Int.

Workshop on Energy Storage Technologies & Application

Storage Battery System for Solar Home Lightings and Mini-grid system purely off-grid installations RAHIMAFROOZ Experience

Presenter: Md. Zakir Hossain Head of Engineering & Technical (under R&D) Rahimafrooz Accumulators, Bangladesh
3-4 April2013 ADB Headquarters, Manila Philippines

RAHIMAFROOZ
Rahimafrooz is one of the leading business conglomerates from Bangladesh with over 58 years of experience in storage battery manufacturing and distribution in domestic and international markets. Storage Power: Rahimafrooz Group is the largest manufacturer and exporter of automotive and industrial batteries in Bangladesh and has the largest battery export plant in South Asia.
COMPANIES IN THIS DIVISION

Rahimafrooz Accumulators Ltd. Rahimafrooz Batteries Ltd. Rahimafrooz Globatt Ltd.

Rahimafrooz Accumulators limited (RAL) is one of the business units under the group manufacturing premium grade industrial battery widely used in Solar systems, Telecommunications, Electric Vehicles, Motive power and IPS applications. The company manufactures wide range of products from its ISO 9001, 14001 and OHSAS 18001 Certified Plants. The state of the art manufacturing facility is equipped with all modern production machineries and latest technologies Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy (RRE):Transforming the lives of people and lighting up different corners of the country, Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Ltd. (RREL) has been providing Solar Energy solutions for households, agriculture, healthcare, education, telecommunication, rural streets and marketplaces, as well as government and private institutions. To date, RREL has lightened up more than 100,000 rural homes in Bangladesh and the Company is endeavoring to do much more in the future. RREL is also the pioneer in providing solar-hybrid solutions for Telecom Operators BTS towers and solar powered irrigation systems in Bangladesh.

Our foundations

The Board of Directors (picture sitting from left to right)

Niaz Rahim : Group Director

Munawar Misbah Moin : Group Director Afroz Rahim : Group Chairman Mudassir Murtaza Moin : Group Director Feroz Rahim : Group Managing Director

Mohamed Ismail : Group Deputy Managing Director

Rahimafrooz Engagement with Storage Power Technologies:

Rahimafrooz Group started manufacturing industrial batteries in the year 1991, in collaboration with Electrona of Switzerland.

Our Products and Services:

Industrial Storage Power products and solution with traction, stationary, solar and VRLA technology.

Product ranges:
12V block 2V single cell : 15AH to 150AH : 100AH to 3000AH

Applications:
Telecommunication Power station Railways, electric vehicles, forklifts UPS, inverter Solar power systems

Storage Power System for off grids

1. Storage power in Solar Home System (SHS) -- Mainly for stand alone home lighting system -- Other than home lighting, low power consuming electrical loads -- 12V battery is the best cost effective technical choice

Components of a Solar PV Home System

Storage Power System for off grids

2. Storage Power for mini grids: -- For community from a centralized system --- Battery bank by single cell (2V) is preferred choice for reliable and uninterrupted system.

Storage Power System for off grids

Which battery is suitable for Solar Home System (SHS)?
Based on cost efficiency and recycling easiness :

Lead acid deep cycle battery even with all new technologies due to its Cost Efficiency, highly recycled battery especially in developing countries. Bangladesh has good experience of organized recycling that helps environment sustainability Even with lead commodity LME price increase of USD 500/ton in 2005 to present LME at USD 2100, lead acid battery is still the most cost effective.

Based on construction: Tubular Plate Battery, due to deep cycle and cyclic operation in SHS, Protection from short ckt Battery having higher electrolyte reserve volume Ceramic vent plug with special feature to protect evaporation.
Vented type: Due to high ambient temperature.

Storage Power System for off grids

Battery Performance in SHS , Rahimafrooz Experience
Setting of accurate HVD and LVD is very important for battery life . Regular maintenance increases battery life and performances. Under the present circumstances battery gives life 7 to 8 years (ave) and even up to 10 years. Rahimafrooz has gained this experience from the deployment of more than 1.8 million unit Tubular Plate Solar battery under IDCOL program in Bangladesh (which was started from a pilot project in Oct2002) and AEPC in Nepal. Apart from this installation we have started with Flat plate battery before IDCOL project and a good number under AEPC where average life is 2-3 years.

Storage Power System for off grids

Special Characteristics for Solar Batteries
Higher Number of Battery Cycle : Higher number of cycle of the battery gives low maintenance cost of the PV system. Battery cycle depends on the plates used in the battery. Tubular plates can give higher cycle of the battery than any other type of battery. Dept of Discharge (DOD): Tubular plate Solar Batteries allow more depth of discharge than flat plate batteries due to the robust feature of plates. For Tubular plate Solar battery, DOD can go up to 80%. Cycling in state of discharge: Batteries for PV use should give a minimum life expectancy of 7~8 years. This will reduce the maintenance cost of the system. Low rate of self-discharge: Self-discharge is the capacity lost when the battery not in charge for a given length of time, which is a very common phenomenon for rural solar applications. In that case voltage loses during self-discharge should be minimal. By unique battery design this is minimized by low internal resistance of the battery. Large electrolyte reserve: In summer season water loss in PV application is comparatively high. High electrolyte reservoir is needed to avoid frequent topping up. Charge Acceptance Efficiency: Charge acceptance efficiency In PV system should be higher to utilize the maximum input received from Solar Module. Tubular Plate Batteries give enhanced charge acceptance by incorporating highly porous gauntlet around positive plates.

Storage Power System for off grids

Upcoming features for off grid Battery: 1. MF Flooded Battery:
-- With Lead-calcium flooded technology for Solar Home System. It will reduce regular maintenance of adding water top up. 2.

Gel Tubular Battery- SMF:

-- With Lead-calcium sealed technology having gel instead of flooded electrolyte. Will able to withstand even up to 50 deg centigrade operating temperature and having no scope of acid spillage in environment.

3. Single

Point watering arrangement for mini-grid system:

-- To reduce regular water top up and to avoid electrolyte dry out possibility.

Some of Rahimafrooz Tubular Battery:

our achievements

Asias Best Employer CMO Award 2010

Asias Best Brand CMO Award 2010

SC& FE, CSR Award 2008

Brand Leadership Award 2008

Ashden Award 2006

National Export Trophy: 2001-2002

Quality Assurance : Process and Certifications

ISO 9001:2008

ISO 14001:2004

ISO 18001:2007

>> moving ahead with your TRUST