Batteries shed light on shipping hazards
A
Saft Industrial Batteries product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jul 4, 2003
Sunica batteries play key role at heart of Northern Lighthouse Board's solar-power programme.
Sunica batteries play key role at heart of Northern Lighthouse Board's solar-power programme.
Saft Sunica rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries, designed specifically for photovoltaic applications, are being installed as part of the Northern Lighthouse Board's ongoing solarisation programme to convert its minor and major lights around the coast of Scotland and the Isle of Man to environmentally friendly solar power.
The energy storage efficiency of the batteries enables them to accumulate sufficient energy from the light's solar panels in the spring and autumn months to ensure reliable winter operation.
The Northern Lighthouse Board has operated gas-powered systems for over 100 years and these were the first automatic lights in Scotland.
In general these minor lights were installed where a low range of less than 16km was required.
A local attendant ensured that the gas supply was available and illuminated and that the gas mantle was in good condition.
The structure of these lights was not a traditional lighthouse tower but a small brick building or cast iron cylinder that required regular painting.
An annual gas delivery by tender was necessary.
In 1984 the Northern Lighthouse Board embarked on a long-term solarisation programme, replacing many of the original structures with low maintenance aluminium towers and installing solar electric power for the lights.
Originally, lead-acid batteries were selected, but in 1987 it was decided to use Saft nickel-cadmium batteries which offer an enhanced lifespan of up to 20 years, avoiding expensive regular replacement programmes.
There are currently 95 Northern Lighthouse Board solar powered land based sites from the north tip of the Shetland Isles to Chicken Rock at the south end of the Isle of Man.
The range of light varies between three and 23 miles.
Lights of less than 24km are normally tungsten lamps which are switched on and off by electronically controlled flashers in order to exhibit the advertised character.
The Northern Lighthouse Board's first automatic long range lights, also powered by acetylene gas, were first installed in the early 1960s.
The development of high efficiency metal halide lamps now enables the gas mantle to be replaced by a solar electric system.
In the last decade, the power consumption for a typical 30km light range has decreased from over 100 to 35W.
So even in the northern latitudes of Scotland the solar panels, combined with a suitably sized and highly efficient 24 battery can make use of the diffused light through the cloud cover to accumulate sufficient energy in the summer and autumn months to power the light through winter.
Supplementary power for monitoring purposes is also supplied by solar.
Photovoltaic systems such as those used by the Northen Lighthouse Board require efficient batteries with a long cycle life and a potential for both shallow and deep cycling.
The Saft Sunica nickel-cadmium batteries are designed specifically to offer a number of key advantages in this type of application, namely: constant charging efficiency over time; continuous operation at any state of charge; minimal self-discharge rates; a high available performance even at very low states of charge; sustained efficiency even at high or low temperatures; and long cycle life even when the charge/discharge cycle involves 100% depth of discharge.
Sunica batteries feature pocket plates, shock-resistant polypropylene casing material and a special spillproof vent.
An extra electrolyte reserve ensures almost supervision-free service and a long interval between topping up.
They also benefit from the long service life of nickel-cadmium technology, with no risk of the 'sudden-death' failure found in lead-acid batteries, and are expected to have a lifetime of up to 20 years.
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Contact Saft Industrial Batteries
Tel +33 1 49 93 1807
Other Saft Industrial Batteries stories
-
Batteries smooth out renewable supplies
Saft Sunica rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries are designed to provide the optimum energy storage solution for renewable energy applications such as photovoltaic and wind-power systems. -
Batteries cover hybrid photovoltaic applications
Saft Sunica batteries enable a Cummins' Hybrid Energy System to power microwave transmission equipment on an Australian mountain-top. -
Saft presents battery technologies at EP Shanghai
Saft is showing its portfolio of battery technologies developed to meet the specific needs of renewable energy applications for efficient and reliable energy storage solutions. -
Saft signs up for supercapacitors
Saft has signed an agreement with ESMA to cooperate in the development, production and commercialisation of supercapacitors based on ESMA's technology. -
Self-launch glider uses Li-ion battery system
The Antares 20E, an electric self-launching glider developed by Lange Aviation and powered by a Saft custom-designed, rechargeable lithium ion (Li-ion) battery system, is back in series production.
Articles by product category
- Consultancy and Services (903)
- Machine Building (4,517)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,179)
- Engineering Design Software (12)
- 2D CAD software (200)
- 3D CAD software (1,157)
- FEA and structural analysis software (369)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (334)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (914)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (196)
- Materials design and moulding design software (151)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (258)
- Electrical design software (164)
- Publishing and documentation software (229)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (317)
- Data, document management software (310)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (568)
- File conversion software, data capture (351)
- PLM and collaboration software (649)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,361)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (1)
- Precision Motors and Gears (411)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,276)
- Linear Drives and Motors (114)
- Industrial Motors (497)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,060)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (1,975)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,028)
- Plantwide control (1,324)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,174)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (387)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (184)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (201)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (562)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (294)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (806)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,459)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (494)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (472)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (630)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (703)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (440)
- Data loggers (422)
- Materials testing equipment (421)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (154)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (500)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,222)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,160)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (555)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (679)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (709)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (420)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (798)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (369)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (630)
-
Materials and Processing (2,963)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials and components (2,215)
- Rapid Prototyping (458)
- Materials processing and testing (285)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,093)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (562)
- Engineering Conferences (425)
- Engineering Seminars (400)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (633)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (349)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Training Courses (433)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (838)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Health and Safety Legislation (402)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (113)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (175)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (277)
-
Powertrain Design (3,598)
- Powertrain Design (2)
- Bearings (939)
- Chains and belts (326)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,441)
- Hydraulic Components (471)
- Lubricants (418)
-
Capital Equipment (3,387)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (468)
- Production line blowers and fans (62)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (510)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,093)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (930)
-
Sensors (7,080)
- Sensors (8)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (427)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (699)
- Pressure sensors (621)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (618)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (527)
- Linear Position Sensors (399)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (546)
- Proximity Sensors (700)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (284)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (152)
- Temperature sensors (612)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,384)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,623)
