Thermal Runaway Monitoring

Thermal runaway is an uncontrolled rise in a battery’s temperature due to exothermic reactions. This creates a feedback-loop where heat accelerates internal reactions, producing even more heat. This overheating can lead to gas buildup, fires, and/or explosions if not managed. It’s important to mitigate thermal runaway risks and is essential for protecting your operations and investments.

Early Detection: The Key to Prevention

Identifying the early signs of thermal runaway is crucial. In lead-acid batteries these signs can include:

Increased internal and case temperatures (when compared to ambient)
Charge current increase
Swelling/bulging of battery case and external connectors
Abnormal cell/bloc voltages

Monitoring key parameters in real-time allows for swift intervention before a minor issue escalates into a catastrophic one.

Your First Line of Defense

The SC4 Site Controller Unit is a monitoring system that offers unparalleled protection for your battery installations. Using the SC4’s built-in thermal runaway detection algorithm, you’ll get early warning of an event long before it ever becomes a hazard. Focusing on the key indicators of a thermal runaway, the algorithm closely monitors:

Cell/block temperature
Ambient temperature
Float current

Additionally, the SC4 provides monitoring of other key aspects of a battery’s health that may change during a thermal runaway event, such as:

Voltage (cell/block and string)
Resistance of the internal structure of the cell/block as well as connecting hardware
Discharge current

Required components: SC4, Float Current Monitoring System, Remote Input Module and temp sensors.

Optional components: Battery sensors, Remote Output Module.

Explore the SC4

Sends SNMP traps to relay information when a threshold is reached per the set points.
Up to 6 strings of batteries on a single SC4 controller (up to 40 batteries per port).
Webpage access through the assigned IP for remote access to data.
Files available for download through the web page.
Changes to the configuration can be made remotely with admin privileges. Firmware can be updated remotely as well.

SC4 Battery Monitoring System

The SC4 site controller is a 4th-generation...

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