High-technology batteries cut maintenance needs
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Saft Industrial Batteries product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jun 7, 2005
Seabird and seal colonies are now enjoying a more peaceful existence thanks to Saft nickel-metal hydride battery power backup systems.
Seabird and seal colonies on some of the Northern Lighthouse Board's most remote solar powered offshore sites such as Sule Skerry, Sula Sgeir, Ve Skerries and Carragh Mhor are now enjoying a more peaceful existence thanks to Saft nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery power backup systems.
The high technology Ni-MH batteries, which in future will also be installed on North Rona and Chicken Rock, require no maintenance over an expected 15-year service life, ensuring a high level of reliability and eliminating the need for regular helicopter landings to carry out routine servicing on these otherwise inaccessible rock outcrops.
Over the past 20 years the NLB has been carrying out a solarisation programme to convert its minor and major lights around the coast of Scotland and the Isle of Man from gas to environmentally friendly solar power.
An efficient 12 or 24V battery system is required to store sufficient energy from the light's solar panels in the spring and autumn months to ensure reliable winter operation.
Most NLB land based solar powered installations now rely on Saft's Sunica.plus nickel-cadmium batteries developed specifically to offer an ideal combination of charging efficiency, low maintenance and long service life for renewable energy systems.
However, for its most remote and sensitive sites, the NLB decided to explore the possibility of eliminating servicing completely by installing Saft's advanced technology Ni-MH batteries.
Ni-MH technology is also due to enter service shortly on an NLB floating aid (buoy).
The key advantage of Ni-MH technology is that the batteries are sealed for life, requiring no topping up with distilled water and offering an extended service life in this application of up to 15 years - around twice that of lead acid batteries.
This means that the NLB will need to visit the sites much less frequently, saving on helicopter costs and also reducing the risk of disturbing the breeding colonies of seabirds and seals.
Furthermore, the Ni-MH batteries are lighter, more compact and nonspillable.
This makes them much easier and safer to transport to remote sites, and they also take up less space within the lighthouse.
The NHE Ni-MH battery modules installed by NLB are derived from Saft's battery vehicle programme.
They provide excellent energy density and maintenance-free operation with a high cycle life and are fully recyclable at the end of their life.
The installation at Sule Skerry is typical with two batteries, each comprising 30 NHE 2-500 modules, configured to provide a nominal 24V and 3000Ah capacity.
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