FIRE RISK DETECTION SYSTEM FOR AN AGRICULTURAL HARVESTER

The system comprises at least one thermal imaging camera (5) mounted or positionable in a location that enables the camera to capture a thermal image of at least part of one lateral side of the harvester (1) when the harvester is operational in a field. The camera may for example be mounted on a movable component or subsystem of the harvester, such as the unloading tube (12) of a combine harvester (1) according to an embodiment of the invention. When the unloading tube is in the unloading position, the camera (5) is enabled to capture an image of the unloading side of the harvester. The system further includes a processing unit (6) and a control unit (7), configured to process and analyse captured thermal images, and compare temperature-related parameters derived from said images to a threshold. Such parameters include the maximum and/or average temperature in a number of areas identified in the images and/or in predefined critical areas, or the change of said average and/or maximum temperature, or the change in the shape of identified temperature-related areas. The control unit (7) is configured to execute one or more fire mitigation actions when one or more thresholds are exceeded. Said actions may include the activation of an auditive or visual warning signal or the activation of a fire extinguishing system.