As demand and installations of lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery energy storage systems increase, fire protection and detection systems are critical for both safety and financial reasons. Very early warning fire detection is key to preventing catastrophic fire events. Siemens FDA241 aspirating smoke detector utilizes two sensing wavelengths to differentiate between smoke and deceptive phenomena, enabling increased detection reliability even in challenging environments.
Li-ion battery energy storage systems are used to store and provide energy generated by wind, solar and 
Source: Siemensother renewable energy means, and are also used as backup power or load balancing in buildings. As these batteries age or get damaged they can experience internal faults which can cause overheating of the battery enclosure. If left undetected and not addressed quickly by shut off, disconnection or e-stop, this condition can lead to thermal runaway – or massive overheating that can result in fire or explosion.
Siemens’s FDA241 detector can detect smoldering or off-gas particles up to five times earlier than competitive spot detectors, decreasing the risk of thermal runaway. The patented dual-wavelength technology uses blue and red wavelengths to detect small off-gas particles that are produced in the early stages of battery failure and overheating. Using two wavelengths allows the detector to differentiate dust and steam particles from smoke and off-gas particles, thus signaling the appropriate warning signal and minimizing potential false alarms.
