We Make Renewables Reliable
Solar hybrid systems deliver clean remote power. Solar is an excellent way to turn photons into electrons and when paired with a battery system they provide power most of the time. That is not good enough for critical power systems on which lives or critical paths depend, such as train signals, pipeline cathodic and SCADA systems, remote mining operations or police/fire and emergency responder radios. We make these renewable systems 100% reliable with the PowerGen.
On a solar/battery hybrid installation, we provide what TEGs and fuel cells can't, through efficient power and waste heat recovery. We will either use the glycol heat tracing system's programmable heat or spare electrical capacity and keep batteries in an optimal range. Warm batteries accept and deliver a charge more freely to provide power without a derate on the coldest days when sunlight is limited. This improves the solar panel’s effective delivery time and efficiency during the day while allowing the batteries to take all the charge when available from the sun.
The Powergen will kick on only at low temperatures or when given low battery signals, but can still load-follow to provide just enough heat when cold but sunny and no electricity is required otherwise. This conserves fuel gas and maintain reliability. Full -40 deg. C cold start capability and built-in load-following mean only enough fuel is used to provide the amounts of power and heat necessary.
Savings compound when considering reduced battery/ charging systems and the ability to provide supplementary recharges when draws are heavy during active radio traffic. When the emergency is over, PowerGen goes back on standby.
To drive the importance of an "accepting battery" home go to minute 13:26 in this driving video about driving a Tesla in cold weather. As usual, Jason Fenske from Engineering Explained provides an objective review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UskzfQJt2Bc&ab_channel=EngineeringExplained (I recommend a channel subscription to all auto enthusiasts) Fenske recommends charging while the Tesla battery is warm after a drive as opposed to in the morning, when the pack is cooled down. When cold, the battery system needs a warmup in order to be able to take a charge at the available full rate so time is spent first warming up the batteries. This experience was recorded in the northern US and is likely more pronounced in the colder temperatures experienced in Canada.
The Powergen can avoid that warmup by optimizing battery system temperature 24/7 using
either the GHT Glycol Heat Tracing system, or simply by slightly oversizing our models which come in 6000, 1200, 1800 and 5650 Watt sizes to provide the ability to electrically heat trace Propane fuel systems that may not vaporize when required.
The decreased stress on batteries and increased ability for battery systems to take a charge on short days when sun is less available adds functionality and reliability. If you're operating critical hybrid power systems, consider the PowerGen. For assistance with your specific heat and power requirements, contact us at [email protected] or call us at +1 (403) 215-3373