Batteries are the main source of electrical energy. It is necessary to dedicate some time to understand its working principle. The battery is said to be the heart of any electrical system. The reason behind that is that for controlling electrical equipment an uninterrupted power supply is needed but such uninterrupted power is impossible with any dynamic electrical generating machinery. Hence, a battery is used as the electric power in a battery is continuously available in the form of a storage system.
Another advantage of batteries is that they are easily portable. Imagine a voltage cell implanted inside the heart of a human being to operate the valve continuously; this comparison can signify the importance of batteries.
Example of a Battery Pack Application in Ships
A smaller boat could be provided with two 12 or 24 volt circuits, each fed by a battery. The systems are completely separate. One is installed to provide the power for starting the main diesel engine, the other for all consumers such as lighting, navigation lighting and equipment, radio, VHF.
The batteries are charged by the dynamo of the diesel engine. For the US vessels, the shore power will be at 110 V AC supply. The charging current is led through a diode-bridge, allowing only charging current and no discharging flow. This is to prevent current flowing from one battery to the other.
The main reason is that the starting battery is not discharged by lights or other consumers. Shore power is often plugged into a separate 230 volt (110 V for the US) system for heating and lighting, which also feeds a battery charger, charging both batteries via the same diode-bridge. A timer prevents over-charging. The batteries can also be charged when underway, to an extent, by solar panels and /or, a wind-driven dynamo.
Batteries in Tugs
Tugs may use the battery pack as an emergency source of power that comes on to provide emergency lighting and essential supply after a blackout.
