Switch-Mode Rectifier Technology Reshapes Industrial Battery Charging

Focus:

Electrical substations in the United States commonly use switchgear powered from a batteries that are charged by silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) or thyristor battery chargers. These chargers are large and heavy relative to their power output, yet they have performed well for decades in applications where reliability and uptime are critical. Unfortunately, this record has resulted in a general perception that a battery charger must be built like a “battleship” to meet the needs of industrial sites. As a result many users are missing out on the significant benefits offered by modular power systems using switched-mode rectifier (SMR) technology. This article discusses these benefits--higher efficiency, smaller size, greater reliability, etc.—using Eltek’s power products as examples to illustrate SMR advantages.

What you’ll learn:

• How to understand the benefits of switched-mode rectifiers in industrial battery charging applications

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Author & Publication:

Mike Kania, Eltek, Watchung, NJ, How2Power Today, Mar 30 2012

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