Solion, a spin-off company from the University of the South Bank in London, is working in close co-operation with Saft to use its VL E high energy, lightweight rechargeable lithium-ion cells to create high performance ‘plug and play’ battery packs designed specifically for solar powered racing cars.
The onboard batteries, which incorporate a sophisticated electronic management system essential to ensure the safe and reliable operation of lithium-ion cells, are used to store solar energy to power the car during low light conditions as well as providing a boost in power for climbing hills.

Solar racing cars compete in two main races, the World Solar Challenge (WSC) - a 3000km race across Australia - and the American Solar Challenge (ASC) - which this year followed Route 66 for 3680km from Chicago to Los Angeles.

The exact specification of the cars varies from race to race, however a typical car is between 4 and 6m long, weighs around 230kg, has a top speed of 160km/h and can cruise all day at 100km/h.

Dr Mike Duke, Director and founder of Solion, explains the advantages of lithium-ion technology for solar racing cars: ‘A successful solar racing car requires an on-board battery capable of storing over 4kWh of power.

A lead-acid battery with that capacity weighs over 100kg, which is around half the permitted all-up weight.
Yet the same power capacity can be achieved with a lithium-ion battery weighing just 30kg.

This weight saving offers much greater flexibility in vehicle design as well as a vast improvement in the crucial power to weight ratio for faster acceleration and improved hill climbing ability.

Charging efficiency from the solar panels - which range from 1 up to 2.5kW - is also very important and lithium-ion batteries have a charge/discharge efficiency of 99% compared with the 90% efficiency available from even the best lead-acid batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries were first used in solar racing cars in 1999, however these had to use over 900 AA size cells to provide the needed capacity, and the construction problems and reliability issues created by so many connections prompted Dr Duke to review alternatives.

Saft was able to offer the ideal solution with its VL E lithium-ion cells as their 3.6V nominal voltage, 45Ah capacity and high energy density of 310Wh/dm3 enabled a suitable 100.8V battery to be constructed using a single string of just 28 cells in series.

Dr Duke continues: ‘It was clear that the Saft cells offered the optimum combination of high-power, safety and reliability.

A battery pack using the Saft VL E cells made its debut on the University of the South Bank’s 2001 entry for the American Solar Car challenge.

The cells performed exceptionally well enabling us to average 600km a day, and in fact they were never fully drained during the entire race.

So many teams expressed interest in our battery pack that I was prompted to start Solion to manufacture the battery packs on a commercial basis’.

John Taylor of Saft UK said: ‘The increased complexity of lithium-ion cells dictates that they need to be managed more carefully than conventional batteries, especially when charging.

That is why it is Saft’s normal practice to supply them only as part of a complete modular battery system.

This enables us to guarantee that they have been correctly assembled and wired and will be used only in conjunction with the correct electronic management circuitry to ensure safe and reliable operation’.

‘Saft has formed a strong working relationship with Solion in which they have spent extended time with our engineers to be trained and instructed in the correct handling and assembly of the VL E cells.

In addition, we have also vetted their electronic management system.

So in this particular case we have agreed to supply Solion with individual cells’.

The Solion battery packs are made to order for each car as a ‘plug and play’ solution fitted with a Lemo connector which plugs directly into the car wiring loom.

The LIFEPAK 500 automated external defibrillator (AED), now carried as standard equipment on each of British Airways’ 250 aircraft, is powered by a long-life, high power Saft lithium sulphur dioxide battery pack. This primary (non-rechargeable) 12 Volt battery will not only power the LIFEPAK for around 300 individual discharges, it also enables the equipment to remain unused for up to four years yet still be relied on to power up immediately should an emergency arise.
AEDs are designed to enable people without extensive medical expertise to treat ventricular fibrillation (VF) the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest.

In VF the heart quivers ineffectively and is unable to pump blood throughout the body, The AED supplies a powerful electrical shock, known as defibrillation, that interrupts the VF and allows the heart’s normal rhythm to regain control.

Without treatment the patient will die within minutes.

The product carried by British Airways is the LIFEPAK 500 AED, manufactured by Medtronic Physio-Control.

