Austrian company Fronius is exhibiting at CeMAT as the know-how leader in charging traction batteries for electrically-powered forklift trucks. A pioneering charging process and products for planning and implementing battery charging stations and rooms will be the focal points on the 76 m² stand.
Pioneering generation of battery charging systems
The Fronius stand at the upcoming CeMAT trade fair will be a visit not to be missed. The battery charging specialists will be showcasing their unique charging technology based on the innovative Ri charging process for the first time at a world-leading exhibition. This technology is not only resource-conserving and cost-effective, but also significantly prolongs battery life and delivers maximum energy efficiency. It is not witchcraft, just the result of intensive research that is not only of increasing interest to operators, but also forklift truck manufacturers.
The technical approach is just as straightforward as it is intelligent. What all battery charging technologies have in common – whether 50 Hz transformer technology, HF technology or earlier Fronius products that used “Active Inverter Technology” – is that their charging processes use pre prepared charging characteristics that are “imposed”, as it were, on the battery. This involves executing a defined charging program without having to take account of the current charge level of the battery. Currently, only Fronius chargers take the charge level of the battery into account during the recharging phase. This ensures that any overcharging of the battery is kept to an absolute minimum.
Fronius has opted for a completely alternative technical approach with its innovative Ri charging process. Once the charging plug is connected to the battery, the current charge level of the battery is permanently measured. This means that, regardless of how old or new the battery is, its temperature and discharge level are monitored. The charger software uses this information from the battery to adjust the individual charging phases – in other words the optimum power requirement of the battery – as required. Every single charging cycle is thus unique and has its own energy-efficient characteristic, minimising harmful warming of the battery. Thanks to this technology, the newly developed “Selectiva” devices with Ri charging process achieve charging efficiency levels that were previously inconceivable: a staggering 90 percent. Combining this with device efficiency, which Fronius has increased to 93 percent using economically viable means, results in a total efficiency figure of 84 percent.
Charging systems from a single source
Fronius has been involved in battery charging technology since 1946 and now also supplies traction battery charging systems and related products. When developing systems, Fronius therefore has years of expertise and experience from countless customer projects to draw on. Along with battery charging systems, products for kitting out charging stations and battery charging rooms will also be exhibited at CeMAT.
Fronius can supply battery charging systems with different modules as required. The standardised 2000 charging module can accommodate one or more Fronius battery charging systems, such as the new “Selectiva” devices with Ri charging process. Other high frequency battery charging systems can also be used. A smaller 1200 charging module has been designed exclusively for the Fronius Selectiva 8 kW and Selectiva 16 KW battery charging systems and can accommodate either one or two of these systems. The modules – fitted with mandatory warning notices – are designed to be very stable and are prepared for floor anchoring. Collision guards provide protection against impact damage by forklift trucks.
If required, Fronius can plan and implement charging systems in consultation with the customer, allowing them to be fully customised to the on-site requirements. During the design process, various module options relating to use, safety, premises, positioning and additional options are considered. As has already been demonstrated in practice, the new charging station approach will benefit forklift drivers in their day-to-day work, simplify the entire battery charging cycle and provide increased safety. The new layout will also help promote cleanliness and tidiness among employees and improve the allocation of charger to stacker.
Fronius International GmbH to attend the CeMAT fair in Hanover from May 19th to 23rd 2014 in Hall 26, Stand L16.
Fronius
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