Product category:
Batteries, chargers and circuit protection
News Release from: Saft Industrial Batteries
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 25 January 2006
Batteries help Spain move to high-speed
trains
Rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries provide low-maintenance back-up power for high-speed, multiple-gauge, power heads under construction for the Spanish national railways.
Bombardier Transportation has ordered Saft SRM rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries to provide low-maintenance back-up power for the 44 HSP 250, high-speed, multiple-gauge, power heads under construction for Renfe (the Spanish national railways) Two of the power heads will be coupled with nine multiple-gauge coaches to form 22 trainsets capable of using both Spain's new high-speed lines, at speeds up to 250km/hr, as well as the country's conventional network
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 21 Feb 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
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The batteries will provide up to 90min of autonomous support for the control and communication systems.
They will also support the central computer system that controls services throughout the train, such as emergency lighting, door opening, air conditioning and ventilation.
They will need no special attention between normal rolling stock maintenance examinations.
Further reading
World's most powerful storage battery to be built
Saft, the battery company, has won an order worth around US$10million for the design and manufacture of the world's most powerful storage battery, capable of supplying 40 MW of power
Rechargeable Ni-Cd battery for onboard rail use
A new battery has been purpose designed to provide the perfect high performance on-board battery system for LRV, metro, EMU, locomotive and high speed rail systems
Topping up with distilled water is required at two-year intervals, and there is no need to change the electrolyte during the battery's lifetime.
The cell design has sintered positive and plastic-bonded negative electrodes which make it up to 20% smaller and lighter than conventional batteries.
They do not suffer from the sudden-death failure that can afflict lead-acid batteries, and can provide a service life of up to 15 years.
This lifetime exceeds the minimum lifetime required by the UIC 854 R railway specification by more than six times.
The SRM can supply emergency discharges from -50 to +70C, and can tolerate deep, often uncontrolled cycling.
When charging, it reaches over 90% capacity after five hours, and resists arid conditions and heavy vibration over long periods without any effect on its operational capability.
The batteries comprise 86 SRM 105 FR cells connected in series to provide a nominal 110V and 105Ah capacity.
All equipment on the train must provide a high level of safety, so Bombardier selected the FR version of the cells with polyamide flame retardant plastic containers.
The batteries will be supplied in custom-built stainless steel crates ready for mounting.
The 44 HSP 250 power heads are being constructed by a Bombardier Transportation Germany and Patentes Talgo consortium.
When the multiple-gauge trains enter service they will cut typical journey times from Madrid to Grenada from just under six hours to around three and a half hours.
The award of this contract follows Saft batteries being used over the past three years in a similar application on Renfe's Talgo 350 trains. Request free introductory details about products from Saft Industrial Batteries ...
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