Risk Assessment of Toxic Gas Dispersion from Electric Vehicle Fires in Underground Apartment Parking Garages Using Numerical Analysis
With the rising adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), fire-related issues have garnered significant attention, prompting extensive research efforts. This study investigates the dispersion of toxic gases generated during EV fires in confined spaces, such as underground parking garages, to enhance fire...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Fire |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/8/3/96 |
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| Summary: | With the rising adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), fire-related issues have garnered significant attention, prompting extensive research efforts. This study investigates the dispersion of toxic gases generated during EV fires in confined spaces, such as underground parking garages, to enhance fire safety protocols. Using the fire dynamics simulator (FDS), simulations were conducted for 24 kWh, 53 kWh, and 99.8 kWh battery scenarios to assess the impact of increasing battery capacities on toxic gas emissions. The results indicate that hydrogen fluoride (HF) concentrations in poorly ventilated areas peaked at 488.2 ppm, significantly exceeding the Acute Exposure Guideline Level (AEGL-2) threshold of 12 ppm. The exposure time exceeding AEGL-2 (30 min) was recorded as 53 min and 49 s for the 99.8 kWh scenario, highlighting a substantial risk to occupants and emergency responders. Additionally, the fractional effective dose (FED) for asphyxiant gases and the fractional effective concentration (FEC) for irritant gases were analyzed, revealing that larger battery capacities and proximity to the fire source reduced tenability time by up to 47% compared to smaller batteries. These findings provide critical insights into fire safety measures, emphasizing the necessity of early fire detection systems, enhanced ventilation strategies, and battery-specific fire suppression technologies in confined environments. |
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| ISSN: | 2571-6255 |