A number of applications require a relatively small amount of power over a long period of time, or from a small, light package where no grid connection is available. For loads of up to 1kWe and for less than a few hours, batteries are often used for these applications.
Libertine FPE offers a simple, reliable and scaleable alternative that can be embodied as engine generators up to 100kWe. In its smallest form, a 1kWe generator engine fits into a space the size of a shoebox. There are numerous applications for a family of Libertine FPE generators spanning this size range. For example;
Man-portable power
Portable power generating equipment is typically large, heavy and noisy. There are at present no viable solutions for continuous sub 2kWe man-portable power other than various battery technologies offering limited life. A 2kWe Libertine FPE generator could fit into a backpack, weigh less than 15Kg and run at full load for four hours a day for a week on just 10Kg of diesel fuel. In addition, this would be considerably quieter than conventional generator technology due to the over-expanded exhaust stroke.
Leisure and commercial auxiliary power
On leisure boats, caravans and mobile homes, and in large commercial vehicles, auxiliary power is required when the main power source (usually the motive engine) is not active. At present, this is either supplied from a grid-connected power socket or from on-board batteries. Both of these represent a significant constraint for the user: Grid power is often unavailable, whilst battery power is limited and may require inefficient engine idling to keep the battery topped up. Libertine FPE offers a compact, reliable, quiet and fast-starting generator solution in these applications, and can use the same fuel as the primary motive engine.
Off-grid cellular base-stations
A large and growing number of cellular base-stations are off-grid around the world today. These base-stations are typically powered by diesel generators which must be regularly refuelled and are vulnerable to theft. Mobile telecommunications providers are looking to increase base-station efficiency and draw on local renewable power sources to reduce the requirement for diesel generators. Libertine FPE offers a more reliable, high efficiency alternative to conventional diesel generator technology at these sites. This may either be as a standalone generator solution or as a fast-response back-up power unit to compensate for renewable power intermittency.
Libertine FPE benefits in this application
- Light, self contained package
- Robustness and reliability
- Low noise and vibration
