The Power Advantage

Introduction Stationary battery systems have a high potential for electrical risk but with proper forethought and the implementation of simple design features, we can reduce that risk. This paper discusses simple but often overlooked or misapplied methods of improving the safety of stationary battery systems, or Prevention through Design, (PtD),

Introduction On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina slammed into Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama causing damage on scale never before witnessed in the affected area. Three weeks later, Hurricane Rita slammed into southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas causing extensive damage. The vast majority of the damage caused by the hurricanes was

Introduction A major benefit of Lithium-ion batteries is the amount of power they can store. Unfortunately, this can also be a drawback because if this energy is released in an uncontrolled manner a very intense fire is the typical result. This can occur during storage due to an internal fault

Introduction Stationary battery systems have a high potential for electrical risk, but the risks can be reduced with the implementation of simple design features. Stationary battery systems are traditionally used in telecommunications, switchgear systems, (MCC, substation, and generating station), UPS applications, and industrial control systems. The batteries in these systems

Introduction: Risk—Monitored and Unmonitored Both Lead Acid and Nickel Cadmium batteries produce flammable hydrogen gas during normal charging. Overcharging, excessive heat and many other factors can quickly cause batteries to produce even more hydrogen. As hydrogen builds up, the risk of fire, explosion and material degradation increases. This white paper

Introduction An electrical contractor created a short circuit during a battery installation. In 2016, we received a called for assistance from one of our customers when their “embedded” electrical contractor installed two battery systems in a new unit at their refinery. During one of the installations, the electrical contractor inadvertently

Introduction Battery system maintenance and monitoring are key elements in the reliability of any DC battery powered system and are IEEE and NERC requirements. Also, most battery manufacturers require regular maintenance and maintenance records of purchased batteries for any warranty claims. The nature of construction of VRLA batteries prevents internal

Introduction Lead-acid batteries have been around for more than 150 years. While flat plate models with a lattice grid represented a technological leap forward in 1881, tubular construction is a more robust technology with many advantages. With advancements such as the use of non-woven gauntlets encasing the positive spine plate,

Introduction An electrical contractor damaged jars during installation resulting in delayed leaks surfacing after new battery and battery building was turned over to plant operations. In 2017 we received a call from a utility customer who reported leaking cells in a new battery recently installed in their plant by a

Introduction: Battery Warranties The idea of the 20-year warranty began in the 1960s as a marketing campaign for lead calcium batteries. With newer battery technologies being developed with different design, performance and construction principles, the industry finds it difficult to shift the expectation of a standard 20-year warranty. The resulting