Installation Design for Valve-Regulated Sealed Lead-Acid Batteries in Generating Stations
Commercially available large-capacity valve-regulated sealed lead-acid batteries represent a novel technology for large stationary batteries for emergency power applications, using an oxygen recombinant cycle to inhibit the generation of hydrogen under normal operation. A discussion is presented of the installation design for these batteries, making comparisons to traditional vented lead-acid cells as appropriate. The operation of the valve-regulated sealed lead-acid battery is also described. >
Two-loop controller for maximizing performance of a grid-connected photovoltaic-fuel cell hybrid power plant
Maximizing performance of a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV)-fuel cell hybrid system by use of a two-loop controller is discussed. One loop is a neural network controller for maximum power point tracking, which extracts maximum available solar power from PV arrays under varying conditions of insolation, temperature, and system load. A real/reactive power controller (RRPC) is the other loop. The RRPC achieves the system's requirements for real and reactive powers by controlling incoming fuel to fuel cell stacks as well as switching control signals to a power conditioning subsystem. Results of time-domain simulations prove not only the effectiveness of the proposed computer models of the two-loop controller but also its applicability for use in stability analysis of the hybrid power plant.
Sealed Recombination Lead-Acid Cells for Standby Power
Sealed lead-acid cells, employing gas recombination, have been specially designed for standby applications. The basic principles of design are outlined. The discharge and charge characteristics of a recombination 6V monobloc at rates varying from 5 minutes to 5 hours are given, together with data on the effect of temperature on performance. The advantages of recombination cells over traditional Planté, flat plate and tubular cells for standby applications are identified.