Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/440012
January 2015 | EquipmentWorld.com 34 innovations | continued "Pairing a generation solution with energy storage gives you a lot of flexibility," says Randy Hart, Plan- etary Power's hybrid product manager. "The most reli- able and robust system out there is a diesel generator. But it's old technology and the way that it is currently applied, the engine must be running to provide power, and the fuel efficiency varies significantly depending upon the load. The lifespan of those diesel engines is measured in hours of runtime and is relatively short when under continuous duty. Numerous advantages Planetary Power found that pairing energy storage and a smart control system with a high-efficiency diesel generator produces a wide range of advantages com- pared to a diesel-only generator: 1. The engine does not have to be running the entire time you need power. 2. When the engine is running, it is at its most efficient rpm, which extends engine life. 3. Total fuel consumption to meet load drops in some cases over 80 percent. 4. Engine noise is greatly reduced. 5. The quality of the electricity is improved to the level needed for some of today's electronics thanks to the buffer of the batteries and the inverter between the engine and the output. The HyGen system produces 60 kW of peak, 30 kW of surge output and 20 kW of continuous power. A three-cylinder Perkins 403 F/D series engine turns the generator which sends the electricity into lithium- ion battery modules that have an estimated life of 10 years. Depending on the load, the HyGen can run up to 20 hours on battery power alone, and multiple units can be networked together to meet high demand applications. Plug and play energy Planetary Power has also designed the HyGen to plug and play with other energy producing technolo- gies such as solar or wind systems. "HyGen can make the most of renewable energy sources regardless of whether or not the sun is shining or the wind is blow- ing," Hart says. HyGen's primary market at present is the global telecom companies, who need highly efficient, reliable power to produce electricity for remote cell phone towers. But the range of future applications is tremen- dous: remote fishing villages in Alaska, construction contractors and military personnel operating in roadless environments, or scientific research stations located at the ends of the earth – anywhere that delivery of diesel is expensive and dangerous. Hart says he also sees regular construction contrac- tors finding benefits to running the HyGen, especially when powering jobsite trailers. In his previous work with equipment rental companies, Hart says he found that contractors often greatly over-specified their trailer generators resulting in a lot of wasted fuel, extra main- tenance and noise. Some 1.4 billion people in the world live without electricity. Many others can only access it intermittently. Getting lights and refrigeration is the first priority in the undeveloped world and the HyGen is perfect for that. But even better outcomes will start to emerge when these Third World citizens plug their first circular saw or concrete mixer into their local HyGen outlet, or wire up a small factory to manufacture a profitable product from local resources. That's going to change the world and all for the good. http://www.planetarypower.com/hygen/ – Tom Jackson | TJackson@randallreilly.com Why we like this product