GENERATORS, BACKUP POWER & BATTERIES
generator testing, any faults in the system wouldn’t be discovered until it’s too late. It’s not an option to interrupt standard power
supply and connect the generator, nor is it acceptable to just turn the generator on every now and then. The generator must be regularly operated on a load of 40 per cent or more of its rated power to ensure reliable performance. For many premises, the relatively low costs of installing a fixed load bank at the same time as installing the generator is justified by the saving and maintenance costs over the life of the generator set.
LOAD BANK
A fixed load bank installed with any standby generator can conduct routine testing. These routine tests include onload running to bring the engine, alternator and radiator to normal working temperatures, which is better for the set and gives a greater degree of certainty of the generator’s performance. This would give premises, businesses and facilities the certainty that their UPS is prepared should unexpected loss of power occur.
As a division of Cressall Resistors, Power Prove has longstanding experience and expertise to supply fixed and portable load banks for a range of requirements. The team is on hand to advise on the best solution for your generator-testing needs to give businesses peace of mind that their generator can perform. While the National Grid has said that
blackouts are unlikely, it’s better to be prepared than to be left in the dark. Conducting regular load bank testing of a generating set gives businesses peace of mind that they’re able to keep operations flowing and avoid costly downtime during the winter months and beyond.
Invar Group
www.invargroup.com
Megawatt charging speeds for electrified motorsports: from 5% to 85% (SOC) in just under 90 seconds
I
n motor racing, all-electric powertrains are no longer a novelty. In response to the growing demand for highly efficient and powerful batteries, the engineers at hofer powertrain, a technology and engineering partner of the automotive world, developed a pioneering battery technology equipped with extremely safe high-power battery cells that promise charging currents of up to 3.75 MW. What began as a research and development project “BlueFire” in 2019 is a groundbreaking new megawatt-class innovation with FlashCharge speeds for sprint and endurance e-motorsport. The hofer powertrain battery team developed a fully functional high-voltage battery
using a market-leading BMS system and fast-charging CCS DC wallbox available on the market at the time. The initial proof of concept (POC) involved installing it in a racing kart and subjecting it to a series of complex tests under load and with real road resistance, which significantly exceeded expectations. By simulating various driving situations with the high-voltage charging system, it was possible to determine the battery’s and system’s functionalities as well as the overall performance within the powertrain system, where all measurements confirmed the groundbreaking charging curve. The hofer powertrain BlueFire battery demonstrated extremely high cycle stability. In less than 90 seconds, the battery could be recharged successfully from 5-85% S0C (State of Charge). The LTO cells used for this purpose have proven to be particularly suitable for applications that require fast charging and discharging with high charging currents and have opened new possibilities for the future. During this initial pilot project in pre-development, it became apparent that the new
battery is ideal for 24-hour endurance races that rely on extremely short charging times. In addition, it can be variably scaled to fit different applications.
In the meantime, initial discussions with interested parties and investors have started with
excellent responses. The engineers are currently focusing on increasing the already very high energy density in the cells of the BlueFire battery considerably while at the same time reducing the weight of these cells. “In endurance races, the ultimate aim is to shorten charging times during pit stops
so that the sports cars return to the circuit in no time. Exactly that happens when the necessary charging energy is transferred to the BlueFire battery using the megawatt charging system and appropriate MCS connector systems. This integrated system makes purely electric endurance races, such as an LMDe race series, into a spectacular and emotional experience, comparable to the new LMDh race series today,” says Gerold Sluka, a senior battery expert at hofer powertrain.
hofer powertrain
www.hoferpowertrain.com
FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS | MARCH 2023 25
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