Field Experiences with high efficiency climate solutions for lead-acid batteries

Abstract:
This paper discusses some of the key attributes for the design of climatically controlled battery cabinets. These kinds of cabinets are a necessity in order to maintain lead acid batteries, specifically the Absorbed Glass Mat variety (AGM), within a favourable temperature operating range and thus prolong the battery lifetime. The paper is covering both mechanical solutions as well as cooling and / or heating engine technologies. It further discusses the cooling / heating energy required, to keep the AGM battery within a certain temperature envelope. The cooling energy required under different operating conditions are also discussed. The choice of battery technology is also a critical factor in order to successfully design an efficient and cost effective backup solution. The benefits of climatically controlled battery cabinets are also reviewed in other ways such as the saving of floor space in order to facilitate more capacity and accommodate new generation radio equipment at the sites and maybe even avoid new site constructions. The energy cost and energy consumption of a datacentre or a telecom site can be reduced by allowing the temperature of the equipment room of a data centre or a telecom site to be increased, this will decrease the energy cost for the location, whilst at the same time reducing the battery replacement cost. Actual cases from telecommunication operators that have adopted this approach are shown with the actual savings from their sites.