Products

Cranepower UPS systems use state of the art battery technology to store energy. When the crane needs to lift a load, the battery provides all the power the crane needs. Then in between lifts (while slewing, lowering, manoeuvring, rigging and de-rigging, the battery recharges). The battery charger power is much higher than the average power consumed thus allowing the crane to operate all day.

Because tower cranes have such dynamic power usage (requiring hundreds of kilowatts of electrical power to lift a load but only around a half a kilowatt when not lifting) large diesel generators have traditionally been the only way to provide the peak power during a lift. Whilst this has served us well for many decades it no longer makes sense technically, environmentally or financially to use a diesel generator for this application.

The Cranepower UPS offers 3 kinds of benefits: Environment, Operational and Financial. 

Environmental - By replacing noisy and wasteful diesel generators, the Cranepower UPS can save up to 200t of CO2 emissions per year.

Operational - No large diesel generators means less noise on site, less space requirements and less reliance on fuel deliveries. 

Financial - The lower running costs of the Cranepower UPS are substantial, with a return on investment of less than 3 years in general.

The Cranepower UPS has no direct emissions or air pollutants, and no noise pollution. Through the large fuel savings achieved by replacing a diesel generator, the UPS can result in greenhouse gas emissions reductions of up to 200 tonnes CO2e per year.

Cranepower UPS systems (like the grid) are able to “Regen” and absorb the energy some cranes are able to output when lowering a load; something a diesel generator can not do.

Generally diesel gensets powering cranes are specified with a safety factor of 200% (Meaning that if a crane uses 150kVA, a 300kVA generator is required) This is not necessary with Cranepower UPS systems. If the crane has a peak power usage of 150kVA you only need a 150kVA Cranepower UPS.

Cranepower UPS systems are available in sizes ranging from 150kVA up to 600kVA covering the vast majority of the world’s tower crane fleet. However, the Cranepower UPS may not be suitable for some very old tower cranes that utilise older slip-ring style motors. If in doubt, please check with us first.

It depends on what loads the Cranepower UPS is powering and if the loads have regenerative breaking. Regenerative braking on hoists and cranes will reduce the UPS input power requirements by around 50%. In some cases, a single tower crane can run all day with the UPS set to only draw 8A input power. If hoists are used, then the full input power is recommended.

Having adjustable input power provides more flexibility for the Cranepower UPS. Some sites may only have a limited power supply available for the UPS, so the input power can be reduced to prevent over-loading of the supply. In most cases, a UPS powering a single crane will only need a 16A input supply.

Providing input power is always connected to the UPS, it will not run out of power during the workday. If input power is lost, then the UPS will continue to supply power to the crane until its internal battery goes flat, this can take several hours, depending on crane usage.

Whilst this is extremely unlikely, if a Cranepower UPS is operated without input power for a long time its internal storage has a 20% “Reserve” which will allow the crane operator to safely finish off whatever they are doing and arrange to have input power restored. This is an important safety feature to ensure no crane operator is stuck with a dangerous load floating on the hook.

No, the UPS is designed to power tower cranes and personnel hoists only. Connecting other loads to the UPS will risk draining the internal battery too low and result in power loss to the crane.

Yes, the UPS has a 2-wire connection for remote start/stop of a small diesel generator.

Cranepower enclosures, power electronics and energy storage systems are designed and engineered to have a working life in excess of 20 years.

Very little maintenance is required as Cranepower UPS systems have almost no moving parts. Air filter replacement is the only regular maintenance needed.