Critical DC Power Redundancy at an FAA Air ... - Fuel Cell Markets

Critical DC Power Redundancy at an FAA Air Traffic Facility
MEETING DEMAND: While avoiding the drawbacks of traditional
power technologies, the GenCore installation provides clean,
reliable, cost-effective backup power for FAA’s Remote
Communications Air/Ground (RCAG) facility equipment, which
controls critical radio transmissions between aircraft and air traffic
controllers.
CUSTOMER: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
The FAA’s need for reliable backup power cannot be overstated. During a primary power
outage, backup power enables the agency to safely route, launch, and land aircraft
while avoiding diversions or groundings. In addition, airlines lose up to $3 million for
every 15 minutes of outages at a communication facility.
The key is to find reliable backup power that avoids the drawbacks of traditional
technologies, including frequent and costly maintenance schedules, harmful emissions
and noise.
With this in mind, Plug Power supported its distribution partner LOGANEnergy, who
installed a 5kW fuel cell system for an FAA communications facility—the first in the
United States to back up RCAG equipment for communication between aircraft and
tower. Commissioned in June 2006, the GenCore 5T 48-volt DC system now operates
at the Kaolin Field Airport in Sandersville, Georgia.
The GenCore ® system is connected to the RCAG equipment in parallel with the
existing backup power battery system. Both the batteries and the GenCore ® support
the loads via a UPS system. In the event of an outage, the GenCore ® provides the
needed power to the communications equipment, as well as maintain the existing
batteries at a fully charged state. This will allow the FAA to achieve another level of
redundancy, as the batteries will be able to provide another layer of protection if
CUSTOMER:
Federal Aviation Administration
NEEDS:
• Reliable source of instant
backup power
• Clean technology
• Reduced maintenance costs
• Less frequent battery
replacements
BENEFITS:
• Increased safety for the flying
public
• Increased runtime for backup
and monitoring systems
at airports
• Lower operations and
maintenance expenditures
• Reduction of emissions from
generators
• Less frequent need for
hazardous battery disposal and
lower disposal costs
PRODUCTS:
• One Plug Power GenCore 5T48

needed.
GenCore ® systems provide solutions in two areas. As a direct source of backup power, they
are marketed with a hydrogen storage module that houses six cylinders of hydrogen—enough
to provide 55 kilowatt-hours of backup power. As a complement to battery technology,
GenCore keeps batteries at full charge during outages while greatly reducing the need for
battery maintenance and replacement over time
The fuel cell system also fulfills stringent FAA requirements for clean energy sources. Unlike traditional
technologies, which can be unpredictable in the outside plant and disruptive to the environment, GenCore ®
systems perform in a wide range of temperature and operating environments—with zero emissions and little
noise.
The FAA secured its GenCore ® system with assistance from partners LOGANEnergy and Construction Engineering
Research Laboratory (CERL), part of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.
PARTNERS:
Federal Aviation Administration
As a sector of the U.S. Department of Transportation, the FAA is responsible for the safety of civil aviation. It
encourages and develops new aviation technology and systems of air traffic control and navigation for both civil
and military aircrafts. Safe and efficient use of navigable airspace is a primary objective. The FAA strives to
develop and carry out programs to control aircraft noise and other environmental effects of civil aviation.
LOGANEnergy Corp.
LOGANEnergy Corp. is the only company in the world dedicated exclusively to providing fuel cell services to
energy consumers in the U.S. and overseas. It specializes in designing, installing, and maintaining clean, quiet,
and reliable fuel cell projects with a primary focus on customer design requirements.
Plug Power Inc.
Plug Power, a global leader in clean, reliable, onsite energy, develops and manufactures stationary PEM (proton
exchange membrane) fuel cells that supply power to the wireless, telecom, and utility industries. Its leading
product, GenCore ®—designed for critical backup power in the outside plant—now serves such telecom clients
as Orange and Verizon. With offices in upstate New York and the Netherlands, Plug Power sells fuel cell
systems worldwide through its global distribution network. The company employs over 310 and trades on the
NASDAQ (symbol PLUG).
WASHINGTON, D.C.
499 South Capitol Street, SW
Suite 606
Washington, D.C. 20003
Phone: (202) 484.5300
Fax: (202) 554.2896
HEADQUARTERS
968 Albany Shaker Road
Latham, New York 12110
Phone: (518) 782.7700
Fax: (518) 782.9060
www.plugpower.com
EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
P.O. Box 880
7301 BC Apeldoorn
The Netherlands
Phone: 31 55 53 81 000
Fax: 31 55 53 81 099
10/06 3 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER.