FEATURE July 2013 Fuel Cells Bulletin 15 Scottish Water using fuel cells to monitor drinking water levels on remote Isle of Lewis In the UK, Scottish Water turned to Fuel Cell Systems for advice on an alternative source of portable power to ensure the inhabitants of the remote Isle of Lewis are provided with a constant supply of drinking water. The utility’s telemetry equipment is now powered by EFOY Pro direct methanol fuel cells, manufactured by German-based SFC Energy, which provide a reliable, low- maintenance power supply. The Isle of Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island in the Outer Hebrides off the northwest coast of Scotland. Ensuring the population of around 18 500 is supplied with a reliable source of fresh drinking water is one of the challenges faced by Scottish Water. Telemetry equipment provides accurate data for recording the levels of drinking water contained in 50 m 3 storage tanks located on mountain sides at Meavaig and Marivaig [Figure 1]. Extreme weather conditions have previously prevented alternative sources of renewable energy, such as solar PV and wind turbines, from being used successfully to provide power for this vital monitoring equipment. The requirement Thus Scottish Water required a reliable source of power to ensure that its telemetry equipment remained fully functional at all times. Previously, extremely high winds had displaced solar PV panels and caused wind turbines to burn out or seize up due to excessive wind speeds. The remote location of each water storage tank means that connecting to the National Grid for electric power is not financially viable. Diesel generators were unsuitable because of the noise they produce, and also the logistical problems and costs involved in sending people to such remote sites to refuel them. With the help of renewable energy integrators ID Systems UK, Scottish Water turned to Berkshire-based fuel cell specialist, Fuel Cell Systems. The solution Fuel Cell Systems provided ID Systems UK with six EFOY Pro 600 direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), manufactured in Germany by SFC Energy [Figure 2]. The fuel cells essentially act as a self-contained battery charger for a single 12 V battery used to power the telemetry equipment. Deployed by Scottish Water, the fuel cells are housed in weather-proof kiosks. Methanol fuel, contained in 28 litre canisters, power the fuel cells, which are used to monitor the battery voltage. When a battery is discharged below 11.5 V, the fuel cells automatically start up and recharge it to its optimum floating voltage of 12.5 V. This ensures that the batteries are always kept at full capacity. The benefits Each fuel cell is supplied with its own self- contained methanol fuel supply. This allows the system to be left for well over 15 months before an engineer is required to visit the site to refuel the units, making it a cost-effective solution. Scottish Water is provided with 24 h, real- time data from each of its remote telemetry outstations. A shortage of drinking water would have a dramatic impact on the local community. A sudden drop in water levels could be a sign of a damaged tank or burst outlet pipe. If such an event occurred, engineers would be alerted in order to fix the problem and prevent the tanks from running dry. Furthermore, Scottish Water doesn’t need to worry about power failure experienced by the National Grid, or intermittent power from renewable energy sources. EFOY Pro 600 fuel cells are guaranteed to offer reliable power whatever the weather. Unlike generators, fuel cells give off very little noise when operating – the only noise Figure 1. The red circle identifies the location of Scottish Water’s remote telemetry outstation for drinking water on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.
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FEATURE
July 2013 Fuel Cells Bulletin15
Scottish Water using fuel cells to monitor drinking water levels on remote Isle of LewisIn the UK, Scottish Water turned to Fuel Cell Systems for advice on an alternative source of portable power to ensure the inhabitants of the remote Isle of Lewis are provided with a constant supply of drinking water. The utility’s telemetry equipment is now powered by EFOY Pro direct methanol fuel cells, manufactured by German-based SFC Energy, which provide a reliable, low-maintenance power supply.
The Isle of Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island in the Outer Hebrides off the northwest coast of Scotland. Ensuring the population of around 18 500 is supplied with a reliable source of fresh drinking water is one of the challenges faced by Scottish Water.
Telemetry equipment provides accurate data for recording the levels of drinking water contained in 50 m3 storage tanks located on mountain sides at Meavaig and Marivaig [Figure 1]. Extreme weather conditions have previously prevented alternative sources of renewable energy, such as solar PV and wind turbines, from being used successfully to provide power for this vital monitoring equipment.
The requirementThus Scottish Water required a reliable source of power to ensure that its telemetry equipment remained fully functional at all times. Previously, extremely high winds had displaced solar PV panels and caused wind turbines to burn out or seize up due to excessive wind speeds. The remote location of each water storage tank means that connecting to the National Grid for electric power is not financially viable. Diesel generators were unsuitable because of the noise they produce, and also the logistical problems and costs involved in sending people to such remote sites to refuel them.
