What Is a Good Lithium Battery Storage Cabinet

Currently, lithium batteries have been widely used in electric vehicles and energy storage systems. However, this also faces a huge storage risk. A good lithium battery storage cabinet is specially designed to reduce safety risks. This article discusses the importance, key features, and types of lithium battery storage cabinets. Hope this article can help you select a suitable good lithium battery storage cabinet for your needs.

What Is a Lithium Battery Storage Cabinet?

The lithium battery storage cabinet is a specialized protective container specifically designed for the safe storage of lithium batteries and lithium equipment. It mainly has the functions of fire prevention, heat insulation, explosion prevention and pressure relief. Besides, it provides temperature and gas management and leakage protection.

It can minimize the harm in the event of an accident, protecting people, property and the surrounding environment. Lithium battery storage cabinets have been widely used in electric vehicle repair shops, battery manufacturing plants, data centers, fire departments and other scenarios.

Why Are Lithium Battery Storage Cabinets Necessary?

The lithium battery itself has an irreducible safety risk of thermal runaway. This is the essential reason why you should purchase a lithium battery storage cabinet. It mainly provides you with protective security investment. Simply put, even a safe and compliant battery can lose control dramatically in the presence of physical damage, aging, or extreme circumstances. The storage cabinet you purchase is precisely the control measure prepared for such situations.

The lithium battery storage cabinet can contain the runaway energy and flames within the cabinet. This effectively prevents it from causing a fire in the entire room or warehouse. It turns a potential disaster into a local, controllable event, greatly narrowing the scope of the accident and buying time for rescue.

Besides, an increasing number of safety regulations mandate the secure isolation storage of large quantities of lithium batteries. And certified storage cabinets are the fundamental conditions that meet compliance requirements and provide security.

Key Features of a Good Lithium Battery Storage Cabinet

When choosing a lithium battery storage cabinet, you should prioritize its safety. High-quality lithium battery storage cabinets will maximize their safety, compliance and durability. The following are the key features of high-quality lithium battery storage cabinets.

Fire Resistance and Containment

Lithium batteries, especially lithium-ion batteries, are extremely prone to thermal runaway. Thermal runaway can lead to chemical reactions such as overheating, fire and explosion. If you store it improperly, lithium batteries may catch fire or explode. Therefore, lithium battery storage cabinets must have fire-resistant properties, and also need to protect the surrounding area and reduce the risk of accidents.

The lithium battery storage cabinet is usually made of two layers of high-quality steel plates inside and outside, and non-flammable insulating materials are filled in the middle. This structure can effectively insulate.

The lithium-ion storage cabinets with authoritative certifications will have clearly marked fire resistance ratings, such as 60 minutes, 90 minutes or 2 hours. This indicates the duration during which your storage cabinets can keep their structural integrity when exposed to a fire source.

Thermal expansion sealing strips are installed around the lithium battery cabinet. At normal temperatures, they make sure that the cabinet door closes tightly. When exposed to high-temperature environments, the sealing strips will expand several times rapidly, sealing the gap between the door and effectively blocking the flow of flames, smoke and toxic gases.

Temperature Management and Ventilation

The accumulation of heat in lithium battery cabinets also increases the risk of thermal runaway. Adequate ventilation and cooling guarantee the maintenance of safe battery temperatures. This is critical for fire safety and battery life.

Temperature Management

The fireproof and heat-insulating layer can provide excellent temperature stability. It can also mitigate the impact of external environmental temperature fluctuations on the batteries inside your cabinet. High-end lithium battery cabinets are also equipped with temperature sensors to monitor the internal temperature. When the temperature exceeds the safety threshold, an alarm will be triggered. This provides excellent conditions for you to handle accidents in a timely manner.

Ventilation Systems

The main purpose of the ventilation system is to exclude flammable gas. When lithium batteries overheat, they may release gases such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide. These gases accumulate to the limit in a closed space, and once they encounter a fire source, they are easy to explode.

A high-quality lithium-ion battery storage cabinet should be equipped with an active or passive ventilation system. The passive ventilation system uses natural air convection to dilute the gas. It has a lower cost but limited efficiency.

The active ventilation system may include an airflow management system and fans. Besides, its ventilation system can also be linked with gas detectors. If it detects an increase in the concentration of combustible gas, it will automatically activate the ventilation system.

Good ventilation helps prevent the battery from overheating and keeps the ambient temperature in the cabinet within safe limits. (The safe temperature for lithium batteries is usually between 15℃ and 25℃.)

Explosion and Pressure Relief Design

The explosion design is also the most fundamental difference between lithium battery storage cabinets and common fireproof cabinets. Lithium battery thermal runaway release of gas or increase the pressure of the storage cabinet, and may cause an explosion.

Pressure Relief Vents

The pressure relief system is an indispensable system for lithium-ion battery storage cabinets. It is usually installed above or on the top of the rear wall of your cabinet. When the pressure inside the cabinet reaches the safety threshold, the pressure relief device will automatically open. Vents and pressure relief devices will release the flame and high pressure gas in a predetermined safe direction. Therefore, you should be aware that there should be no obstacles or areas for personnel activities in front of the pressure relief opening.

Explosion Proof Construction

In high-risk environments, high-quality lithium battery cabinets are equipped with explosion-proof materials and a sealed pressure system to prevent any potential ignition or sparks that could cause fires or explosions. The explosion-proof materials can prevent the fragments or shock waves generated by an explosion from causing secondary damage.

Structural Strength

The sturdy and durable lithium battery storage cabinet is the foundation for guaranteeing that its fire prevention and pressure relief functions that can operate normally under extreme conditions.

Material Durability

You should choose cabinets made of cold-rolled steel, 알류미늄 or fire-resistant alloys. And the lithium battery storage cabinets should have an inner and outer double-layer structure. You need to make sure that the material thickness and strength can withstand explosion impacts and long-term deformation.

You also need to guarantee that the door frame and the key stress points of the locking system have been reinforced. This allows it to remain functional at high temperatures or under frequent switching conditions.

Stability and Load-Bearing

A good storage cabinet can bear the weight of multiple batteries without deforming or bending. When you handle larger or heavier battery packs, it should remain stable and not tip over.

You should choose sturdy 강철 shelves. The rolled edges of the shelves can prevent items from sliding off. Choose a cabinet with a bracket and clips that have high load-bearing capacity and can flexibly adjust the height, so that it is convenient for you to adapt to different batteries.

보안 기능

If necessary, locks and security mechanisms are also necessary. This guarantees that only authorized personnel can access the cabinet. It also helps to reduce the risk of theft.

Early Warning and Monitoring Systems

Modern professional lithium battery storage cabinets are usually equipped with sensors and alarm systems. It can notify you before an accident escalates for proactive early warning and intelligent management.

Smoke,Heat and Gas Detection

If you choose a cabinet equipped with smoke detectors or gas sensors, they can detect the temperature and smoke inside the cabinet. You can set the temperature warning threshold and alarm threshold separately for hierarchical response. If you have higher security requirements, you can also purchase cabinets with VOC monitoring capabilities.

Alarm System

The lithium battery storage cabinet will send you an alert signal when it detects fire, overheating or gas. The cabinet is equipped with multiple levels of audible and visual alarms and remote communication functions.

Smart Integration

The lithium battery storage cabinet can also be integrated with your building‘s central fire system and building automation system. It can also connect to your mobile app, providing you with remote monitoring and timely notifications. Besides, the alarm signal can be automatically linked for automatic actions, such as closing the surrounding fire doors and cutting off the connected power supply, etc.

Compliance with Standards and Certifications

Lithium battery storage is subject to local and national safety regulations. You can only guarantee the highest safety standards by choosing a cabinet that has been tested and certified. You can look for cabinets that meet your requirements based on the following criteria:

UL 2054 — It is mainly used for household and commercial batteries.

NFPA 855 — It is usually used for fire safety in battery energy storage cabinets.

IEC 62619 — It is used for safety in lithium-ion batteries used in energy storage.

UN 3480/3481— It is used for transportation for lithium batteries.

Choose these standards of lithium battery storage cabinets to withstand the extreme conditions they claim. In the event of an accident, using standard storage cabinets is more conducive to clarifying your responsibilities.

Different Types of Lithium Battery Storage Cabinets

Fire-resistance Lithium Battery Cabinets

The fire-resistant lithium-ion battery storage cabinet is a cabinet with flame-retardant insulation, mainly used to delay the spread of fire, but it cannot completely prevent it. The cabinet body usually has a double-layer steel structure, an automatically closing door, and pressure relief ventilation outlets. These lithium battery cabinets usually have a fire resistance performance of 30-60 minutes. You can use these cabinets to store rechargeable batteries. You can also place it in manufacturing workshops, maintenance rooms, etc.

Lithium Battery Charging Cabinets

The lithium-ion battery charging cabinet enables you to place lithium-ion batteries inside the cabinet for charging. Besides, it integrates a dedicated explosion-proof electrical system, which can help you achieve proactive protection.

The lithium battery charging cabinet is equipped with built-in power sockets and chargers. It also features temperature monitoring, smoke detection, automatic power-off, forced ventilation system and fireproof structure.

If you purchase a higher-end model, it also includes an integrated battery management system(BMS), gas detection (hydrogen, carbon monoxide), and remote monitoring and alarm functions.You can use it to store electric bicycle batteries, power tools, etc.

Basic Lithium Battery Storage Cabinets(Non-Fire-Rated)

These storage cabinets are specifically designed for the static and safe storage of lithium batteries. The storage cabinet does not integrate any electrical interfaces for charging or active temperature control inside. You cannot rely on it for active protection. The fire prevention, explosion prevention and physical protection it provides mainly rely on its physical structure. Its function is very single, mainly isolating the battery from the external environment.

