Product category:
Batteries, chargers and circuit protection
News Release from: Saft Industrial Batteries | Subject: SPH cells
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 28 March 2003
NiCad cells provide backup on new cruise
liners
Rechargeable nickel-cadmium battery technology has been selected to provide emergency backup power for Radiance Class cruise ships.
Rechargeable nickel-cadmium battery technology has been selected in preference to valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries to provide 30min of emergency backup power for Radiance Class cruise ships Royal Caribbean International has selected Saft SPH rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries ahead of the standard-fitting valve regulated lead acid batteries (VRLA) to provide a reliable, long-life and low-maintenance source of emergency backup power for its fleet of four Radiance Class luxury cruise ships from the Meyer Werft shipyard of Papenburg, Germany
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 21 Feb 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
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The Radiance Class comprises four magnificent cruise ships: The Radiance of the Seas launched in 2001 and The Brilliance of the Seas launched in 2002, while the Serenade of the Seas is due for launch in 2003 and the Jewel of the Seas will follow in 2004.
The exact specification varies from ship to ship but typically each has a tonnage of 90,090t, 15 decks and the capacity for well over 2000 passengers.
They feature two novel podded drive units incorporating an electric motor which directly drives a propeller.
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In the event of mains power failure, the main onboard battery is required to provide 188kW of power for a minimum of 30min to support the ship's key electrical services including lighting and emergency steering.
Royal Caribbean International specified Saft SPH rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries which are designed specifically for critical applications where a reliable source of backup power is essential.
The key feature of the SPH cells is their sintered/plastic bonded electrode technology which is proven to need only minimal attention after installation, as their noncorrosive construction and highly efficient electrochemistry makes repeated checks for water replenishment, recharging or replacement completely unnecessary.
This inherent reliability over a 20 year plus service life eliminates the fear of the unpredictable 'sudden death' failure sometimes encountered with lead-acid batteries, as well as enabling Royal Caribbean to benefit from savings over regular replacement, maintenance and down-time costs.
The SPH batteries are also more compact and lighter in weight and offer superior performance at extremes of temperature, with an operating range of +60C to -40C.
The detailed specification of the main battery varies from ship to ship.
However on the Jewel of the Seas it will comprise 616 SPH 190 (190Ah capacity) cells arranged in two parallel strings.
On the same ship Saft SPH cells are also being used in nine smaller UPS systems, with capacities from 13 to 27kW, which will support various onboard computer systems and the interactive TV systems. Request a free brochure from Saft Industrial Batteries ...
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