The challenges generated by climate change, especially in areas where temperatures become extreme, have a direct impact on electricity consumption. Furthermore, according to the World Bank Group (WBG), global energy demand will increase dramatically, reaching 2,800 gigawatts per hour (GWh) by 2040.
To meet this demand and make the most of the energy generated by renewable sources, such as solar and wind, efficient storage systems are needed. For this reason, battery banks have started to become an ideal solution as they allow the excess energy generated to be stored and released when needed. This, in turn, helps stabilize power grids and promotes a more sustainable energy future.
What is a battery bank?
Recall that batteries are elements designed to store direct current (DC) that can be used when needed. In the industrial field, a battery bank is an electrical energy storage system made up of several connected batteries.
These battery banks are used to ensure the operational continuity of critical equipment and industrial processes, and also help stabilize the power supply during power outages, power failures or high consumption peaks.
Characteristics of battery banks
Battery banks have different characteristics depending on their application and the type of battery used. Among the most important qualities are the following:
- Storage capacity and voltage: the amount of energy that a battery bank can store must be proportional to the power supply demand and the requested autonomy time. In addition, each battery, cell or monobloc has a specific voltage, for example, 2V in lead-acid batteries.
- Design flexibility: generally the capacity of a battery bank is measured in ampere-hours (Ah), determined by the amount of energy it can store. This capacity must be modulable by connecting batteries in series or in parallel in order to adapt the system to different voltage and energy requirements, considering environmental and operating conditions.
- Protection and useful life: the structure of a battery bank must be protected by metal enclosures. In addition, management systems, such as the Equalizer, help to ensure optimum performance and long service life. The latter is influenced by the depth of discharge, and moderate use is recommended to preserve battery capacity in the long term.
- Warranty and reliability: To ensure a reliable power supply in substations and various industries, such as data centers, hospitals and production plants, it is essential to have high quality battery banks. These systems must be manufactured with components approved and tested by recognized manufacturers, who also usually provide the necessary warranties for manufacturing defects and replacement of original parts.
Types of battery banks
There are several types of battery banks according to their characteristics, use and performance required, for example:
Lead acid batteries:
They are the most common and economical as they have a wide range of industrial applications such as UPS and backup systems. However, these batteries charge slowly and can store between 70 to 85% of electrical energy.
Gel batteries:
They are a type of sealed lead-acid battery that offers greater safety and requires less maintenance compared to traditional lead-acid batteries. Their gel electrolyte significantly reduces the risk of leaks and spills, making them ideal for applications where safety is paramount. They also have a longer service life and greater tolerance to deep discharges.
Lithium or lithium ion batteries:
These are more expensive than the others, because they deliver higher efficiency, durability, energy density and require very little maintenance. Because of these characteristics, lithium ion batteries have recently been the most widely used in electric cars and are more attractive for solar power banks.
Nickel cadmium batteries:
Nickel-cadmium batteries, such as NiCd and NiMH, were pioneers, but have been overtaken by other technologies. NiCd batteries are common in portable electronic devices due to their endurance, but have a limited lifetime. These batteries offer improvements, but their capacity and cycle life are inferior to those of lithium batteries, which dominate the market today.
Applications of battery banks
In the industrial environment, battery banks are essential to support operational continuity and process safety. These systems help power various equipment, especially when the main power source is unstable.
Some of the applications of power banks are in places such as:
Industrial environments:
Mass manufacturing plants or refineries, need uninterrupted power supply. In this case, battery banks are a backup against main power grid failures and prevents breakdowns to expensive equipment or production losses.
Electrical substations:
Battery banks in these locations, help the uninterrupted operation of critical equipment such as transformers or circuit breakers.
Hospitals:
In health care facilities, patient safety is paramount. Therefore, having battery banks ensure the operation of critical equipment such as ventilators or vital sign monitors.
Data centers:
To ensure the operation of servers and data storage equipment, battery banks provide the necessary backup for the requested continuity of power supply in these areas.
Hybrid systems:
In solar or wind power systems, battery banks can store surplus renewable energy generated during the day for use at night or during periods of low production.
How to calculate the capacity of a battery bank?
Calculating the capacity of a battery bank depends on several factors and requires a detailed knowledge of the technical specifications of the batteries, as well as the consumption variables in the environment in which they will be used.
Some factors and variables to consider when calculating the capacity of a battery bank are:
- Battery type
- Battery voltage
- Battery charging time
- Percentage of discharge of each battery
- Storage capacity of each battery
- Number of batteries, cells or monoblocks
- Amount of consumption of the requested area
- kWh/day and the number of days of higher or lower energy consumption
Nowadays, battery banks are a backup alternative to store more energy due to the growth of renewable energies. At Industronic, we can advise you on the infrastructure of your company or factory to impact energy efficiency. Learn more about our battery banks here.
