Thursday, January 7, 2016

(Nickel-hydrogen) batteries and Power Channels


The International Space Station ISS runs on (Nickel-hydrogen) Ni/H2 batteries with 2 different dc voltages primary and secondary. A PDF article written by Boeing
http://www.boeing.com/assets/pdf/defense-space/space/spacestation/systems/docs/ISS%20Electric%20Power%20System.pdf
outlines the batteries and the many components to power the ISS. The NiH2 battery system is the dominant rechargeable technology for communications, scientific and military satellites and is recognized for its long life, reliability and durability along with being lightweight.

Wikipedia describes the battery as follows
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel%E2%80%93hydrogen_battery

It appears that the distribution electrical system of the International Space Station ISS is laid out in what NASA calls power channels and that one of these 8 power channels went offline do to a faulty shunt. A 6 1/2 hour space walk on 1/8/2016 is going to replace the faulty item along with other outside maintenance and repairs.
Well if anyone is into solar power that has to be reliable and dependable 7/24/365 it is NASA. So I spent a few hours of research into this power channel term.
 The Electric Power System (EPS) provides all user loads and housekeeping electrical power and is capable of expansion as the station is assembled and grows. Eight independent power channels for high overall reliability supply the electric power.

Seems as tho they are taking solar cells charging batteries and making 8 primary voltages taps to other secondary loads to make the understanding short? 

So all that information lead me to believe that the dc lithium ion battery banking and smart switching that D B Electric offers to clients controlled by PLC automation is correct and by using multiple sets of batteries massive amounts of electrical power is possible. There are no auto start gasoline generators or wind turbines in outer space, only the sun powering the International Space Station.

Back here on earth we are lucky to be able to combine different energy sources from solar, wind, hydro and other sources to make free clean safe reliable electrical power. Still not being impressed many hours of research has went into mini microgrids that can take these charging sources of energy dc to ac to primary ac step up transformer that secondary ac onsite loads are connected to step down transformer. This power can be containerized and shipped anywhere to operate a home or an entire village, telecom all totally off grid or used for agriculture, farms, crop water well pumping and many other uses as well as 3rd world countries. Also this type of mini microgrid can be utility grid tied island style connected to back feed a utility grid meaning that it can pay for itself. By island style connection if the grid power goes down the mini microgrid senses the power loss and disconnects automatically from the grid but still leaves power to onsite loads. 

Being a retired master electrician with 42 years experience has lead me to search out a power source that is 100% reliable with no black outs from weather or utility issues and D B Electric can match a mini microgrid to your needs.

www.offgridpowerdbelectric@gmail.com

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