NEWS
EcoPower Hybrid Systems Earns Clean Air Excellence Award
As a leader in the implementation of hybrid power systems, EcoPower Hybrid Systems, Inc. was awarded The Clean Air Excellence Award by The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), for their new EcoCrane® Hybrid Systems applied to rubber tired gantry (RTG) cranes.
The patented EcoCrane® product is the only battery assisted hybrid system for RTG cranes in North America. The system can be installed on new equipment or retrofitted on old systems. Initially, three EcoPower Hybrid Systems were installed in the Port of Vancouver. The system demonstrated 70% fuel reduction measured in operation saving 25,000 gallons per year of fuel. NOx and particulate matter (PM) emissions are potentially reduced between 65 and 80%. The most recent EcoPower Hybrid system was installed at the Long Beach Container Terminal. This hybrid technology is also available on hybrid cranes used in rail yards.
The EcoPower Hybrid System replaces the conventional diesel power plant of 400kW to 700kW with a smaller diesel generator set (GenSet) of between 100 and 150 kW combined with batteries.
The exceptional performance of the EcoPower Hybrid System is related to the following technical aspects:
Significantly Smaller GenSet Engine: The conventional RTG cranes idle a significant portion of the time. Even in heavy operation, the size of the conventional GenSet is required less than 15% of the time. In the hybrid concept, the generator is 4 to 5 times smaller and delivers only the required average power. Batteries supply the peak power required to lift a container.
Recovering Potential Energy: Efficiency increases by regenerative power captured and stored in the batteries as the hoist on the crane lowers containers. The potential energy of the container is maximum when at the top level; the crane essentially turns the electric motors into generators as the load is lowered, charging the batteries and further reducing the amount of time that the GenSet must operate.
Engine Running Part Time: The smaller diesel generator installed on a hybrid power plant is turned on only to recharge batteries when required. The GenSet is turned off 50% of the time during operation. This represents a significant fuel reduction compared to conventional RTG power plants in which the engine runs all the time.