Abstract:

With the growing number of electric vehicles (EVs) in underground parking garages, new fire risks emerge that are not adequately addressed by current safety standards. Our research tackles this urgent issue by developing a targeted fire suppression solution. Through full-scale experiments and simulations, we first characterize the unique two-stage fire behavior of EVs. We then propose and validate an innovative “top + bottom” dual water mist system, which significantly improves fire containment by reducing temperature and radiation more effectively than conventional methods. Key operational parameters are optimized to balance performance and water efficiency. Practical case studies confirm that this system can be feasibly implemented in both new and existing garages, offering a reliable strategy to enhance safety in the era of electric mobility.

A short biography:

Prof. Xiaoyu Ju is a professor at the University of Science & Technology of China (USTC), where he leads research in fire dynamics and safety science. He earned his PhD from USTC in 2019 and completed postdoctoral research at Toyohashi University of Technology (2019–2022) and the University of California, Berkeley (2022–2023). His research focuses on building fire, new energy system (photovoltaic & battery) fire, and smart fire protection. Prof. Ju has authored/co-authored over 60 peer-reviewed journal papers and presented his work at leading international conferences such as ISOC, IAFSS, etc. In 2024, he was recognized as an “Outstanding Young Scholar” by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). Prof. Ju actively shapes global fire science as Session Chair for the International Symposium on Combustion (2024) and U.S. National Combustion Meeting (2023), and serves on committees of IAFSS and IAWF. Currently, his lab focuses on advancing sustainable energy safety solutions.