AMETEK Land proudly announces the release of an insightful new application note addressing the increasing risks of fires and explosions in battery storage facilities.
With the growing prevalence and energy density of lithium-ion batteries, safety concerns are paramount. AMETEK Land's latest innovation, the LWIR-640 smart radiometric thermal imager, offers an advanced solution for early detection and prevention of thermal runaway in battery storage systems.
Understanding Thermal Runaway and Its Dangers
Lithium-ion batteries, while highly efficient, are prone to thermal runaway—a self-accelerating and uncontrollable rise in temperature that can lead to fires or explosions.
This dangerous process can be triggered by overcharging, physical damage, overheating, or short circuits. The rapid escalation of thermal runaway presents significant risks, making early detection and intervention critical.
Fire Prevention with Fixed Thermal Imaging
AMETEK Land’s fixed thermal imaging technology, embodied in the LWIR-640 thermal imager, provides continuous, real-time monitoring of battery installations. By capturing detailed thermal images of battery modules or racks, the system can identify abnormal heat distributions, hot spots, and temperature differentials indicative of potential issues.
Early detection of these anomalies allows operators to take proactive measures, such as isolating affected cells, adjusting cooling mechanisms, or replacing faulty components, thereby preventing the progression of thermal runaway.
Key Features and Benefits of the LWIR-640 Thermal Imager
• Early Detection: The LWIR-640 detects critical temperature changes with an accuracy of ±2°C, providing early warning signs of thermal runaway.
• Alarm Triggering: Integrated with fire detection systems, the LWIR-640 triggers alarms or alerts when temperature anomalies are detected, enabling swift intervention.
• Continuous Monitoring: The thermal imager offers 24/7 monitoring of equipment prone to thermal runaway, ensuring constant vigilance.• Onboard Web Server and I/O: With an integrated web server and multiple I/O options, the LWIR-640 can operate autonomously or be integrated into existing process control systems for easy access and setup.
• Data Logging and Analysis: Combined with IMAGEPro software, the LWIR-640 records temperature data over time, aiding in post-incident analysis and refinement of predictive models to improve preventive measures.
A Commitment to Safety and Performance
AMETEK Land’s LWIR-640 smart radiometric thermal imager represents the culmination of over 20 years of thermal imaging expertise. Available in multiple models with a full temperature measurement range of -20 to 1000 °C, the LWIR-640 offers versatile solutions to meet the diverse needs of battery storage facilities.
Additional Fire Prevention Solutions
Beyond the LWIR-640, AMETEK Land provides a range of fire prevention solutions tailored to various industrial applications, including the HotSpotIR 9000 for conveyor systems, Silowatch for storage silos, and Millwatch for pulverisers. These systems rapidly detect and respond to potential fire hazards, ensuring maximum plant safety and operational efficiency.
To read the application note, click here
If you want to learn more about our solutions for battery storage fires, contact us here
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