Background
One of the largest airports in Asia is known for its exceptional passenger experience, operational efficiency, and advanced infrastructure. Ensuring uninterrupted power is essential for maintaining critical airport systems such as lighting, security, and air traffic control. Any power disruption can lead to delays, safety risks, and costly downtime.
With high power demand and strict safety regulations, the airport relies on a sophisticated backup power infrastructure to sustain operations. Backup uninterruptible power supply (UPS) battery systems play a vital role in keeping essential services running. Continuous monitoring and proactive battery management are necessary to prevent failures and maintain seamless operations.
Challenge
Uninterrupted airport operations depend on a reliable power infrastructure. High-tension substations distribute electricity, and any disruption requires an immediate emergency power response from the airport. Without a smooth transition, critical systems like air traffic control, security, and passenger processing could be compromised, causing safety risks and delays.
The backup UPS system depends on lead-acid batteries to support essential services during outages. These batteries power missioncritical systems, including air traffic control, runway lighting, baggage handling, and terminal operations. Failure of even a single battery could compromise the integrity of the backup system, potentially leading to operational disruptions that affect passenger safety, delay flights, and disrupt airport logistics.
Given the scale of the airport’s operations and the variety of battery types it uses, maintaining the health and performance of each battery is a complex and ongoing challenge. Battery degradation is inevitable, and environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity can accelerate this process. Without real-time monitoring, failing batteries may go unnoticed until it is too late, leaving the airport vulnerable to power failures.
Implementation
Franklin Electric Grid Solutions provided an advanced battery monitoring system to address these challenges. The system tracks the state of health and capacity of thousands of lead-acid batteries strategically distributed across all airport terminals.
By continuously monitoring key performance metrics such as voltage, temperature, and internal resistance, the system delivers real-time insights into each battery’s condition. This enables proactive maintenance, identifying potential issues before they escalate into critical failures. The system also generates detailed reports and alerts, allowing maintenance teams to replace or service batteries in a timely manner, ensuring that the backup power system remains fully operational.
WITH THE BATTERY MONITORING SYSTEM THE AIRPORT ACHIEVED:
State of Health Monitoring:
The system delivers real-time assessments of battery and overall system health, allowing operators to detect potential issues early and optimize battery usage. This proactive approach enhances reliability and minimizes unnecessary maintenance efforts.
Seamless Integration:
The system is integrated across all airport terminals, ensuring a cohesive approach to power management and backup infrastructure.
Proactive Maintenance:
Continuous real-time monitoring allows maintenance teams to address battery issues before they lead to power disruptions.
Operational Resilience:
With enhanced monitoring, the airport can confidently rely on its emergency power systems to function when needed.
Conclusion
The implementation of Franklin Electric Grid Solutions’ battery monitoring system has strengthened the airport’s power infrastructure, ensuring uninterrupted operations even in the event of power disruptions. By providing real-time insights into the performance and health of over 4,500 backup batteries, the system enables proactive maintenance and long-term reliability.
By reducing unexpected failures and optimizing maintenance schedules, the system helps lower operational costs while improving efficiency. Fewer emergency repairs and unplanned outages mean minimized disruptions to airport operations. As aviation demands continue to evolve, maintaining a resilient power backup infrastructure is crucial for ensuring reliability, passenger safety, and long-term cost savings.
