SOFC Solution
Adaptive Energy offers highly durable SOFC battery chargers that run on propane and offer reliable low-watt power. So solar trailers can power the load during long periods of darkness.
Solar Trailers Must Provide High Uptimes
Critical functions such as surveillance monitoring, remote sensing SoDAR and LiDAR, meteorological towers and more are often powered by mobile solar trailers.
And especially when deployed to remote areas where maintenance visits are impractical or expensive, these trailers must be able to power the load no matter what.
Low Batteries Can Compromise the Trailer
Batteries keep the equipment running at night, charged by excess energy produced by the solar array during daytime.
But during extended periods of cloud cover, rain or darkness, the solar array can not make enough energy to charge the batteries. This causes them to deplete, putting the trailer at risk of failure.
SOFC Bridge These Downtimes
Enabling the trailer to provide uninterruptible power
Performer Series SOFC compensate for depleted batteries by cycling on to recharge when the voltage dips. They are engineered to integrate easily with renewables like solar to create a hybrid clean energy solution.
Unlike batteries, SOFC are lightweight and easy to transport. And because propane is more energy-dense than batteries, a 250W SOFC can take the place of some of the required solar panels and/or batteries, so you can use a smaller trailer.
“We’ve worked with Adaptive Energy’s SOFC for several years and give them 10/10 on reliability. In fact we allow system voltages to drop to 23.5 before the fuel cell cycles on to charge the batteries. We did not always trust doing this with a diesel backup system.”
– Paul Woodhouse, CEO at Sentrex Wind Services
How SOFC Integrate With Solar or Wind
When the State of Charge (SOC) of the batteries dips below a preset threshold, the fuel cell automatically cycles on to recharge the batteries. When the upper voltage is reached, the fuel cell returns to standby mode and cools down before powering off. This provides reliable auxiliary power to ensure the trailer can power the load even during times of low sunlight.
Benefits of SOFC for Solar Trailers
The compact, lightweight design creates a product that is easy to transport and has a small footprint. SOFC can reduce the number of solar panels and/or batteries required so you can use an even smaller trailer. Here are other key reasons why customers are using SOFC to bridge downtimes in mobile solar power.
Excel in Extremes
Highly Reliable
Efficient
With a fuel consumption of .25lb of propane per hour, efficiency is a powerful benefit. A 20-lb propane tank offers 80 hours of runtime, providing plenty of time to schedule a refueling site visit. Plus, propane is cleaner than diesel and more accessible than hydrogen.
Fewer Site Visits
Engineered to Withstand Vibration Impact
Remote Monitoring
