Page 30 - Industrial Technology September 2020 issue

MACHINE BUILDING

BESPOKE BATTERY STRATEGY

BATTERIES

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT BUSINESSES SHOULD
TAKE INTO ACCOUNT TO IDENTIFY WHICH LITHIUM-ION SETUP IS
THE MOST APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR APPLICATION, AS JON DIVERS,
CUSTOMER SERVICE DIRECTOR AT JUNGHEINRICH, EXPLAINS

he speed with which organisations the most appropriate for each business in higher density
are embracing Lithium-ion battery order to unlock the highest reward from the and lower weight
technology is gaining pace. Spurred technology. The wrong battery and charger batteries with
Ton by environmental concerns, cost combination will not recognise the the best range
assessment and efficiency drives, many advantages of a correct match to the and shortest
businesses are becoming increasingly application of individual customers. charge times.
knowledgeable about Lithium-ion, especially Not all battery environments are the However, the
in terms of its varied benefits. same: a warehouse or logistics environment same constraints
But while organisations may be aware of is unique compared to other battery powered are not present in a warehouse for of charger and battery is best suited.
the appeal of Lithium-ion in terms of its vehicle environments. For electric cars, for materials handling equipment as the This is then matched against the
ability to support 24/7 logistics operations example, the technology is all about the charger is almost always available close available power into the building.
with fast charging and no battery changes, distance achieved between charges and the by and charging can be done regularly
they may not be aware it’s not a one-size- weight of the battery pack. Achieving the whilst the truck is stationary for a short Data analysis
fits-all approach. In fact, there are a number best balance here achieves the greatest gains period of time. And weight is a friend But some businesses might think that
of considerations that should be taken into for the driver. Electric automotive rather than a foe when it comes to a they don’t have enough breaks, that
account to identify which lithium-ion setup is manufactures are constantly striving for forklift or counterbalance truck for their trucks are working non-stop. This
example, so different battery chemistries is where a data recording device comes
can be considered, such as the use of into play. Trucks will either be working
Iron Phosphate. Different manufacturers (the wheels are turning or the mast is
will use different chemistries, but Iron moving – the truck is in use), standing
ULTIMATE 25 Phosphate is currently the safest cell (the truck is not moving, albeit turned
chemistry and from an ecological point
on or off), or charging. The data
BATTERY TECHNOLOGY of view, it’s also non-toxic and harmless. recording device can capture that data
YEARS
every 20 seconds over five days,
It’s not as simple as finding the
OF MAKING
PROTECTION SAFER biggest battery you can. And it’s more providing over 22,000 readings to
than just fast charging. It’s about a
identify where the potential breaks are
bespoke solution for each business,
and the typical energy consumed during
Providing safety depending on its needs and setup. a given period of time.
For example, a shift change might

through temperature control Water, tap and bath actually take 20 minutes from start to
A simple way of explaining this is finish. But in that time, you can already
ATC SEMITEC stock a wide range of thermal devices through a ‘water, tap and bath’ analogy. have put nearly 50% energy back into
which provide valuable protection for rechargeable How long does it take for a tap to fill up the battery. Capitalising on breaks such
batteries, Li-ion batteries and battery chargers. the bath? It depends on how big the tap as these can go a long way to supporting
Ultra-thin battery logic fuses, miniature snap action is, how fast the flow of water and how the increasingly common 24/7
thermostats and NTC thermistors, provide protection big the bath is. An efficient setup for one operations of an organisation.
against overcharge, overcurrent, short circuit environment could be to have the In conclusion, each different battery
protection and abnormally high temperatures. biggest tap with the smallest bath; ie chemistry setup offers different
the biggest charger with the smallest characteristics to serve a variety of
battery. With a smaller tap (or smaller charging strategies – but it is key for
charger) and a big bath (big battery), it each organisation to capitalise on the
is going to take longer to fill, however bespoke nature of Lithium-ion in order
this could be the optimum solution to to realise the most efficiencies out of the
work within the power requirements (or technology.
Offering a choice of thermal water pressure). Every application is By working with a consultant that is
devices, thermal response, and should be different for each an expert in the field, the right Lithium-
accuracies and operating business to gain the most value. ion strategy can be identified and
AUTOMOTIVE RECHARGEABLE E-VEHICLE To deploy the most appropriate implemented rapidly. That way, not only
BATTERIES CHARGING temperatures.
Lithium-ion strategy, the most important will each business achieve the highest
questions are: How long will the truck reward, but they will be safe in the
NEED ADVICE? be working? And when are the breaks in knowledge that it will also be in the
Call us now on 01606 871680 any given shift? This determines how most efficient way possible – not just
or email smart@atcsemitec.co.uk often the forklift will be put back on a one size fits all solution.
www.atcsemitec.co.uk for technical advice & samples charge, which in turn dictates what size MORE INFO: www.jungheinrich.co.uk

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY • September 2020

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