Bulk Material Combustion Warning Systems

FLIR's Bulk Material Combustion Warning Systems use an infrared camera to generate a thermographic image of the area being monitored. This clearly shows hot spots on a remote video or PC monitor in real time and triggers an alarm. This application flyer describes how these systems can be designed and used to save hundreds of thousands of dollars by preventing loss before a fire happens.

DETECT DEVELOPING FIRES IN COAL PILES AND OTHER EXOTHERMIC MATERIALS

• Great for monitoring compost piles, landfills, scrap bunkers, rail hopper cars, etc.

• Remote monitoring – see high temperatures without onsite personnel

• Connect multiple cameras to a central monitor via Ethernet

• Locates combustion developing below the surface before smoke or flames appear

• Helps prevent material loss and damage to buildings or equipment

• Earliest possible warning with trend analysis software

• Also enhances intrusion security

• Works day or night in any weather – 24/7 operation

 

Spontaneous Combustion

Many bulk materials are stored as large piles in open yards where air and moisture promote decomposition and other exothermic reactions that raise the temperature of the pile. This brings with it the threat of fire, direct monetary loss, and safety issues for personnel. In addition, there is the risk of consequential damages caused by fire, including loss of nearby property, water damage resulting from fire fighting, and production shutdowns. Lack of attention to these risks may also increase insurance premiums.

Storage piles that are especially prone to spontaneous combustion include coal, organic wastes (compost, etc.), scrap paper for recycling, wood, and various inorganic chemicals, such as cement and chlorine hydrates. Some metals, such as aluminum, can react with certain liquid wastes, creating gases that are easily ignited. Even in the absence of spontaneous combustion, many bulk materials like plastics pose a fire hazard due to sparks or other external ignition sources. Since self-ignition usually starts within the lower layers of a pile, a full-blown fire can develop before it becomes apparent to observers due to smoke and flames. Therefore, an early warning system is needed to monitor the surface and reveal hot spots at an early stage, so measures can be taken to prevent a major fire from breaking out.

Cost-Effective Early Warning

FLIR's Bulk Material Combustion Warning Systems use an infrared camera to generate a thermographic image of the area being monitored. This clearly reveals hot spots on a remote video or PC monitor in real time. In addition, this "Smart Camera" can be programmed to set the temperature at which an alarm signal is generated, and multiple target spots and alarms can be used. The alarm output can be wired directly to an alarm device, annunciator, programmable logic controller (PLC), or PC-based monitoring and control system. When an alarm occurs, personnel can then go to the visual monitor to verify.