Select Flybrid packs a Punch
16 September 2021
It’s particularly noteworthy when an eco-friendly alternative can be superior to traditional approaches in areas like performance, efficiency or cost, as well as enhancing green credentials.
Select Plant Hire believes that a new partnership it has formed with technology specialist Punch Flybrid could transform the way generators are utilised on construction sites across the country.
The Punch Flybrid energy storage flywheel delivered a 50% fuel saving and prevented 3,400kg of CO2 being released into the atmosphere over four weeks during the operation of one crane, according to Select.
Generators on construction projects are typically sized for peak loads. However, most of the time they run at low load factors, which results in poor fuel economy and high emissions.
By connecting the Punch Flybrid technology to the generator, the flywheel load-levels the peak power that the set has to deal with. The system, which is housed in a compact unit, delivers energy immediately at high power during an increasing load step and captures excess energy as loading decreases.
To demonstrate this technology, Select Plant Hire connected the Flybrid to a crane at one of its London projects for a month. Over the course of the 213 hours, it saved more than 1,300 litres of fuel and prevented 3,478.5kg worth of CO2 pollution.
Alex Warrington, Select’s Managing Director, said: “At one of our London sites we reduced the generator size on our CTL1600 (66t luffer crane) from 800kVA to 500kVA, with the opportunity for further reduction. It instantly generates substantial CO2 savings and saves significant costs of rental – it makes sense on every level.”
The system uses technology similar to energy capture and storage systems used on racing cars.
Tobias Knichel, Managing Director of Punch Flybrid, said: “It takes courage to be first. Select Plant Hire was the first company to approach Punch Flybrid for a technical collaboration to integrate flywheel energy storage directly onto tower cranes.
“Working together with the Select team for the last few months demonstrated that Select not only understand the technical aspects of tower cranes very well, but they have also shown an outstanding level of support and forward thinking to their impressive customer base. This has convinced us that partnering with Select is the right next step for Punch Flybrid.”
The blog earlier reported how the contractor Kier also trialled the Flybrid in association with Sunbelt Rentals at a project in Knowsley.
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