eyelets 41, the pipe section in question can be pulled away from the seat of the fire, so that finally the in 6 reproduced ring or rectangular shape of the hose assembly is realized. Only then is extinguishing liquid fed in via the feed hose 35, which takes place on the pipe section 20A as described. A vertical wall of extinguishing liquid forms immediately around the seat of fire 1.

Reference List

1

seat of fire

10

liquid distributor

11

nozzle hose

12

coupling, hose coupling

13

Locking and unlocking ring

15

outlet nozzle

16

nozzle body

17

ring washer

20

piece of pipe

20A

piece of pipe

21

third opening on the pipe section

35

feed hose

37

cap

40

eyelet

41

another eyelet

42

pull rope

50

pole

A

corner, place

B

corner, place

C

corner, place

D

corner, place

Claims (13)

1. Method for extinguishing sources of fire with a high battery content, e.g. vehicles having drive batteries installed therein, comprising the following method steps:

   - providing liquid distributors (10) which are in each case composed of a nozzle hose (11) from a woven fabric material which in the non-pressurized state is limp and foldable, and of identically designed hose couplings (12) at both hose ends, wherein each nozzle hose (11) is provided with exit nozzles (15) which are disposed over the hose length and from which liquid can exit only on a circumferential segment of the nozzle hose (11) that reaches across a partial circumference of the nozzle hose (11);

   - connecting one liquid distributor (10) to one end, and a further liquid distributor (10) to the other end, of a curved pipe section (20, 20A), preferably of a pipe quadrant;

   - placing the liquid distributors (10) and the curved pipe section (20, 20A) in such an arrangement that the liquid distributors (10) extend along different sides of the source of fire (1) ;

   - feeding extinguishing liquid into the liquid distributors (10).
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the circumferential segment of the nozzle hose (11) on which liquid can exit the exit nozzles (15) reaches across a partial circumference of not more than 1/4 and preferably not more than 1/16^th of the nozzle hose (11).
3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized by placing the liquid distributors (10) in the manner that the latter bear directly on the ground surrounding the source of fire (1).
4. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, when connecting the liquid distributors (10), a total of four liquid distributors (10) and four curved pipe sections (20, 20A) are assembled so as to form a ring of such a size that said ring is able to completely enclose the source of fire (1).
5. Method according to Claim 4, in which the liquid distributors (10) and pipe sections (20, 20A) connected to form a ring are subsequently laid out so as to form a rectangular frame having four corners (A, B, C, D), in that

   - first, two pipe sections (20, 20A) which are successive in the ring are deposited at both corners (A, B) of one side of the source of fire (1), wherein the two further pipe sections are temporarily likewise situated on this side of the source of fire (1);

   - thereafter, the two further pipe sections including the hose portions connected thereto are repositioned at the two remaining corners (C, D) and are deposited at these corners (C, D).
6. Method according to Claim 5, characterized in that the repositioning of the two further pipe sections is in each case carried out with the aid of a bar (50) which at the one end thereof is provided with a handle and at the other end thereof is provided with a gripper that is able to be connected to the pipe section.
7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feeding of the extinguishing liquid into the liquid distributors (10) is carried out at the curved pipe section (20A), or at one of the curved pipe sections (20A), respectively, and in that the pipe section (20A) for this purpose has two openings for connecting liquid distributors (10) in a pressure-tight manner, and a third opening (21) for connecting an infeed hose (35) in a pressure-tight manner.
8. Method according to Claim 7, characterized in that only one of the curved pipe sections (20A) has the third opening (21).
9. Method according to Claim 7, characterized in that all curved pipe sections (20A) have the third opening (21), wherein the infeed hose (35) is connected only to the third opening of one of the pipe sections, and the third openings of the other pipe sections are blocked.
10. Method according to Claim 9, characterized in that, for blocking the third openings (21), closure caps (37) are placed onto these openings.
11. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when placing the connected liquid distributors (10) and pipe sections (20, 20A), at least one pipe section (20, 20A) including the hose portions connected thereto is picked up at one location and repositioned at another location, and the pipe section (20, 20A) for this purpose is gripped at an eyelet (40) integrally moulded thereon.
12. Method according to Claim 11, characterized in that all pipe sections (20, 20A) are provided with the eyelet (40) integrally moulded thereon.
13. Method according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized by exerting on at least one of the pipe sections (20, 20A) a tensile force that is directed away from the source of fire (1), for which purpose a traction rope (42) is latched to the eyelet (40) on the pipe section (20, 20A) and said traction rope (42) is placed under tension.

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