Low temperature will cause power loss and charging efficiency of forklift truck, so as to shorten battery capacity and service life. Unfortunately, current industry trends are exacerbating these problems. The rising height of warehouse shelves and the 500 inch vertical range of the latest forklift put forward higher power and throughput requirements for refrigerated batteries. In short, today's refrigeration facilities need batteries that can provide more power, charge faster, last longer and maintain less.
This is an arduous task, but due to the recent progress of battery technology, there are more choices of cold storage power supply than ever before. Like forklifts that have been modified to deal with cold and condensation, such as closed motor drives, rust inhibitors, stainless steel parts, special refrigerant oil, heaters, etc., these new batteries have the function of making them very suitable for low-temperature operation But before weighing the comparative advantages of these new technologies, it is worth considering why traditional lead-acid batteries are so cold.
In short, low temperatures slow down the movement of molecules, including those that make up the battery electrolyte. The low temperature will increase the viscosity of the electrolyte, thicken it and pass more slowly through the pores of the active plate, thus limiting the chemical reaction required to power the vehicle. The corresponding power loss can range from 20% to 60%.
The reduction in the operating time of these batteries will make it more difficult to maintain normal operation, charging and cooling cycles, resulting in a vicious cycle of insufficient charging and premature battery replacement. The low internal battery temperature will also affect the charge acceptance rate. When the internal temperature of the battery is lower than 40 ° F, its voltage will appear higher than the actual voltage, resulting in the battery discharge indicator incorrectly displaying a higher battery level. The charger will also read the voltage level higher than the actual value and turn off prematurely.
Despite these difficulties, most refrigeration facilities do operate very successfully using liquid rich lead-acid batteries. Consideration must be given to reducing operating time, and working with battery experts to assess and meet total ampere hour requirements may be critical. Battery replacement system (BCS) can also help because it simplifies charging and battery selection, and can analyze power usage to optimize battery pack size.
Lithium ion battery
Lithium ion batteries are ideal for 24 / 7 facilities with high ampere hour requirements. Their high charge acceptance rate enables efficient opportunity charging, which can end the demand for battery replacement and battery room, and provide more space saving opportunities and plan flexibility for facilities.
Lithium ion batteries do show some power capacity loss in cold, but it is much lower than liquid rich lead-acid batteries. Therefore, the running time and life cycle of lithium-ion batteries are much longer.
Although the cost of converting to lithium-ion forklift batteries is higher than that of liquid rich lead-acid batteries, the total cost of ownership (TCO) of lithium-ion batteries may make them a better choice in the long run.
Thin plate pure lead battery
For multi shift cold storage operations with low ampere hour requirements, thin plate pure lead (tppl) technology can usually provide a "just right" Goldilocks solution to balance power, maintenance and budget requirements. Careful study of tppl battery design will help explain the reason.
Tppl battery adopts 99% pure lead plate, which is much thinner than traditional lead-acid battery. Thinner plates mean more plates can fit into the battery; Compared with the same size of liquid rich lead-acid battery, more plates provide more power in 30% less space. A larger plate surface area can also maintain more energy and more power during peak load.
So how do you determine which battery is best for your operation? First, by accurately quantifying the power and related costs used by your forklift fleet. This may sound like a complex prospect, but battery experts can help by conducting on-site power studies of your fleet and facilities. Proprietary consulting tools (such as modeling software) can be used to make the collection and quantification of necessary power, fleet and facility data a manageable and effective process.
A comprehensive power assessment should weigh a variety of factors, including vehicle model, shift schedule and ampere hour requirements. Any field power study should also compare battery chemistry, including charging time and cost, and consider other impacts on TCO. A thorough field investigation can also reveal the operational challenges driving current operating costs.