This rugged, compact and portable device weighs in at only seven pounds (3.2 kg).
Its low maintenance requirements and intuitive operation, aided by concise voice prompting, audio warnings and instructions displayed on an LED screen, makes it ideal for use by infrequent AED users such as cabin staff.

The LIFEPAK 500 AED is offered with a choice of a rechargeable battery or a primary battery.

Safety legislation and the need to keep maintenance to an absolute minimum dictated the primary battery option for airline usage.

Lithium sulphur dioxide cells - the high power, long life option Medtronic Physio-Control selected a lithium type battery for the 500 because of the higher energy density available in lithium cells.

More specifically, Saft lithium sulphur dioxide cells were specified for a number of reasons: * Lithium sulphur dioxide cells are available in a cell size that provides excellent capacity and current delivery capability for long term defibrillator operation.

They provide the 500 with the longest battery life rating of any AED - a minimum of 230 full discharges and typically over 300.

This reduces the cost of ownership and maintenance since the battery needs to be changed less frequently.

In addition, this feature combines with the extremely long shelf-life (four years in aircraft use) to eliminate one of the most common problems reported with defibrillators: depleted batteries.

* Lithium sulphur dioxide cells have a history of use in rugged military applications where durability and the capability to withstand extreme environmental conditions are important.

Many AEDs are stored and transported in uncontrolled environments where similar demands apply.

* Lithium sulphur dioxide batteries operate effectively over a broader temperature range than other lithium cells.

This enables them to charge a defibrillator faster at lower temperature extremes and throughout battery life.

* Lithium sulphur dioxide cells lend themselves to the design of simple and reliable circuits for low-battery detection.

This eliminates the need for extra sensing cells or complicated detection techniques that are required for other lithium cell types.

Reliable detection of a depleted battery is a vital feature for a defibrillator with a user-replaceable battery.

The battery supplied by Saft for the LIFEPAK 500 AED comprises a pack of four LO26SHX ‘D’ hermetically sealed cells wired in series.

This provides a nominal voltage of 12 Volts and a capacity of 7.5 Ah in a pack weighing just under two pounds (0.9 kg).

Safety precautions include an 8 A fuse and series thermal cut-outs mounted to each of the cells.

Lithium niobate (LiNb03) modulators have proven robustness and high reliability. They have been widely used since the mid-1990s in long-haul optical networks for their ability to modulate optical signal from laser diodes with short transition times and without chirp. Thanks to their broad wavelength performance, they currently also offer modulation solutions to fibre lasers, widening the scope of applications of those sources.
LiNb03 intensity modulators are Mach-Zehnder type interferometric devices that exhibit a cosine transfer function.

Although highly stable components, their working point can suffer slow drift due to strong variations of external conditions.

The Photline MBC-LN family of bias controllers are specially designed to stabilise the working point of LiNb03 Mach-Zehnder modulators.

They use digital signal processing based on an original FFT principle that allows users to easily change the dithering frequency of the tone signal, so as to adapt to a wide variety of applications.

MBC controllers are available as bench top turnkey units and as OEM boards for integration in systems.

Exclusively from Alpha Laboratories, the first fully automated, colorimetric assay for the direct quantitative determination of lithium levels in serum. The liquid presentation, ready to use on most clinical chemistry analysers, eliminates the traditional use of flame photometry, ISE and atomic absorption.

The assay is fast thus providing short turnaround time for improved patient care.

The assay is linear to 3.0mmol/l, provides excellent correlation to flame photometry and a calibrator is also available.

Apart from the many batteries in their range, CMP Batteries Standby Division will be showing their new Pulses Plus lithium battery at ECIF this year. The technical requirements for lithium batteries used as the main power source in applications with long operating lives have changed drastically.
The electrical current profile typically consists of a low continuous current of some micro Amperes coupled with high pulses in the range of hundreds of milliamps and up to several Amperes for several milliseconds or even seconds.

The lithium thionyl chloride technology in bobbin-type construction is the most suitable solution for low-current applications, due to its high energy density, very low self-discharge rate and proven shelf and operating life of more than 10 years.

However, for reasons of construction, the currents that can be drawn from the battery are limited resulting in a reduced capability to deliver the full capacity under high current loads.

Spirally wound lithium cells, on the other hand, are able to deliver higher currents.

