Switching to renewable energy solutions

31 August 2022 Power Electronics / Power Management

As load shedding and power cuts continue to dominate all aspects of our lives, so too do they dominate in industry, and many businesses are looking at innovative ways to reduce dependency on grid power. Going hand in hand with this is the surge towards increased productivity, reducing operating costs, and achieving a smaller environmental footprint.

This is a monumental task for South Africa’s mining industry, which is starting to make the switch and invest in renewable solutions. Presently, energy amounts to 30% of the total operating costs for typical mining companies.

“While renewable and solar energy solutions can make a massive impact and save the mining industry millions in electricity costs, they do require robust, quality battery solutions to ensure energy is stored and seamlessly available on demand,” said Murray Long, managing director of First National Battery.

All renewable and solar energy applications need battery solutions to store power, and the type of battery depends on criteria such as how much power is required, what the weather conditions are, and how much space is available. Uninterruptible power supplies not only provide a constant source of energy, but they also protect equipment from voltage fluctuations and spikes.

Mining operations also require robust battery solutions to power locomotives, drill rig machines, scoop and hauler batteries and mining cap lamps. While lithium-ion power solutions are paving the way toward renewable energy, conventional industrial and vehicle battery solutions are still essential for the mining industry.

Further reading:

Zero drift current shunt monitors
Altron Arrow Power Electronics / Power Management
The NCS21671 and NCV21671 from onsemi are a series of voltage output current sense amplifiers offered in gains of 25, 50, 100, and 200 V/V.

Read more...

---

Schneider Electric partners with Drakenstein Municipality
Schneider Electric South Africa Power Electronics / Power Management
Drakenstein Municipality, situated in Paarl in the Western Cape, is one of the first distribution utilities globally to implement Schneider Electric’s green, SF6-free RM AirSeT switchgear with pure air technology and native digital connectivity.

Read more...

---

E-Mobility: navigate safety, interoperability and conformance
Concilium Technologies Power Electronics / Power Management
Although the concept of electric vehicles is not a new one, the market remains in its infancy, and is not well-regulated or fully operational. This presents a number of challenges for manufacturers throughout the EV and EVSE ecosystem.

Read more...

---

Webinar: Decarbonise with industrial drives
Power Electronics / Power Management
Infineon's TRENCHSTOP IGBT7 and CoolSiC technologies increase the efficiency of your industrial drive design, ultimately resulting in cost savings for you, and a more sustainable future for all.

Read more...

---

Analysis of switch-mode power supply: inductor violations
Altron Arrow Editor's Choice Power Electronics / Power Management
Common switch-mode power supply (SMPS) design errors are discussed, and their appropriate rectification is specified, with details on complications that arise with the power stage design of DC-DC switching regulators.

Read more...

---

Compact PCB-mount SMPS
RS South Africa Power Electronics / Power Management
Traco Power’s 5W PCB-mount switch mode power supply (SMPS) offers high efficiency, and is well suited for a variety of applications in the automation, electronics, electrical and mechanical industries.

Read more...

---

AC-DC brick PSU
Conical Technologies Power Electronics / Power Management
These PSUs have a typical efficiency of up to 92%, and a power factor value of up to 0,99. They are available in 12, 24, 28, 48 and 54 V output versions.

Read more...

---

5 kW switching PSU range
Conical Technologies Power Electronics / Power Management
Mornsun has released a new switching power supply range, the LMF5000-25Bxx, which has a 5000 W capacity, and features universal AC input configurations.

Read more...

---

Reliable charging range
Current Automation Power Electronics / Power Management
Whether you’re powering essential electronics, keeping emergency equipment operational, or maintaining the performance of critical machinery, the need for dependable charging solutions cannot be overstated.

Read more...

---

Microchip expands its mSiC solutions
EBV Electrolink Power Electronics / Power Management
The highly integrated 3,3 kV XIFM plug-and-play digital gate driver is designed to work out-of-the-box with high-voltage SiC-based power modules to simplify and speed system integration.

Read more...

---