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PowerOasis Controller (D)
The diesel generator-battery hybrid power controller.
Cut diesel consumption by at least 50% and provide further significant OPEX reductions through improved generator and battery management resulting in reduced truck rolls.
Globally there are over 400,000 base stations with at least one, and often two, diesel generators providing power and this figure is expected to increase by 50% over the next four years. Although renewable power installations will accelerate during the same period, both to supplement diesel power and to provide autonomous renewable power solutions, diesel consumption and generator management will continue to present significant operational expenditure (OPEX) challenges to mobile network operators.
Most diesel generators installed on basestation sites are typically running at inefficient 20% to 30% loads, which results in generator damage and increased servicing costs. By intelligently integrating the generator with a battery bank, PowerOasis Controller (D) is able to run the generator for shorter periods at recommended loads in order to charge the battery, which in turn powers the telecoms loads. The benefit is reduced wear and tear, increased generator lifetime  and less frequent service intervals. Furthermore, diesel consumption can be reduced by as much as 50%, leading to further OPEX savings.
PowerOasis Controller (D) provides pro-active diesel generator control, which differs from conventional reactive generator management products by including predictive algorithms to determine when to activate or de-active the generator. Consequently, the generator run-time is minimised and autonomy is maximised. Rather than triggering generator run-time solely on the battery state of charge, it combines multiple triggers from sensors and intelligence gathered from many site elements and from its site-specific parameterisation.
Designed specifically to provide high availability power for base stations, PowerOasis Controller (D) includes full status and alarm monitoring through tight integration with PowerOasis Manager remote management system, which also provides parameter monitoring, reporting and re-configuration of system operating parameters.
The PowerOasis Controller (D) environment
Generator Management
PowerOasis Controller (D) intelligently integrates diesel generators with a battery bank to optimise generator run times and provide power to the telecoms equipment. Multiple factors are considered when determining when to run the generator including:
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Battery state of charge |
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Quiet periods |
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Maintenance run requirements |
13 different generator starter types are supported as standard with additional types available on request.
Fuel Management
Diesel is a significant operating expense requiring efficient management. PowerOasis Controller (D) includes a number of fuel management features including:
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Fuel level metering and consumption measurement to aid in determining the correct number of refuelling truck rolls |
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Fuel density measurement to detect deliberate or accidental fuel contamination such as dilution following theft |
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Fuel level jump alarm, which indicates a leak or theft from the on-site fuel tank |
External Interfaces
PowerOasis Controller (D) includes a range of interfaces to provide flexible, expandable interconnectivity, including:
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8 off opto-isolated discrete inputs |
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8 off relay SPDT outputs rated at 30V DC/4A |
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8 off opto-isolated 12-bit analogue inputs |
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RS485/MODBUS for sensor interfaces |
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RJ-45 10/100 Base-T Ethernet for backhaul, external modem or engineering terminal connection |
The use of the MODBUS standard provides interfacing capability to a wide range of industrial sensors.
Battery Management
Deep cycle batteries are utilised to store energy between generator runs and to provide power to the telecoms loads. Battery lifetime is dramatically influenced by state of charge management, which must adhere to the manufacturer’s recommended charging profile if battery lifetime is to be maximised.
In addition to conforming to state of charge requirements, PowerOasis Controller (D) integrates with rectifiers to protect batteries from repeated high depth of discharge and over charging via configurable low and high voltage disconnects.
Remote Monitoring
PowerOasis Controller (D) is fully supported by PowerOasis Manager remote monitoring system to provide remote management via SMS/GPRS modems or over the backhaul. The various monitored parameters include:
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Generator alarms |
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Generator fuel level |
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Battery conditions |
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Power consumption |
Authorised users can also modify the system configuration such as alarm thresholds, and generator runtime variables.
Optional Features
PowerOasis Controller (D) supports a number of optional features that are enabled by providing the appropriate sensors, including:
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Weather monitoring and recording, which can be used for renewable equipment dimensioning and build the business case for upgrading to solar and/or wind power |
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Smart meters to accurately record grid power consumption for sites connected to unreliable grids |
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Rectifier control to leverage a rectifier’s battery management features |
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Download the
PowerOasis Controller (D)
datasheet 
PowerOasis Controller (D)
Features at a glance...
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Intelligent generator management to optimise engine load, runtime and service life
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Sophisticated battery management to maximise power storage and extend lifetime
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Fuel level metering to measure diesel consumption and detect theft or contamination
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Upgrade path to solar and wind renewable power
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Optional weather sensors and weather data logging
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Optional smart meter interface for a/c power consumption measurement
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Optional rectifier control for battery charging, set point control and state of charge monitoring
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PowerOasis Manager remote monitoring via SMS, GPRS or Backhaul
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