Tdworld 4441 Switchgear Station Promo
Tdworld 4441 Switchgear Station Promo
Tdworld 4441 Switchgear Station Promo
Tdworld 4441 Switchgear Station Promo
Tdworld 4441 Switchgear Station Promo

Saft Helps Brasilia Substations Make the Switch to Maintenance-Free Nickel Battery Backup Systems

Oct. 25, 2016
CEB is replacing lead-acid backup batteries at the 34 substations in Brazil’s capital city with Saft Uptimax nickel battery systems.

Brazilian power utility Companhia Energetica de Brasilia (CEB) has awarded Saft a contract to design, manufacture and supply maintenance-free nickel backup battery systems for all 34 distribution substations serving Brasilia, the country’s capital city. The Saft Uptimax batteries are replacing the existing lead-acid batteries at the CEB substations to provide a significant increase in reliability and availability while reducing battery maintenance and replacement costs.

CEB controls electric power distribution, generation and transmission assets covering an area of more than 5280 sq km (2038 sq miles), providing service to more than 990,000 clients and nearly 2.9 million residents. The substation backup batteries play a critical role for CEB by ensuring a continuous 125-V supply to support all the auxiliary loads such as switchgear, automation and protection circuits for up to 10 hours if there is an interruption to the main power supply. Previously, the substations have been fitted with lead-acid batteries. However, this is a particularly demanding application with ambient temperatures reaching 35°C (95°F) that contribute to the risk of premature battery failure.

To ensure total reliability of its backup systems, CEB has now implemented a one-year program to replace the batteries at all 34 of its distribution substations with Saft Uptimax batteries. These batteries feature Saft’s latest development in nickel pocket plate technology that delivers maintenance-free operation with a long, completely predictable service life, even at elevated temperatures.

Each CEB substation will be fitted with two battery banks, so Saft is supplying 68 Uptimax systems comprising 96 cells ranging in capacity from 100 Ah to 170 Ah. The one-year contract reinforces Saft’s presence in Brazil’s developing utilities market. The first systems were delivered in June 2016.
 

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