Recent Improvements in High Performance Secondary Batteries for Use on Offshore Platforms
Authors: Snyder David N. 
Published: October 2008

The unique operating environment of the offshore platforms makes high quality, reliable standby power essential. Secondary batteries are an important part of standby power systems especially for engine and turbine, starting, emergency lighting, communications and control systems.

Recently, improved batteries have been produced that offer the platform owner and operator better performance in these critical services. This paper reviews recent improvements particularly in the pocket plate nickel cadmium battery.

INTRODUCTION

Of all the stored energy sources available to the offshore industry, the rechargeable storage battery has been proven the best choice for both performance and reliability. Strict safety regulations and escalating operating costs are encouraging the platform owner and operator to seek even better batteries.

What do you, in the offshore industry, require from your batteries?

Maximum reliability - power on demand?

Rugged enough to withstand all types of abuse?

Ability to perform under adverse conditions?

Minimum maintenance throughout useful life?

Long life without special attention?

These are the requirements most standby power users specify when production and profits, as well as personnel safety, are involved.

Reliability means that the power whether to start a gen-set or run emergency lighting is instantly available when required. Rugged because the platform is a hostile environment with shock, vibration, salt air, temperature extremes and corrosive fumes all present. Ability t6 perform under adverse conditions is very important because it is under adverse conditions that the standby power for emergency lighting and communication system backup are needed most. Minimum maintenance because maintenance is expensive on the platform. Trained personnel are not always available and the environment many times prohibits adequate maintenance. Long life because the platform has a task to perform and frequent battery replacement can mean expensive downtime. Your specification is for a battery that can stand up to the offshore environment.

ALTERNATES

A list of possible alternate industrial type batteries includes the Plant, the lead antimony and the lead calcium, which are all based on the same lead acid chemistry. But does your list also include the pocket plate nickel cadmium battery? This battery operates on entirely different materials and chemistry. It is a premium product with unique physical properties that make it important for offshore application.

Nickel cadmium batteries have been available for over seventy years and recent improvements now make it even better. Let us examine the new nickel cadmium Block Battery design in terms of the stated requirements.

One of the most important specifications is that the battery be rugged, but how rugged is enough? The battery should be able to take rough handling during transport and installation. Once installed, the battery may still be subject to vibration, mechanical shock, temperature extremes and corrosive environments. The new nickel cadmium Block Battery is equipped to handle all of this.