However, due to their construction they are less safe.
They have significantly less capacity, they have a much higher self-discharge rate and thus are not suitable for long-term applications.

The new Pulses Plus battery technology closes this gap.

It combines the power capability of spirally wound lithium cells with the high energy density, the low self-discharge rate and the high safety level of bobbin-type lithium thionyl chloride cells.

The Pulses Plus technology consists of a combination of a bobbin type lithium thionyl chloride cell with a novel hermetically sealed rechargeable element, the Hybrid Layer capacitor (HLC).

This new battery technology can be used to deliver efficiently current pulses up to several amperes with a minimum voltage of more than 3 Volts.

Moreover, this basic battery can be connected in series and in parallel to battery packs for higher voltages, higher current pulses and higher capacities.

The Pulses Plus technology offers an outstanding combination of operational advantages: High energy density High and stable operating voltage (3.6 V) High pulse current capability (up to several amperes) No passivation effect Wide operating temperature range (-40C to + 85C) Hermetical sealing (laser welding and glass-to-metal seal) Outstanding storage capability (up to >10 years) Ultimate safety (according to UL) Very low self discharge characteristics (less than 1.5 % per year) Some of the applications for which the Pulses Plus technology is the most suitable technical solution are: automotive electronics Location and tracking systems Emergency equipment Medical equipment Oceanographic devices GPS/GSM related systems RFID/active transponders AMR (automatic meter reading) devices The actually available capacity and energy density of the Pulses Plus batteries are very high in comparison to spirally wound batteries.

The battery can be smaller and lighter and has a longer operating life.

Process and plant engineers concerned about protecting people and equipment from the dangers of hydrogen sulphide gas will find the new Model 2180A single channel and 2280A four channel hydrogen sulphide gas monitors from General Monitors represents the next generation in highly reliable, simple, cost-effective gas detection.
Hydrogen sulphide gas is highly toxic and deadly in concentrations of 500-700ppm within 30 to 60min.

In low concentrations, hydrogen sulphide is easily detected by the smell of rotten eggs.

This gas, however, rapidly desensitises the olfactory nerves in the nose and so the sense of smell very quickly becomes an unreliable warning.

Workers may suddenly collapse with little or no warning when the gas is present in higher concentrations.

The new Models 2180A/2280A hydrogen sulphide gas monitors are designed specifically for continuous gas monitoring in the parts per million range.
With advanced microprocessor-based electronics, the 2180A/2280A offers low power consumption to reduce energy consumption and overall plant operating costs.

Designed for use in rugged or dirty environments, the Models 2180A/2280A monitors support a wide range of oil/gas applications, including production, refining, distribution and storage.

They also find extensive use within chemical processing plants.

Other applications include pulp/paper mills and sewage treatment plants.

The heart of the new monitors is its state-of-the-art metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) gas sensor.

To produce the sensor, MOS film is deposited on to a substrate between two electrodes.

With no gas present, the measured resistance between these two electrodes is very high (in megohms).

Any decrease in resistance is proportional logarithmically to the concentration of hydrogen sulphide gas that is present.

A wide variety of relay options are offered to meet specific customer requirements.

The monitors feature a digital LED display along with LED indicators to provide a visual indication of alarm, fault and status.

Mode and reset buttons are provided for local control by plant technicians.

The system operates on 105-130V AC (205-255V AC optional), 50-60Hz, 22-30V DC.

Process and plant engineers concerned about protecting people and equipment from the dangers of hydrogen sulphide gas will find the new Models 2180A single channel and 2280A four channel hydrogen sulphide gas monitors from General Monitors represent the next generation in highly reliable, simple, cost-effective gas detection.
Hydrogen sulphide gas is highly toxic and deadly in concentrations of 500-700ppm within 30 to 60min.

In low concentrations, hydrogen sulphide is easily detected by the smell of rotten eggs.

This gas, however, rapidly desensitises the olfactory nerves in the nose and so the sense of smell very quickly becomes an unreliable warning.

Workers may suddenly collapse with little or no warning when the gas is present in higher concentrations.

