On June 24, 2024, at least 22 people, including 19 Chinese citizens, were killed in a serious fire at the Aricell lithium battery factory in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. At the time of the fire, there may have been at least 35,000 lithium batteries stored in the factory, and some of the batteries exploded, making it difficult to extinguish the fire.
According to the Beijing News, employees working at the battery factory mentioned in an interview that there were more than 100 workers at the factory, mostly Korean women from northeastern China, mostly between the ages of 30 and 40. Most of the victims came from the three buildings and two floors of the battery factory, "[there] are mainly workshops for packaging and welding batteries. ”
Pictured: South Korea's lithium battery factory fire incident, 19 Chinese compatriots were killed
Emergency response and international cooperation
The Chinese Embassy in South Korea responded quickly, confirmed the number of Chinese citizens killed, and maintained close communication with the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the police to coordinate the aftermath. Both the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic of Korea attached great importance to the incident, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea personally inspected the scene and instructed the Chinese Embassy and the families of the relevant casualties to communicate in a timely manner.
Analysis of fire characteristics of lithium batteries
Lithium batteries are widely used in various fields due to their high energy density and portability, but they also come with safety risks. Lithium battery fires are mainly caused by thermal runaway, and once they occur, they are difficult to extinguish with conventional fire extinguishing methods. Thermal runaway can be caused by an internal defect in the battery or an external impact, resulting in overheating due to positive and negative contact between the positive and negative electrodes.
According to S-Connect's official website, the lithium thionyl chloride batteries produced by Aricell are currently used in AMR/AMI fields, RFID, medical equipment, military equipment, various industrial products and other industries.
Aricell is a market leader in the lithium thionyl chloride battery segment and has a large network of distributors and agents. Despite this, lithium thionyl chloride batteries are not a popular battery product. According to industry experts, ordinary consumers rarely come into contact with these batteries, and they mainly serve some special fields, such as military, aerospace, medical and ocean exploration, which have higher requirements for the long life of batteries and the ability to withstand extreme temperatures.
Pictured: Aricell is the market leader in the lithium thionyl chloride battery segment
Compared with the popular power batteries and energy storage batteries in the market today, the market size and popularity of lithium thionyl chloride batteries are much smaller. According to another expert in the energy storage battery industry, such batteries are known for their high energy density and are commonly used in devices such as smart water meters, smoke detectors, and temperature and humidity sensors. They are single-use and cannot be recharged for reuse.
Due to the high energy density of lithium thionyl chloride batteries, they can pose a higher safety risk if used and stored improperly. Compared with lithium iron phosphate batteries, lithium thionyl chloride batteries have large differences in safety standards and control measures in production, use and storage, so safety management is also more difficult.
All types of lithium batteries are not easy to extinguish with traditional fire extinguishing methods in the event of a fire, because lithium is very active and reacts violently with oxygen in the air. Therefore, special care and professionalism are required for the safety management and emergency treatment measures of such batteries.
Overall, while lithium thionyl chloride batteries play an important role in specific industries, their market size is relatively small and their safety management requirements are more stringent.
Causes of accidents and preventive measures
At present, preliminary investigations indicate that the rapid fire of lithium batteries may have caused the fire at the factory. In order to prevent similar accidents, it is necessary to improve the consistency of the battery, strengthen the function of the battery management system (BMS), and optimize the internal structure design of the battery. In addition, it is necessary to develop and enforce strict safety procedures, such as regularly checking the status of the battery and avoiding overcharging and external impacts.
Safety training and awareness-raising
Employees of the factory involved said that although the factory mainly produces military lithium batteries, the employees have not received sufficient firefighting training. This situation underscores the importance of safety training. Enterprises should regularly organize fire drills and safety education to improve employees' safety awareness and emergency response capabilities.
Improvement of policies and regulations
The safety standards and specifications of the lithium battery energy storage industry are relatively lagging behind, and relevant departments need to step up research and formulate stricter safety standards. Through policy guidance and incentives, we will promote the safe, healthy and rapid development of the industry.
summary
The fire at a lithium battery factory in South Korea is a tragedy that reminds us that while lithium battery technology brings convenience, it also comes with safety risks that cannot be ignored. By strengthening safety management, improving safety awareness, and improving policies, regulations, and standards, the occurrence of similar incidents can be effectively reduced. Close international cooperation and rapid response are crucial to dealing with transnational crises and embody the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind.
