batteries and energy storage technology

Crestchic has formed a partnership with Technical Solutions to supply loadbanks to the growing Russian market.

Technical Solutions will exclusively supply Crestchic AC Resistive and Reactive (inductive) loadbanks, as well as DC and MV loadbanks, containerised transformers and associated control equipment, systems and software. Paul Brickman, sales and marketing manager at Crestchic, explained: “We worked with the team on various pilot projects last year that were extremely successful – around a dozen machines have been ordered in the last six months, which is phenomenal.

“As the Russian market continues to expand in the oil and gas, shipbuilding and power generation sectors, and particularly as we see the growth of data centres, it is crucial that we meet demand via a local point of contact. Formalising our relationship means that we can offer viable solutions delivered through a permanent local team to our existing and potential customers in Russia.” 

Alexander Rodikov, general director at Technical Solutions, added: “We have seen a marked increase in demand for loadbanks in the Russian market since starting work with Crestchic in late 2011. Being named as an official partner in Russia will give us the freedom to capitalise on what is a very exciting period of growth in the market.”

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has announced the origin of the fire on the Japan AirLines Boeing Dreamliner, January 7^th. The battery was believed to have had an “initiating event” in one of its eight cells; this was assessed using the flight data recorder and evidence form the thermal and mechanical damage.

The cell identified as the starting point “showed multiple signs of short-circuiting, leading to thermal runaway condition, which then cascaded to other cells.” The evidence suggests the cells reached 260^oC.

Chairman of NTSB, Deborah Hersman, said potential causes of the initiating short circuit being evaluated include battery charging, the design and construction of the battery, and the possibility of defects introduced during the manufacturing process.

The cause of the short circuit remains unknown and further investigations will focus upon design and certification requirements of the battery system.

During its certification process Boeing considered the types of failures that might affect the battery, following tests it found no evidence that cell-to-cell spread or fire would be a problem and that smoke emitting from the cell would not occur during more than one in ten million flight hours.

Centrax has begun 2013 by winning major orders for its gas turbine products from Italy and France.

In Italy, Centrax has sold a recently-launched CX400 powered by the 12.9MW Siemens SGT-400 gas turbine, to energy management company Fenice.  The CX400 will provide heat and power for the Huntsman Tioxide plant in Scarlino, 100km south of Florence, which produces titanium dioxide for use as a pigment in paint.

In France, contract energy management company Dalkia has ordered a Centrax CX501-KB7 package for a district heating plant near Cenon, Bordeaux. This 5 MW cogeneration unit replaces an older, competitor’s genset that has reached the end of its 12-year contract. 

An important customer benefit of the Centrax unit is its ability to use the existing boiler and much of the ductwork, significantly reducing installation costs.

Capstone Turbine Corporation has received a follow-on order for 30 C65 microturbines from an unnamed US-based oil and gas exploration and production company that continues to expand its presence in the Eagle Ford, Texas, shale play.

The oil and gas exploration and production company's operations are located primarily in the United States with natural-gas exploration and production onshore in the lower 48 states, onshore in Alaska, and offshore in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

This latest order brings their total C65 fleet to approximately 150 microturbines. Most of the C65 units were purchased by the oil and gas producer's production division and are utilised for lease automatic custody transfer (LACT) units. In addition, the company's mid-stream division has previously purchased seven C600s and one C800 making the company one of the largest Capstone users in North America.

Capstone distributor Horizon Power Systems secured this follow-on order to support the exploration and production company's growing power needs in the Eagle Ford shale play.

Cummins Power Generation has launched four new mobile generator sets specifically designed for rental applications.

The launch represents the first new offering to the European local hire market since Cummins redressed its rental vision, products and services for fleet owners. Available in 150, 200, 250 and 300 kVA configurations, the generator sets have been designed by Cummins’ new team of specialist rental engineers.

In a statement, Cummins said the new range’s features include an integrated structural shell with zinc core canopy for corrosion protection; integral lifting frame and fork lift pockets; flexible power receptacles with 125 A, 63 A, 32 A and 16 A options; 4-pole main circuit breaker; controller offering paralleling capability with genset-to-genset and genset-to-utility connections; heavy-duty air and fuel filters.

Cummins adds the electronic engine meets EU Stage IIIA emission standards and has a 24-hour fuel tank (at 75% prime power load).