Battery storage systems are becoming essential for maximizing energy efficiency, supporting renewable energy integration, and providing backup power. In today's fast-paced world, the reliability and efficiency of battery systems are critical to powering everything from portable electronics to large-scale renewable energy solutions. Mastering the intricacies of battery system selection, installation, testing, inspection, and maintenance practices is essential for ensuring optimal performance and longevity of these systems. This comprehensive course aims to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of battery technology, enabling them to make informed decisions, enhance safety, and improve overall operational efficiency. Whether you are a seasoned expert or new to the field, this workshop will provide valuable insights into best practices and emerging trends in battery management.
Workshop outline
 Module 1
- Introduction
- Battery (Ancient) History
- Battery chemistry
- Battery Terminology
- Battery functionality
- Basic Terms Associated with Standby Batteries
- Battery Capacity
- Batteries in Series and Parallel
- Battery Basic terms
- Rate of Charge or Discharge – Battery C-rate
- Temperature derate factor
- Temperature compensation:
- Boost, Equalize, Trickle, Fast and Float charge
- Battery classification
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Module 2 Battery technologies: Selection & application
- Battery technology used within data centre
- Introduction
- Battery Sizing for Data Centers
- UPS battery sizing
- Substation battery sizing
 Solar & hybrid System Battery
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- Types of batteries commonly used in PV systems
- BATTERY Sizing and selection
- Battery capacity for your hybrid energy system
- Grid-Tied System (With Batteries)
- Charge Controllers
- Controller Basics
- PWM charge controller
- MPPT charge controller
- Additional Controller Features
- Other Controller Considerations
- Controller sizing
- Utility-scale battery storage
- Utility battery storage companies
- Examples of utility-scale battery projects in South Africa
- Challenges in utility-scale battery storage
- Supercapacitor storageÂ
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- Large-scale battery implementation
- High-voltage battery banks
- Advantages of high-voltage batteries
- The latest breakthroughs in energy storage technology
- Solid-State Batteries
- Challenges in solid-state batteries
- Flow Battery Enhancements
- Applications of flow batteries in renewable energy
- Challenges in scaling up flow battery installations
- Iron-Based Grid Batteries
- Advancements in Lithium-Ion Batteries
- Several companies are at the forefront of next-generation battery technology
- Determination of the required capacity for a specific energy storage application
- Supercapacitor storage
- Introduction
- How Supercapacitors Differ from Batteries
- Common applications of supercapacitors
- Pros and Cons of Supercapacitors
- Options for supercapacitor storage in South Africa
- classification of supercapacitors
- Exercises
Module 3 Battery charger/charging system
- Basic Charging Methods
- Selecting the Correct Charger
- Charging Voltage (for manual chargers)
- Charging Current (for manual chargers)
- Constant Current Charging Method (Amps x Hours)
- Charging Time
- Charging batteries in Parallel
- Charging batteries in Series
- Charging Lead Acid
- A float charger and a boost charger
- Thyristor-controlled battery charger
- Silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) battery charger
- Exercises
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- Module 4 Battery Maintenance
- Factors Affecting Battery Life
- Why do Batteries Fail
- Maintenance requirements
- Maintenance Equipment
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Battery Health and Safety
- Safety signs
- Inspections and Tests
- Battery testing
- The Hydrometer
- Digital Battery Testers
- Adjustable Load Testers
- Constant Rate Discharge Testers
- The Thermometer
- The Multimeter
- Topping up of cells
- Cleaning
- Maintenance requirements – Lead Acid
- Flooded Lead-Acid Battery Maintenance Tips
- Sealed Lead-Acid Battery Maintenance
- Maintenance requirements – NiCad
- Lithium-ion battery Maintenance
- Battery room checks
- Battery room ventilation
- Battery cabinet checks
- Logsheets
- Visual inspection
- Energy Storage System Inspection and Testing
- Battery Qualification Tests
- State-of-Health Testing
- Test Conditions
- Non-Invasive Testing
- Exercises
