Product category:
Batteries, chargers and circuit protection
News Release from: Saft Industrial Batteries
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 20 September 2004
Batteries to help plot a safe course
The operator of the Port of Gothenburg has ordered Sunica.plus low maintenance batteries to provide reliable backup for solar powered fairway beacons to mark the main access channels to the port.
Goteborg Hamn, operator of the Port of Gothenburg, Sweden has ordered Saft's new design Sunica.plus low maintenance rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries to provide reliable backup power for the 34 new solar powered fairway beacons that will mark the main access channels approaching the port The Port of Gothenburg, on the west coast of Sweden, is the largest Nordic port, with an annual turnover in 2003 of 33.3 million tonnes of cargo
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 21 Feb 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
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In order to increase both the traffic safety and capacity of the two main port access channels, in compliance with international safety standards for navigation of fairways, the Swedish Maritime Administration and Goteborg Hamn are currently carrying out a major project, involving the dredging of 11 million cubic metres of clay and the removal of 0.5 million cubic metres of rock.
The two improved access channels, the 10km long Torshamnsleden and the 6km long Bottoleden, will be marked by a total of 34 fully automatic solar powered fairway beacons.
To ensure that the flashing red and green lights and GPS (global positioning system) will remain operational even during the dark winter months Goteborg Hamn asked for a backup battery system capable of providing sufficient power for 146 continuous days without sunlight.
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A separate battery was also required to provide 94 days of backup power for the white light.
In addition, the batteries had to be suitable for reliable operation in extreme temperature conditions ranging from -25 to +50C and require minimal maintenance, with a two-year target interval for topping up with water.
The Swedish Maritime Administration, acting as the design adviser and end-user for the fairway beacon project, specified Saft's new Sunica.plus low maintenance specialised PV (photovoltaic) batteries for the backup power.
This decision was based on the Swedish Maritime Administration's extensive experience with Saft batteries in its own navigational applications, where a number of battery sets installed well over 20 years previously are still providing reliable service.
Furthermore, Sunica.plus batteries had recently completed long term proving trials with the Swedish Maritime Association.
During these trials, the Sunica.plus batteries functioned for over four years without topping up, showing that they would comfortably exceed Goteborg Hamn's specification for a two-year watering interval.
Two separate 12V battery systems will be installed in a compartment in the main vertical column of the L-shaped fairway beacons.
Backup power for the flashing red and green lights and GPS will be supplied by two Sunica.plus 105-5 batteries with a capacity of 105Ah.
Backup power for the white light will be supplied by five Sunica.plus 370-2 batteries with a capacity of 370Ah.
Construction of the first fairway beacons commenced in the summer of 2003 and will be complete by Autumn 2004. Request free introductory details about products from Saft Industrial Batteries ...
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