Wärtsilä Completes First-of-its-Kind Integrated Explosion Control System Tests

Technology group Wärtsilä has successfully completed large-scale testing of its proprietary Active Ignition Mitigation System (AIMS). AIMS is engineered to mitigate potential flammable gas build-up during an abnormal thermal scenario within battery energy storage systems (BESS). With this milestone, Wärtsilä becomes one of the first BESS integrators to demonstrate the effectiveness of an integrated explosion control system.

In July, Wärtsilä conducted a series of three rigorous full-system tests in the United States. Each test simulated worst-case thermal runaway scenarios within Wärtsilä’s Quantum2 containerised BESS enclosure. During the tests, a flammable gas blend, representative of UL 9540A CATL 306Ah cell-level testing, was released at multiple internal locations over a two-minute period. The tests were witnessed by a major US-based utility, a fire alarm vendor, and a third-party consultant. Across all three tests, AIMS successfully prevented uncontrolled deflagrations and structural deformations, allowing the Quantum2 system to remain fully intact with no compromise to enclosure integrity. The tests validated the system’s ability to maintain safety and functionality under extreme conditions.

“AIMS is more than just a technical upgrade – it represents a paradigm shift in energy storage safety,” said Mishaal SyedNaveed, Product Manager, Fire Protection at Wärtsilä Energy Storage. “We believe true safety starts well before gases build up as a result of thermal runaway. With AIMS, we are pioneering technology to help our customers manage BESS risks before they escalate.”

Advancing beyond reactive containment, Wärtsilä’s AIMS technology takes a pioneering approach by deliberately igniting flammable gases before they accumulate. AIMS uses sparker systems in combination with door-mounted deflagration panels to safely ignite flammable gases at the earliest stage of a thermal event. This early intervention prevents significant off-gas build-up and reduces the likelihood of deflagration panel activation.

“This test is a first-of-its-kind in the industry, and a powerful testament to the leadership of our fire safety experts,” said Tamara De Gruyter, President of Wärtsilä Energy Storage and Executive Vice President at Wärtsilä. “We’re not only rethinking how storage systems are built, we’re also actively collaborating with first responders, emergency personnel, customers, consultants, and other stakeholders to engineer a robust system and best equip our partners to act when it matters most.”

During the testing, Wärtsilä collected visual, temperature, static and dynamic pressure, and UV/IR data, which will be used to continue the company’s commitment to energy storage innovation and community safety. These rigorous tests and industry-leading safety investments align with Wärtsilä’s ongoing effort to not only meet, but exceed, evolving safety and regulatory standards. The company partners with its customers to offer integrated support across its products and lifecycles to ensure full compliance across global markets.

Wärtsilä Energy Storage | www.wartsila.com/energy