Loomio
Fri 29 May 2015 3:55PM

Various types of electric power storage

PAF Petros At FreeLab Public Seen by 164

A big part of Rojava recovery is reconstruction of electric power supply. The enormous damage -- 100% of previous infrastructure -- means we have a fresh start and may aim for modern and non-standard solutions, resilient and sustainable as much as possible. Here let's discuss the electric power storage systems for distributed energy sources: batteries and more.

PAF

Petros At FreeLab Tue 9 Jun 2015 6:48PM

Car Batteries

The most popular and the cheapest power storage. However, modern car batteries are a bit specialized devices and their popularity is actually their only advantage. For the storage needs of our installations they are the least optimal solution. The main problem is that they are designed to deliver a surge of power (to crank an engine) and then get recharged (from the alternator). So their optimal performance is a number of short, burst cycles. What we need for any solar or wind installation is the opposite: slow cycles, getting the battery power level pretty low, and then also slow recharging. So car batteries should be only used as a last resort. And quickly replaced with something better.

PAF

Petros At FreeLab Tue 9 Jun 2015 6:52PM

Deep Cycle Batteries

Deep cycle battery is still your old lead-acid construction, but this one is optimized -- as much as possible -- for our purposes. It can be depleted almost to zero and many times, at that. Still, it is a modern hi-tech solution which means that -- as a systemic solution -- it relies on a complex modern ecosystem of service and distribution. That makes deep cycle batter much less sustainable and resilient than we may need.
A good quality deep cycle battery ill endure a year of regular use, and then it has to be replaced or regenerated. So, while we should use them in the beginning, the long-term goal is to replace them with something better.

PAF

Petros At FreeLab Tue 9 Jun 2015 7:51PM

Nickel-Iron Batteries

For the context we work in, harsh working regime, relatively low-tech service and manufacturing environment and robustness over finesse, NiFe batteries seem to be the most interesting type of (traditional) storage.
Their robustness is legendary. While they are less potent and have to be bigger than the competition, they last much longer and do not need too much care. Their chief components are less toxic and construction simpler. If we have enough space for the battery bank and we need a battery to last as long as the hills -- this is the solution. I believe this should be our default construction for Rojava stationary power installations.

PAF

Petros At FreeLab Tue 9 Jun 2015 8:52PM

Hemp SuperCapacitors

SuperCapacitors are quick and short term energy storage solutions. They are used as independent storage, especially for energy harvesting (regenerative braking and stuff) and as stabilisation devices. The are valuable complementary devices for jumpstarting big engines, if the battery is not powerful enough.

Just recently a new technology emerged, which make supercapacitors much more available in our not-so-high-tech environment. Made out of hemp, they do not need supercomplicated technology, at the same time being very fast. So, this is the way to go for certain applications.