With the help of renewable energy integrators ID Systems UK, Scottish Water turned to Berkshire-based fuel cell specialist, Fuel Cell Systems.
The solutionFuel Cell Systems provided ID Systems UK with six EFOY Pro 600 direct methanol fuel
cells (DMFCs), manufactured in Germany by SFC Energy [Figure 2]. The fuel cells essentially act as a self-contained battery charger for a single 12 V battery used to power the telemetry equipment. Deployed by Scottish Water, the fuel cells are housed in weather-proof kiosks. Methanol fuel, contained in 28 litre canisters, power the fuel cells, which are used to monitor the battery voltage.
When a battery is discharged below 11.5 V, the fuel cells automatically start up and recharge it to its optimum floating voltage of 12.5 V. This ensures that the batteries are always kept at full capacity.
The benefitsEach fuel cell is supplied with its own self-contained methanol fuel supply. This allows the
system to be left for well over 15 months before an engineer is required to visit the site to refuel the units, making it a cost-effective solution.
Scottish Water is provided with 24 h, real-time data from each of its remote telemetry outstations. A shortage of drinking water would have a dramatic impact on the local community. A sudden drop in water levels could be a sign of a damaged tank or burst outlet pipe. If such an event occurred, engineers would be alerted in order to fix the problem and prevent the tanks from running dry.
Furthermore, Scottish Water doesn’t need to worry about power failure experienced by the National Grid, or intermittent power from renewable energy sources. EFOY Pro 600 fuel cells are guaranteed to offer reliable power whatever the weather.
Unlike generators, fuel cells give off very little noise when operating – the only noise
Figure 1. The red circle identifies the location of Scottish Water’s remote telemetry outstation for drinking water on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.
FEATURE
Fuel Cells Bulletin July 201316
produced is a gentle hum. This means the systems are less likely to affect the surrounding environment or disturb the rich abundance of wildlife on the island.
The client’s perspective‘The biggest challenge we had was supplying a low-maintenance source of reliable power to ensure the telemetry equipment remained operational at all times,’ says Jason Rowe, Telemetry Delivery Manager for ID Systems UK. ‘Access to the water tanks is difficult due to their remote location. We wanted to minimise the number of site visits necessary to
keep the equipment working and the batteries charged.’
‘The technical team at Fuel Cell Systems was more than helpful. It provided us with comprehensive power consumption calculations, which determined the fuel cell requirements necessary for this project,’ continues Rowe. ‘This enabled us to advise Scottish Water that methanol fuel cells would provide a cost-effective, reliable, and environmentally friendly solution.’
Rowe adds that ID Systems UK expects to deliver a further eight fuel cells for remote telemetry monitoring applications for Scottish Water.
‘It is important for Scottish Water to have a reliable telemetry system which can continuously monitor tank levels and flows at our service reservoirs, in order that we can address potential problems quickly before they affect our customers,’ explains Ivor Martin, Capital Liaison Engineer at Scottish Water.
‘We initially installed fuel cells at two of our remote sites at Meavaig and Marivaig service reservoirs on the Isle of Lewis,’ continues Martin. ‘Since their installation, 15 months ago, they have been very reliable, and we’ve had no issues with power supplies at these sites. We have not even had to change the methanol fuel cartridges. The EFOYs have proved so effective that we are now in the process of installing an additional four units at remote sites on the island.’
Fuel Cell SystemsFuel Cell Systems is a subsidiary of UPS Systems Plc, the UK’s largest independent supplier of standby power solutions. Its independence, allied to close working relationships with the world’s leading manufacturers, means that FCS can offer impartial technical advice on the widest range of standby power solutions. The company implemented the UK’s first two hydrogen fuel cells providing AC standby power, and is currently working on projects using the technology to supply backup and prime power to utilities, telecoms, remote telemetry, portable signage, and renewable energy applications.
For more information, contact: Fuel Cell Systems, Herongate, Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 0YU, UK. Tel: +44 1488 680580, www.fuelcellsystems.co.uk
Scottish Water: www.scottishwater.co.uk
ID Systems UK: www.idsystemsuk.co.uk
SFC Energy: www.sfc.com
Figure 2. The EFOY Pro 600 direct methanol fuel cell – manufactured by German-based SFC Energy – provides 600 Wh/day for battery charging.
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