Considerations for the configuration and arrangement of valve regulated monobloc batteries in enclosures. II

Today´s telecommunication network is experiencing an unrelenting increase in the demand for power, while being pulled ever closer to the end user. This demand is being fueled by consumers who require improved access to each other through wireless communications and the Internet. These factors require system designers to pack more power into less real estate and subject the components of the network to harsh environments. In response to the questions that had been frequently raised regarding the operational characteristics of valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries as a function of configuration, and packaging arrangement GNB conducted a significant study of the subject. In a paper published at the Telescon 2000 conference GNB addressed the thermal behavior of the Marathon ^TM series 104 Ah front access battery with various recharge regimes, spacing, and cooling schemes. It was the conclusion of that work that battery spacing up to 10 mm that utilized forced air convection provided the only significant impact on the thermal behavior of the system given the conditions of that test. It is the goal of this work to briefly review the results of that study and report on an expanded test that examined the effects of: perforated shelving within cabinets; increased packing or decreased space between battery shelves within cabinets; and top terminal configurations versus front access.