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Enhancing Safety with Battery Monitoring: The Power of Distributed Temperature Sensing - Part 1

According to a 2023 article published by McKinsey & Company, in cooperation with the Global Battery Alliance, the lithium-ion battery value chain is set to grow by over 30 percent annually through 2023. With this growth, comes the need to ensure these energy sources are safe and any potential risk is minimized. In this two-part blog series, we’ll look at how Luna’s Distributed Temperature Sensing technology is being used to monitor and increase the safety of the growing lithium-ion battery market.

In today's world, batteries power much of our daily lives, from smartphones and laptops to electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems. While these batteries offer countless benefits, they also come with inherent risks, such as overheating, thermal runaway, and fires. Ensuring the safety of battery systems is paramount, and one of the most effective tools for achieving this is battery bank and storage monitoring. Among the various methods available, Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) stands out as a uniquely capable, accurate, and cost-effective technology for safeguarding batteries against thermal-related hazards.

DTS is a cutting-edge technology that offers several advantages over traditional methods when it comes to battery monitoring:

  1. Continuous Monitoring: DTS systems provide continuous temperature measurements along the entire length of a fiber optic cable. This allows for real-time monitoring of the entire battery system, identifying temperature variations or hotspots that might go unnoticed with discrete sensors.
  2. High Spatial Resolution: DTS systems enable precise temperature measurements at various locations within a battery pack. This spatial granularity is essential for identifying localized hotspots and taking targeted corrective actions.
  3. Non-Invasive and Safe: DTS systems do not require physical contact with the battery. This reduces the risk of damage to the battery and eliminates the need for additional sensors, wiring, or connectors, simplifying the installation process.
  4. Rapid Response: With DTS, anomalies are detected in real-time, allowing for immediate response to mitigate potential hazards. This proactive approach can prevent thermal events from escalating and causing irreparable damage.
  5. Scalability: DTS systems can be easily scaled to accommodate large battery arrays, making them suitable for various applications, from grid-scale energy storage to EV fleets.

In addition, the quality of the system must be approved to meet required fire detection regulations such as EN, UL, and FM approvals.

To learn more about Luna’s DTS System, visit https://lios.lunainc.com/technology/distributed-temperature-sensing/

In the second part of this two part-series, we’ll take a look at the importance of battery monitoring  and how Luna enhances battery safety and performance.