Enhancing Safety with Battery Monitoring: The Power of Distributed Temperature Sensing - Part 2
In this second part of our series on battery monitoring using Distributed Temperature Sensing, we look at how Luna’s DTS technology is being used to make batteries safer, while increasing their performance and lifespan.
The Importance of Battery Monitoring
1. Preventing Thermal Runaway
Thermal runaway is a dangerous condition in which a battery's temperature rises uncontrollably, potentially leading to catastrophic failure. This phenomenon is often the result of internal defects, overcharging, or excessive discharging. To prevent thermal runaway, monitoring a battery's temperature is essential. Traditional methods rely on discrete temperature point sensors, which provide limited data points (blind spots) and may not detect temperature variations in real-time across the entire battery’s storage compartment. A DTS system with the right fire detection approval, on the other hand, offers continuous monitoring, enabling the early detection of temperature anomalies that could lead to thermal runaway, similar to plants as seen here.
With Luna’s Fiber-Optic Linear Heat Detection (FO-LHD) system, alarms can be set based on maximum temperature or rate of rise to ensure thermal runaway developments within the battery storage compartment are detected quickly and effectively.
2. Maximizing Battery Life
Temperature fluctuations can significantly impact a battery's lifespan. High temperatures can accelerate degradation and reduce a battery's overall capacity. Conversely, low temperatures can decrease a battery's performance. Battery monitoring allows for precise temperature control, ensuring that batteries operate within their optimal temperature range. By maintaining the ideal temperature, battery life can be extended, reducing the need for frequent replacements and minimizing environmental impact.
From a capital expenditure and environmental point of view, the ability to have the Luna FO-LHD system track the operational temperatures and turn them into historical references will ensure the extension of the batteries’ lives. Hence it will reduce new extraction and waste of resources (minerals) and ensure the ability for operators to save on their capital expenditure.
3. Enhancing Safety (Link)
The proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs) has highlighted the importance of battery safety. EV batteries are subjected to extreme conditions, including fast charging, heavy usage, and temperature variations. Monitoring the temperature of individual battery cells in real-time is crucial for detecting potential issues and preventing thermal events. Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) systems, especially with the right performance and certified life-saving approvals, can provide this level of granularity, allowing for rapid response to critical situations: protection the batteries but as well as infrastructures as Luna has been protecting parking lots with issues as encountered here: Link.
The Luna FO-LHD system uses its high-performance zoning DTS system, which holds the strongest reliability reputation in the market (high MTBF) combined with accurate measurement, to protect crucial assets such as multi-stories parking lots and traffic-congested tunnels. These are crucial and concerning challenges that are exponentially affecting the growth of the EV implementation.
Conclusion
Battery monitoring is a critical aspect of ensuring the safety and performance of battery systems. Luna Distributed Temperature Sensing is a powerful, certified technology that stands out for its ability to provide continuous, high-resolution temperature data throughout the battery system’s lifetime. By using Luna's DTS systems, you can proactively identify temperature anomalies, prevent thermal runaway, maximize battery life, enhance the safety of battery-powered devices and vehicles, and protect people and infrastructure.
To learn more about Luna’s Linear Heat Detection technology, visit www.lios.lunainc.com/product-category/de-tect-linear-heat-detection/.