You can apply it for the long-term storage of spare batteries or the temporary storage of defective batteries awaiting processing. Storage cabinets can also be used in temporary storage areas such as the retail backrooms of lithium batteries, airport security check-in areas, etc.

Smart/Monitored Lithium Battery Cabinets

Smart lithium battery cabinet is a storage cabinet that integrates electronic sensors and networking communication systems to realize remote real-time monitoring, early warning and data recording. He can detect the temperature, smoke and flammable gas concentration inside the cabinet in real time. It can provide you with early signs of thermal runaway and help you deal with it in advance.

The audio-visual alarm can also provide you with proactive warnings. You can also remotely monitor the status, record historical data, and implement preventive safety measures.

Usually, you can apply it to facilities with extremely high security requirements, such as data centers, large manufacturing plants. Smart warehouses or remotely managed warehouses usually choose smart storage cabinets.

How to Choose the Right Storage Cabinet for Your Needs

Figure Out Your Needs

Before purchasing a lithium-ion battery storage cabinet, you need to clarify your own buying needs. This directly affects your purchasing decision.

Battery Type and Quantity: The batteries you need to store are either small consumer batteries, industrial power batteries or large power batteries? You also need to estimate your maximum storage quantity and calculate the total energy. The calculation of total energy is a key indicator related to the potential severity of a fire. It is also the basis for local regulations to manage the storage volume.

Battery Condition: The battery you have stored is brand new, in use, awaiting repair, or recycled for waste treatment. The risk levels of different battery states are completely different.

Function Needs: Which type of storage cabinet do you need to purchase? Is it only a lithium battery storage cabinet or a lithium-ion battery charging cabinet?

Installation Environment: Are you installing it indoors or outdoors? And where exactly is the installation location? For example, in a warehouse or a production workshop, etc. The acceptable risk levels and evacuation conditions vary at different installation locations.

Compliance and Local Regulation: You’ll need to check your local fire codes, building codes, and environmental requirements. Also, you need to understand the mandatory regulations for lithium battery storage.

Select the Core Parameter

Based on the assessment of the first stage, you can determine the key performance parameters of the lithium battery storage cabinet. First, you can choose its fireproof and explosion-proof rating. For low-end consumer batteries, you can select the basic fireproof certification (30-60 minutes) cabinet. For medium to high-risk levels, you need to choose a high-level fireproof lithium battery cabinet with explosion-proof certification.

After that, you need to select the capacity of the storage cabinet based on the size of the stored items. You should reserve a safe isolation area and consider its adjustment capability. According to your functional requirements, you also need to choose matching ventilation and temperature control functions.

Select Additional Features and Configurations

Given your management needs and budget, you can consider the value-added functions of lithium battery storage cabinets. These include intelligent functions and monitoring, as well as structural and convenience configurations such as locks and hinges.

Besides, you also need to verify the qualifications and professionalism of the suppliers. Finally, consider the total cost of ownership for the products you purchase, considering the costs, transportation, installation and later maintenance.

Lithium Battery Storage Cabinet Maintaining Steps

Regular Check

Appearance: Guarantee the cabinet is clean and free of accumulated debris, especially around the pressure relief and ventilation ports.

Basic Function: The cabinet door is tightly closed. The indicator lights on the external alarm panel are functioning properly. The display reading of the intelligent cabinet is within the normal range.

정기 검사

During this stage, you usually need to inspect the structure and sealing of the cabinet, including the sealing strips, locks and appearance. What’s more, you also need to test the alarm system and remote notification function of the smart monitoring cabinet. Checking whether the forced ventilation system is operating normally is also an important step.

Professional Inspection

This mainly includes special inspections of pressure relief devices, assessment of fireproof and heat insulation structures, calibration of intelligent systems, and maintenance of ventilation systems, etc.

자주 묻는 질문

How Do You Store Damaged Lithium Batteries Safely?

You should use a professional lithium-ion battery storage cabinet. You also need to guarantee that the storage cabinet is well-ventilated and use non-conductive gaskets to prevent short circuits. Do not stack batteries and keep the terminals insulated. You need to recycle or process on time according to local regulations.

Are Lithium Battery Storage Cabinets Fireproof or just Fire-Resistant?

Most lithium battery cabinets are fire-resistant rather than fireproof. Even high-end certified lithium battery cabinets are still fire-resistant. Fireproof means that no damage will occur under any circumstances. Lithium battery cabinets do not have this capability.

Final Thought

A good lithium battery storage cabinet can protect both personnel and property safety and comply with relevant safety regulations. As a professional electrical enclosure manufacturer, KDM can provide you with high-quality lithium battery storage cabinets to manage all the unique dangers of lithium batteries. We can also provide you with unique customized solutions to meet your different application requirements. We have many years of production experience and have obtained several certifications. Please feel free to 문의하기 to get your customized solution.