Fire safety is an absolute priority in any BESS project. Due to the nature of the sensitive electronic equipment and high energy density battery packs, the use of traditional fire suppression systems such as water or foam is not suitable as it may cause further damage to the equipment.
The solution chosen for this environment is Clean Agent Fire Suppression Systems. These systems extinguish fires with a special gas that is non-conductive and leaves no residue after spraying, ensuring safety for both people and equipment.
Among clean fire extinguishing agents, the two most popular and trusted names today are Novec 1230 , and FM-200Which option is more optimal for your BESS container?
1. General Fire Fighting Principles
Both Novec 1230 and FM-200 extinguish fires primarily by heat absorption from the flame. They disrupt the chemical chain reaction of combustion rapidly, extinguishing the fire in seconds without significantly reducing the oxygen concentration in the protected space.
2. Detailed Comparison: Novec 1230 vs. FM-200
Let's put these two agents on the scale to compare based on important criteria.
a. Fire Fighting Efficiency
- FM-200 (HFC-227ea): It is a proven agent for decades. It extinguishes fires very quickly and effectively. The design concentration required for fire suppression is typically around 7%.
- Novec 1230 (FK-5-1-12): It is a newer generation technology. It is also extremely fast acting and the required design concentration is usually slightly lower, around 4-6%.
- Conclusion: Both are extremely effective and fast acting fire extinguishing agents.
b. Safe for Humans
- FM-200: Safe for humans at design concentrations. The safety margin (distance between fire-extinguishing concentration and health-affecting concentration) is relatively good.
- Novec 1230: Has a significantly greater safety margin than FM-200. The health effects of Novec 1230 are much higher than those required for fire suppression.
- Conclusion: Novec 1230 has a clear advantage in terms of safety margin for humans.
c. Environmental Impact
This is the biggest and decisive difference.
- FM-200: Is a Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) compound. Although it does not destroy the ozone layer (Ozone Depletion Potential – ODP = 0), it is a strong greenhouse gas, with The Global Warming Potential (GWP) is very high, about 3220 (i.e., it has a heat-trapping capacity 3220 times higher than $CO_2$ over 100 years). Therefore, the use of HFCs such as FM-200 is being gradually restricted and eliminated according to international environmental agreements.
- Novec 1230: It is not an HFC. It has ODP = 0 and especially has GWP is only 1It stays in the atmosphere for only about 5 days.
- Conclusion: Novec 1230 is a superior and much more environmentally sustainable choice. This is a "green" solution, in line with the sustainable development orientation of clean energy projects.
d. Storage Space Requirements
- FM-200: A certain amount of space is required to store gas cylinders.
- Novec 1230: Stored as a liquid, it typically requires slightly less storage space than FM-200 for the same area of protection.
- Conclusion: Novec 1230 may have a slight advantage in space.
Quick Comparison Table
| Criteria | FM-200 (HFC-227ea) | Novec 1230 (FK-5-1-12) | Better choice |
| Fire Fighting Efficiency | Very good | Very good | Equivalent |
| Safe for Humans | Good | Very good | Novec 1230 |
| Global Warming Potential (GWP) | ~ 3220 | 1 | Novec 1230 |
| Environmental Impact | Cao | Gần như không có | Novec 1230 |
| Storage Space | Good | A little better | Novec 1230 |
While FM-200 remains an effective solution, with increasingly stringent environmental regulations and superior human safety advantages, Novec 1230 is clearly the choice of the future and a more sustainable solution for BESS systems. Investing in a fire protection system using Novec 1230 is not only an investment in safety, but also an investment in a “green” technology, consistent with the nature of a clean energy project.
