CeMAT South America: Fronius presents battery charging systems with the Ri charging process

The Ri charging process marks a revolution in battery charging technology: unlike conventional processes such as 50 Hz transformer or high frequency (HF) technology, charging does not follow a fixed characteristic with a predefined current. Instead it is determined by the battery's effective inner resistance (Ri), which in turn is dependent on the age, temperature and state of charge of the battery. Every single charging cycle is unique and has its own characteristic, reducing overcharging - which causes high energy loss and harmful battery warming - to a minimum. This system has two significant advantages for operators of electrically powered forklift trucks: it increases energy efficiency during charging, thereby reducing energy costs, and it extends the service life of the battery. Many well-known companies are already successfully using the technology, for instance in the automotive, food and logistics industries.

On Stand 15 in Hall A, Fronius will also be demonstrating its know-how on equipping standards-compliant battery charging rooms and stations. Fronius supports its customers right from the planning phase and ensures that the systems meet all the necessary requirements, including fire and explosion protection or work safety. Fronius also offers a comprehensive product portfolio for adapting battery charging rooms and stations to specific circumstances and requirements, including charging modules in various sizes, safety and maintenance modules, changeover stations and housings for use outdoors.

With the “Cool Battery Guide Easy” and “Cool Battery Guide Premium” information and management systems, Fronius has also developed two solutions for optimum utilisation of the battery pool and an extended battery life. A control unit shows the user which battery has been fully-charged for the longest and is therefore the coolest. This can also be indicated by LED strips on the individual battery charging systems, ensuring that all batteries are used equally as often and have enough time to cool down. In addition, the “Cool Battery Guide Premium” enables employees to identify individual batteries and battery charging systems. The system automatically records the relevant data, analyses the charging cycles and logs errors, making battery charging even safer, more reliable and more efficient. Using this data, the user is able to determine potential savings that can be achieved by optimising utilisation of the battery and battery pool.

Fronius at CeMAT South America: Hall A, Stand 15