FLIR

LIR

APPLICATION

STORY 

Bulk storage of any combustible materialsleads to fire risk in many large storageareas such as waste bunkers, wood orpaper stockpiles, as well cement andcoal storage yards. Self-ignition usuallystarts within the bottom layers of a stock-pile as a result of temperature increases inthe material. By continuous monitoring ofthe surface layers, hot spots can be detec-ted in an early stage and action can betaken to prevent fires from breaking out.

FULLY    AUTOMATED  INFRARED  TEMPERATURE 

MONITORING

A good example of an effective solu-tion is the one supplied by FLIR Systems

integrator ENELEX (www.enelex.cz) atthe Homogenization Storage Yard SDof the Nástup Mines Cooperation inTusimice, Czech Republic. For this loca-tion, ENELEX supplied a ThermoVision™infrared camera system from FLIR Systemsfor continuous and fully automated moni-toring of the coal pile. The large size ofthe storage yard means the use of a por-table infrared camera is not a practicalsolution for this critical task. Only a fullyautomated system is able to constantlymonitor the hundreds of thousands oftons of coal which are stored at this siteon an area of approximately 800 x 200meters.

ThermoVision™keeps fire riskunder control incoal pile storage site

Coal storage in large coal piles brings with it the risk of spontaneous

fires. As always, prevention is better than cure.

 A ThermoVision™ infrared camera system from FLIR Systems helps

to ensure safety at the Nástup Mines Cooperation in Tusimice, Czech

Republic. The system provides a cost-effective solution for continu-

ous, remote monitoring of temperatures in the coal piles.The FLIR Systems ThermoVision™ infrared camera moun- ted on a mast over the coal piles of the Nástup MinesCooperation in the Czech Republic.

The overlay of a coal pile with 2 hot spots as possiblecombustion points

Continuous combustion detection to prevent spontaneous fires with a surveying ThermoVision™ by FLIR Systems

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E XTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN CONTINUOUS THERMAL MONITORING

FLIR Systems infrared cameras were selected because of thecompany’s extensive experience in a wide range of continu-ous thermal monitoring applications. These range from qualitycontrol on printed circuit boards right up to systems designedto operate in harsh industrial environments such as steel mills,glass production lines, waste treatment plans and other industrialprocesses. The system is based on the FLIR Systems ThermoVision™ 320Ccameras, which are mounted on five steel masts at strategic

locations around the site. To ensure optimum coverage of thewhole area, the cameras are configured to generate a directalarm output to an operator if previously defined maximumtemperature thresholds are exceeded. An acoustic alarm and adisplay alarm on a monitor will draw the operator’s attention toa possible spontaneous fire development. The system allows foran accurate positioning and a detailed analysis of the criticallocation so that the hot spot can be extinguished and a fireprevented. Because of the extensive size of the storage site, thecontrol and camera signals are transported by fibre-optic cableswith a total length of 3 km from the camera mast to the controlroom.

CONTROLLING FIRE RISKS  AT  ALL KINDS OF SITES

Over the past 10 years, infrared cameras have been applied onan increasing scale for temperature monitoring and measurementapplications, in addition to situations where their night visioncapabilities are used. One of the areas where these camerasare being successfully applied is in sites which are subject to firerisk. In this way these cameras have enabled companies holdingstocks of materials like wood, paper, plastic and wastes, as wellas the cement and coal industries, to improve the safety of theirplants and storage sites.

Safety of course means not only protecting the stored materialsthemselves, but also ensuring the safety of employees and othersin the areas around the storage sites. In addition to that, thereis also the risk of consequential damage that can be caused byfires, including loss of property, water damage resulting fromfire-fighting and standstill of production lines. In view of thesereal risks, the cost of an automated temperature monitoringsystem using infrared cameras is a modest and very worthwhileinvestment.

FLIR Systems’ ThermoVision™ 320C isa complete and cost-effective packagewhich is easy to implement in a widerange of environments. The system is sup-plied with all the components needed forinstallation:*ThermoVision™ 320C infrared camera,

incorporating a patented uncooled solidstate microbolometer detector

* Interfacing input/output box* ThermoVision™ Alert software, which

allows the operator to preset andmodify alarm conditions for up to 4 con-

trolled areas defined in the camera’sfield of view. These alarms control 4relay and 4 analog outputs in the I/Obox. For example, a relay alarm canbe generated if the temperature withinthe defined areas falls below or risesabove a predefined value.

As with all its products, FLIR Systemsoffers a complete range of accessory len-ses, including close-up, wide-angle andtelescopic, to match the requirements ofspecific applications.

THERMO V ISION™ 320C:  A COMPLETE  AND COST-EFFECTIVE PACKAGE

IR-view from the mast. Easily to recognize 2 coal piles separated by a loading zone as wellsome plant buildings behind these.

For further information contact:

FLIR S YSTEMS AB

World Wide Thermography CenterRinkebyvägen 19SE-182 11 DanderydSwedenTel.: +46 (0)8 753 25 00Fax: +46 (0)8 753 23 64e-mail: sales@flir.sewww.flir.com72