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Stationary Battery Basics: jars and straps
There is so much terminology related to stationary batteries and it
is hard to know what everything means. So, what’s the difference
is between jars and straps?
What is a jar?
A stationary battery jar is the container that holds the cell or group
of cells and electrolyte. It is also commonly referred to as a battery
case or cell case. Jars are typically made out of some kind of ther-
moplastic substance. However, hard rubber is sometimes used as
well. If the battery contains nickel-cadmium cells, the jar may even
be made out of steel. Vented lead-acid batteries normally have
transparent jars to allow for plate and sediment inspection.
What is a strap?
A stationary battery strap is the component in a cell that joins plates
of like polarity in parallel. It is an electrical conductor that is made
of copper. It typically has a lead or tin plating for lead-acid cells.
Nickel-cadmium cells require a different connector. They are typi-
callymade with nickel-, cadmium-, or tin-plated copper, or even steel
bar. Occasionally, the strap may be insulated copper wire or lead
(with or without a copper insert) for lead-acid batteries, depending
on the manufacturer’s specifications.
Stationary batteries
Transportation batteries function as start/stop batteries. The primary
discharge occurs when the vehicle is started. After that, it spends
the rest of the drive time recharging. Motive power batteries do not
operate this way. Instead of only being used to start the machinery,
there is a continual discharge. Stationary batteries are used con-
stantly while in operation and used until depleted, or until the job
is done, and then recharged after use. Midtronics electrical system
testing technology is used by six major automotive manufacturing
facilities in South Africa in on-vehicle equipment, recording events
that may lead to battery or electrical system failure. In addition to
this, two leading SouthAfrican battery manufacturers and distribu-
tors have committed to using the Midtronics technology in their
facilities and distribution outlets.
Comtest is Midtronics’ accredited partner in southern Africa.
Enquiries:The Comtest Group onTel, +27 (0) 10 595 1821 or
email
Klipheuwel research facility for wind energy technology decommissioned
For the past 13 years Eskom’s Klipheuwel
Wind Farm, situated on theWest Coast near
Cape Town, has served as a valuable re-
search facility for wind energy technology
and has contributed 3 MW to the Eskom
plant mix.
With these objectives achieved and the
new 100 MW Sere Wind Farm delivering
excellent results, the time has come to
decommission the three wind turbines at
Klipheuwel. The decommissioning of the
first turbine took place on 18 July 2016.
Where it started
In 2002, Eskom’s Resources and Strategy
Division erected three wind turbines as a
demonstration wind farm facility at Klipheu-
wel. The intent of the wind farm was to
conduct research on the potential of wind
energy as an electricity generating option as
well as to evaluate the different wind-based
technologies and their economic viability.
In 2006, once the research was com-
pleted, the ownership of Klipheuwel wind
farm was transferred to Peaking (Genera-
tion Division) to operate and maintain.The
Klipheuwel Wind Farm provided an excel-
lent platform for learning in this type of
renewable technology. This learning has
helped inform the business in its decision-
making for other larger projects such as the
Sere Wind Farm. Valuable operational and
maintenance experience has been gained
through this facility. Since the commer-
cial operation of the facility, the plant has
reached the end of its useful life and Eskom
is in the process of decommissioning this
demonstration facility.
How it will end
One of the turbines will be used for practi-
cal training at the South African Renewable
Technology Centre (SARETEC), the only
renewables training facility in South Africa
and is situated in Bellville, Cape Town.
There will be an opportunity for learning to
continue and to broaden the skills base in
South Africa and help enable development
in the industry. The remainder of the wind
farm (land and two Vestas wind turbines)
will be disposed of following Eskom’s com-
mercial processes.
Enquiries: Eskom Media Desk.
/ 3343 or email
ROUND UP ENERGY + ENVIROFICIENCY
47 August ‘16 Electricity+Control