Can Pv Power Lifts/elevators?

[Pav33andaThird]

Hi all

New to this forum, so go easy

A client (for a residential 10 floor apartment block) has asked me if his proposed PV System can power his lift/elevator.

I am not hugely knowledgable about the power profiles of lifts/elevators. Looking at his system, he will have enough installed PV capacity and battery system to supply the kWh demand (which is quite low when compared to say a fridge) but i'am worried about the instantaneous power load. 

I have done some research, and find vast variations in profiles (dependant upon type & manufacturer of lift/elevator) some ranging from 6kW right up to 35kW in the first 10m/s of operation. 

But maybe a commercial size inverter would do the job?

Any advice would be appreciated.

best

Paul

 

[Andy™]

lets just hope no-one wants to use the lift in the night...

of course, you could always start by getting the power requirements of the actual lift installed rather than various others that may be between 6 & 35kW....

 

[binky]

wouldn't go there...lifts need to be 100% reliable, and the weather isn't, plus lifts have a completely different set of regulations If you are feeding power from PV into his general electrical system for the building, then it will reduce his energy bill for the lift anyway if the power isn't being used elsewhere.

 

[Pav33andaThird]

Hi both

Thanks for the replies.

Some more detail from me would help!

The apartment block is in Buenos Aires, so solar resource is good. Its intended that the PV system being proposed would be a grid-tied, battery storage system. He wants the PV system to guarantee essential services (service lights; fridges; water pump; 1 low v socket) in case of grid outages an is asking to add the Lift/Elevator to this....

He will have enough installed PV and battery capacity to handle the kWh's , the kW's of the other essential services, but, again, i am usnure about the instantaneous load of the lift....again, maybe its a question of sizing the inverters?

Andy: He has yet to specify the lift he will use for the building.

Binky: Regulations in BA arent as strict as UK.

Given this extra info (apologies i didnt provide this background earlier...cant you read my mind ), whats your thoughts now?

Best

Paul

 

[binky]

Ok you need to work out how much load is on the system, and how long the power goes off for to work out the size of battery storage required. The add a fudge factor eg 50% to try to allow for the unexpected (eg longer than normal power outage), and battery degradation over the years. DO NOT USE LORRY BATTERIES - they maybe cheap, but can't handle being completely discharged, hence they will fail within 2 years-ish. You need deep-discharge batteries which can be run flat without being damaged - worth looking at PV specific stuff. These will run for 5 years being 'cycled' daily. Biggest problem with lifts is the large surge currents - you will need some big cables! If you can get the info over to us, I'm sure some of the more industrial members can help with that side of things.

so how come you are doing a job in Buenas Aires?

 

[OnOff]

Could regenerative braking come into this somewhere? Seems a waste to have that lift falling descending and not use it!

 

[NozSpark]

IIRC a lot of more modern lifts arent even direct drive, from what I remember they use hydraulic pumps and motors... they dont use cables to the carriage either.. rubber belts

 

[Pav33andaThird]

Thanks for the replies, appreciated.

Binky: Im not really doing a 'job' per-se in BA. Hes a friend of mine who is an international developer. He just knows i have a keen interest in renewables (but my speciality is Passive House Design). So he's sounding out if it would be at all feasible before committing his cash to doing a professional feasibility study i guess!

Re the proposed system, heres the detail as far as i can work out:

PV Panels: 320w mono x 50 panels

Essential Services Load: 8kW

Essential Services Consumption (includes AC & DC): 180kWh/day

Autonomy: 1 day (outages in BA are normally 4 hours only in height of summer)

Batteries housed at 20-25oC

Inverter Eff: 90%: 3 Phase, 5.8kW (400v/50Hz) x 2

Temp Compensation: 60%

Nominal Voltage; 48v

I was looking at Valve Regulated Lead-Acid batteries which have a 70% DoD. 

My, cursory, calcs show 8000Ah which equates to 24 batteries per string for a 2 string parallel for VRLA 6v models.

Thoughts? Would this be able to power the lift? 

Thanks in advance to you/anyone that replies

Best

Paul

 

[faller]

I think that if you aren't experienced enough, it's better to get some help.

I am experianced builder of PV systems and I recommened this app - 

easysolar-app

It's really useful in my projects

 

[binky]

and woukd that be an app you developed faller?

 

[Blue Duck]

The app doesn't have great reviews on google play as you have to pay 20 euros / month to use it

 

[Andy™]

and the OP probably isnt coming back to read that post either...

 

[binky]

obviously a sales punt then.

 

[kerching]

obviously a ......"sales punt". then...........

Ah yes, Cockney Rhyming slang!

Very useful in the right situation

 

[faller]

I come back. I have worked it some time, and it was good for me. Maybe some people are so keen to use it properly.

I was and it was worth while. Google play opinions are really worth, when tons of it is a spam.

 

[Andy™]

so basically youre only here to try and get some advertising. in which case, contact an Admin and they will be happy to arrange for your advertising payment