Batteries – a central component of all autonomous power supplies

The operating conditions for batteries in autonomous power supplies differs significantly from typical applications.

A battery storage is necessary in all autonomous power supplies with continuous power demand. This is also applicable for mobile devices (e.g. mobile phones, laptop computers), stationary technical devices (e.g. signal lights, informative stands lighting) and for power supplies.( e.g. solar house system, mountain hut, village power supply). Expert knowledge of storage technologies is necessary for successful system development. The main goal of our activities is optimisation of the whole system and minimising the costs of the storage. We characterise different storage technologies in the laboratory and in field tests for autonomous power supply applications. We develop charge strategies, charge electronics, and algorithms with high accuracy determination for battery state of charge and state of health.

Practically all large systems still use lead-acid batteries. In the last few years more maintenance free valve regulated lead-acid batteries were applied. Until today no convenient charge strategy for photovoltaic power supply has been developed that would be optimal for the battery and sufficient for the system and for the user. We develop charge strategies, examine them in comparable field tests and evaluate the results in relation to the lifetime and system performance. The achieved results are used for advanced charge controllers, devices and management systems.

For higher voltage more cells must be series connected in a battery bank. The weakest component (the weakest cell) thus determine the whole system performance. To maintain the complete system performance also in the case of a cell total break-down, we have developed a charge equaliser (CHargerEQualizer). We have developed an integrated battery monitoring system with single cells measurement and analysis. See battery electronic