Batteries in the Mecalux
Pallet Shuttle system
The incorporation of automatic or semiautomatic Pallet Shuttles in a warehouse is an
ideal solution to increase productivity and
profitability. It is highly recommended in installations with a large volume of pallets per
SKU and a constant flow of incoming and
outgoing goods.
Both systems meet different needs: in the
semi-automatic, an operator directs the
movements of the shuttle via a Wi-Fi connected tablet after placing it in the corresponding channel with a forklift. Meanwhile, the automatic system is controlled
by the warehouse management system
(WMS) and assists the automated handling
equipment (stacker cranes or transfer cars)
to locate the shuttle and the load in the assigned channel. In both cases, the forklifts
are not introduced into the storage aisles,
reducing incidences and maintenance
costs. The shuttle, driven by electric motors,
moves through the inside of the channels
with full autonomy to carry out the loading
and unloading of the pallets. The semi-automatic version includes lithium-ion batteries and the automatic one contains supercapacitors. Let's look at their differences:
Lithium-ion battery in the semi-automatic Pallet Shuttle
The semi-automatic Pallet Shuttle system
uses a lithium-ion battery as a power source.
Choosing a lithium-ion battery compared to
the supercapacitor system is mainly due to
the semi-automatic Pallet Shuttle's need for
prolonged autonomy. These batteries are
noted for their high specific energy, which
can last up to 10 hours at maximum performance (depending on the characteristics of
the warehouse).
This technology does not contain volatile
metals, which provides an additional degree
of safety and durability. It is composed of cells
Li-ion iron phosphate interconnected in series and in parallel to provide a nominal voltage of 25. 6 V and a storage capacity of 55 Ah.
This battery is custom designed for Mecalux
since both its protectors and battery management are adjusted to the operating parameters of the semi-automatic Pallet Shuttle. This factor enhances the cells utility in the
system.
Batteries are extracted
from the shuttles
and connected by simply
fitting them into the
charging stations
set up in the warehouse
