February 1, 2024
Powering 3 Tower Cranes with BESS
For the use of tower cranes, even though they are not constantly in operation, construction workers still need to turn on a large diesel generator in case it is required. This practice leads to wasteful diesel consumption and unnecessary expenses, especially given the fluctuating price of diesel in Hong Kong. Consequently, this results in increased costs and environmental pollution.
Case Study - Building Engineering
The Challenge
The primary challenge is the high startup current required by tower cranes. In building engineering, it is common to use a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to support tower cranes, with the typical setup being one BESS for each tower crane. However, our situation of having one BESS paired with three tower cranes is unusual and highly unlikely to be feasible.
1. High Startup Current Demand
Inrush Current: Tower cranes typically require a substantial inrush current during startup, which can be several times their nominal operating current. A single BESS may struggle to provide the necessary power to start multiple cranes simultaneously.
2. Limited Grid Capacity
Low Power Availability: Rural areas often have limited electrical infrastructure, which may not provide sufficient power to meet the startup demands of multiple tower cranes.
The Result
Optimizing Power Utilization During Downtime: The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) can efficiently supply power to cranes during idle periods, reducing reliance on diesel generators. Storing energy generated during off-peak hours, enabling effective energy use when cranes are operating.
Minimizing Generator Runtime: By limiting diesel generator use when cranes are not active, we can lower fuel consumption and achieve cost savings.
Decreasing Operational Costs: Utilizing energy from the BESS instead of diesel fuel leads to lower operational expenses, promoting cost-effective and sustainable operations.