VRB Power has designed smaller sized Energy Storage System's designed to replace conventional lead acid battery systems. These systems are designed to replace conventional lead acid battery systems and address the problems associated with lead acids such as short lifetimes, maintenance requirements, poor efficiencies, reliability concerns and recycling costs.
The VRB-ESS provides multiple simultaneous DC outputs without electronic conversion for telecommunication applications and can also be integrated with AC systems with the addition of an inverter.
The small VRB-ESS's will include a range of self contained system designs between 2.5kW's to 10kW's (10kWh's to 20kWh's) for applications to the telecom's industry, utility substation backup systems, Remote Area Power Supplies (coupling with small diesel generators to reduce diesel costs and emissions), small commercial buildings and off grid household applications (coupling with renewable generation such as wind & solar). All systems can be extended to provide longer storage durations at very low incremental costs through the addition of electrolyte, for example, meeting utility backup requirements of 24 hours or longer
5kW to Lead Acid comparison:
| VRB-ESS V5 | Lead Acid (VRLA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Output | 115A x 5 hours (25kWh)(5kW @ 42VDC) | 115A x 5 hours (5kW @ 42VDC) |
| Output Voltage Range | 56V to 42V | 56V to 42V |
| Dimensions (W x D x H)* | 4.2m x 1.0m x 2.1m (165” x 40” x 83”) | 1.4m x 0.95m x 2.0m (55” x 37” x 79”) |
| System Mass | 5,200 kg (11,500 lbs.) | 3,200 kg (7,055 lbs.) |
| Operating Temperature | 10°C to 35°C (50°F to 95°F) | 0°C to 25°C (32°F to 77°F)** |
| Storage Temperature | -20°C to 45°C (-4°F to 113°F) | -15°C to 25°C (5°F to 77°F)** |
| DC-DC Efficiency (full SOC cycle) | 70% | 45% |
| Power reduction at elevated temperatures | None | IEEE/ANSI derating above 25°C |
| Containment | Double containment of electrolyte storage | Cabinet drip tray |
| Lifetime | 10,000+ charge/discharge cycles | 1,200 charge/discharge cycles*** |
| Deep discharge | No reduction in life expectancy | Significant reduction in life expectancy |
| Charge-to-discharge duration ratio | 2:1 | 5:1 |
| Response time | <1 ms | <1 ms |
| Pulse capability | Yes | Yes |
| Maintenance | Annually | Quarterly |
| Replacement cost as a % of initial cost | 20% | 100% |
- * Including AC inverter cabinet (4U)
- ** Temperatures above 25°C significantly reduce Lead-Acid life expectancy, low temperatures reduce capacity
- *** Assuming maximum 20% discharge or 80% state of charge, rated discharge/charge currents and temperatures below 25°C
Options include 48-Volt capacity, DC in/out and AC in/out or a combination of the two with operating temperatures ranging from 0 – 45° C.
White Papers & Case Studies
The following documents are in PDF format. To view a file, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader which is a freeware PDF viewer. If you don't have it, download Acrobat Reader here.
- VRB-ESS Lead Acid Comparison - (PDF document)
- 5kW Brochure - (PDF document)
- The Business case for Hybrid power systems for remote off grid or weak grid telecommunications systems - (PDF document)
- Advantages of using Vanadium Redox Batteries in Telecommunications Prime Power Sites - (PDF document)
