Dutch Forces choses for a sustainable power system for military camp

For the first time in history Dutch Forces have chosen to use a sustainable power system for the power supply military camp. The system in deployed in a part of Camp Castor in us by the Dutch soldiers contibuting to the UN-operation MINUSMA in Mali. EST-Floattech is proud of delivering this system, particulary because it operates there under challenging climatic circumstances.

The foundation stone for the Deployable Power Module is the EST-Floattech Lithium Polymer Battery. In packages of thirteen, they are used for the storage of energy.  Depending on the availability of solar power and the level of electricity consumption, this energy is either obtained from coupled 250 kW generators or from coupled flexible “Thin Film” solar panels from partnering company Zonel Energy Systems. This particular type of solar panels was deployed for the first time during the operation in Afghanistan. The Dutch Engineers were pleased with its performance and wanted to use them in MALI again. Just as in Afghanistan the solar panels are installed on the roof top of the chalets. Besides batteries the Deployable Power Module system contains tailor made software as well as modern industrial conversion equipment.

Connected with Solar Panels

The Lithium Polymer Batteries are charged primarily by the solar energy obtained by the solar panels. If necessary, charging can be replenished by energy coming from the coupled generators. Power supply to the different parts of the camp is always provided by the battery packs. The Deployable Power Module automatically decides if charging has to be done by the solar panels or by the generators. Moreover the system pre-plans when generators have to be in operation enabling the generators to operate in their most effective mode, that is at 85% of their power.

Technical innovations in use of the Deployable Power Module

The two most important technical components enabling the reliable performance of a sustainable power system like ESTechnologies Deployable Power Module are the performance level of the battery and the reliability and efficiency of the Energy Management System.

The battery package in use in de MALI-configuration consists of 26 batteries divided in two strings. Each string consists of thirteen EST-Floattech Green Orca 1050 connected in a serial setup. The two strings are connected in parallel setup.

• 52 Volt, 200Ah
• Each battery contains 14 Lithium Polymer Cells serial connected
• 200A, 1C Nominal Charge, @23 degrees centigrade ± 3
• 300A, 1½C Nominal discharge, @23 degrees centigrade ± 3
• 600A, 3C Maximal discharge, <10 sec, >SOC 50%
• Stack up to Megawatts and 1000 Vdc
• Unique Battery Management System with Advanced Active Cell Balancing
• NMEA 2000 based CanBus communication
• Originally designed for Maritime use, IP67
• Warranty 5.000 cycles at 80% DOD of 10 years
• 100% maintenance free, both electrical and mechanical

The Energy Managent System

The Energy Managent System guarantees the Deployable Power Module operates in a long-lasting, reliable and economically sound manner. The Energy Management System uses a Battery Management System, developed in by EST-Floattech. This Battery Management System sees to it that each single cell, each battery and each package of batteries is actively balanced in real time. The BMS constantly monitors the single cell voltage, current, SOC, SOH and DOD. During unbalance energy is transferred from the highest to the lowest cell with an accuracy of 0.005 Volts.

Benefits of the Deployable Power Module

• Possibility to buffer solar energy during the day for electricity consumption during the night;
• Guarantee of a very steady micro grid with obvious benefits for vulnerable electronic equipment;
• Permanent availability of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS);
• Higher generator output because they can be operated in the cooler hours of the day;
• Less damage to generators because of the possibility to stop them during sandstorms
• Less down time and less maintenance costs.
• Less wear of generators because of the possibility to operate them always at 85% of their overall capacity
• Less fuel consumption leading not only to financial but also to logistical and operational benefits.
• Less generator capacity needed, during peak hours electricity can also be obtained from the batteries