[RE-wrenches] Battery based hydrogen incidents

[jay peltz]

Hi Dan,

I've see this as well, but I don't put it down to a enclosure problem but a build up inside a individual battery cell,( plugged cap, etc)  which IMHO even if the batteries were outside wouldn't help prevent it.
Never the less, why I use eye protection every time I go see batteries.



Jay

peltz power


On Dec 15, 2010, at 9:56 AM, Exeltech wrote:

> 38+ years in RE.  Knowledge of one incident (an off-grid friend).
> 
> Very sunny day.  Very windy.  My friend had both PV and a wind generator (still does).  He had just stepped out of the room where the batteries were located when (as he described it) he heard something like a loud gunshot.  He went back inside to find one of the L16s exploded, top completely blown off, and case broken much of the way down one side.
> 
> Had the incident occurred only minutes earlier, injuries could have resulted.  He has since relocated his batteries to a dedicated (and vented) battery space.
> 
> Dan
> 
> 
> --- On Wed, 12/15/10, Kent Osterberg <kent at coveoregon.com> wrote:
> 
> From: Kent Osterberg <kent at coveoregon.com>
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Battery based hydrogen incidents
> To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> Date: Wednesday, December 15, 2010, 11:21 AM
> 
> Sounds like, in general, that the off-grid industry has been fortunate to not have hydrogen explosions.  That's good.  No explosions here either.  But one shouldn't take that as evidence that it couldn't happen.  I don't believe this is a circumstance where it is better to be lucky than good.  That's why I recommend doing the calculations.
> 
> Kent Osterberg
> Blue Mountain Solar
> 
> 
> 
> Dana wrote:
>> 
>> Ken –
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> To meet the flow have run 2 and 3 fans to meet the flow. 2” output from the fan into a 4” header with a matching 2.5” inlet as far away on the lowest portion of the battery box.
>> 
>>  
>>  
>> In 22+ years in off grid installations I have yet to see or even hear of one hydrogen explosion. I get repeatedly asked why we have to go to the efforts we go to for box and venting. I am not able to provide even one incident that I have heard rumor of.
>> 
>>  
>> Q - How many battery based hydrogen incidents have happened in our collective experience?
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> 
>> Dana Orzel
>> 
>> Great Solar Works, Inc
>> 
>> E - dana at solarwork.com
>> 
>> V - 970.626.5253
>> 
>> F - 970.626.4140
>> 
>> C - 970.209.4076
>> 
>> web - www.solarwork.com
>> 
>>  
>> "Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"
>> 
>> Do not ever belive anything, but seriously trust through action.
>> 
>>  
>> From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Kent Osterberg
>> Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 12:07 PM
>> To: Wrenches
>> Subject: [RE-wrenches] Battery Venting
>> 
>>  
>> Fellow Wrenches,
>> 
>> The discussion about battery venting reminds me of a useful and inexpensive program, BattMV, for determining ventilation requirements per EN-50272.  EN-50272 is a European standard used to determine how much air flow is needed for a room, I don't know of a equivalent standard used in the U.S.  It takes a surprising amount of ventilation.  For a 400-AH 48-volt L16 bank charged at 57.6 volts and 24 amps, it's about 7 CFM just to keep the %H2 down to 4%.  A 12-volt Zephyr vent is good for about 5 CFM!   If you think you are venting enough, take some time and study this issue.
>> 
>> Kent Osterberg
>> Blue Mountain Solar
>> 
> 
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