The new Models 2180A/2280A hydrogen sulphide gas monitors are designed specifically for continuous gas monitoring in the parts per million range.
With advanced microprocessor-based electronics, the 2180A/2280A offers low power consumption to reduce energy consumption and overall plant operating costs.

Designed for use in rugged or dirty environments, the Models 2180A/2280A monitors support a wide range of oil/gas applications, including production, refining, distribution and storage.

They also find extensive use within chemical processing plants.

Other applications include pulp/paper mills and sewage treatment plants.

The heart of the new monitors is its state-of-the-art metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) gas sensor.

To produce the sensor, MOS film is deposited on to a substrate between two electrodes.

With no gas present, the measured resistance between these two electrodes is very high (in megaohms).

Any decrease in resistance is proportional logarithmically to the concentration of hydrogen sulphide gas that is present.

A wide variety of relay options are offered to meet specific customer requirements.

The monitors feature a digital LED display along with LED indicators to provide a visual indication of alarm, fault and status.

Mode and reset buttons are provided for local control by plant technicians.

The system operates on 105-130V AC (205-255V AC optional), 50-60Hz, 22-30V DC.

The controller can be wall, panel or rack mounted.

Calibration is simple and adjustment free, which reduces setup and installation time.

The units have CSA Approval.

GRI Contract Services has further enhanced its product portfolio with the inclusion of PTL’s Hogen compact hydrogen generators. As specialists in gas generation systems, PTL bring the Hogen generators to the UK to further compliment their range of gases for industrial and laboratory applications.
Hogen offers significant advantages for on-site hydrogen requirements, which cover a wide range of applications.

A key factor governing the need for a hydrogen on-demand system is a reduced hydrogen inventory, which offers obvious safety advantages.

The Hogen is easy to install and maintain and is housed in a compact package.

The Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) used in the Hogen is now the technology of choice for diverse applications ranging from chlorine production through to fuel cell manufacture.

With no hazardous chemicals to handle, maintain or dispose, the Hogen provides fully automatic, safe and reliable operation to provide Hydrogen when and where required.

The systems will work at rates from 0.5 to 1 Nm-3h-1.

GRI Contract Services are experienced in the supply and installation of specialist laboratory products and are pleased to discuss their client gas related projects in order to provide systems with accurate specifications.

Last year Mahler AGS received an order from Degussa in Brasil for a hydrogen generation plant based on steam reforming of natural gas with a capacity of 4000 Nm3/h. The hydrogen plant is to be installed in the works Barra do Riacho in Aracruz in the state of Espirito Santo, the production location in Brasil of Degussa Brasil.
The hydrogen will be used for the production of hydrogen peroxide to meet the continuously increasing demand for bleaching agents, required primarily for the production of eucalyptus pulp.

For the manufacture of sanitary and pure white writing paper, eucalyptus pulp is gaining increasing importance worldwide.

This order was the third Mahler hydrogen generation plant order placed by Degussa, based on the process of steam reforming of natural gas for the production of hydrogen peroxide.

The commissioning of the hydrogen plant on site is about to take place.

New Compact and Multifunction Hydrogen Analyser from Witt Gas Techniques The new MFA-H2 analyser from Witt Gas Techniques , the Warrington based gas safety, control, mixing and analysis equipment supplier is compact, portable, multi functional and designed for use at the gas mixer in non explosive areas within any industry, where furnace technology and heat treatment is used.
Within the steel industry forming gases are essential to obtain the required surface characteristics from the steel being processed.

The specific composition of forming gas will be dependent upon the surface treatment process employed, e.g annealing, smooth finishing, hardening and strengthening.

For certain surface treatment processes precise control of the forming gas composition is required.

Gas mixing equipment operating within this industry should exhibit a high degree of mixing accuracy against tight compositional tolerances for the gas mixture.

Witt Gas Techniques designs, manufactures and supplies a range of forming gas analysers and mixing Systems to meet these requirements.

This is the first truly portable H2 analyser from Witt Gas Techniques.

Previous analysers have comprised two separate units, the electrical control cabinet and the measuring cell.

It uses Witt designed software to measure the range and type of gas (Hydrogen or Helium) and there are no limitations on the measuring range, in other words the MFA-H2 can measure hydrogen levels in nitrogen and helium levels in argon.