Taking the desert heat for Doha’s smart metro
Over 150,000 Saft backup batteries are being installed in the metro stations and onboard trains to maintain power for critical loads in case of interruption to the main supply.
Qatar is undertaking a transport revolution as it prepares to become the tourist destination of the future. A new “Qatar National Vision 2030” outlines Qatar’s master plan to improve its quality of life, including the creation of Doha’s new automated, driverless metro, currently one of the world’s largest projects for a single metro system.
When it came to specify the backup power batteries for the Doha Metro the crucial factor was the high operating temperature in the hot desert climate.The average summer temperature of 38°C, with peaks that sometimes exceed 45°C, can severely limit the performance and operational life of traditional lead-acid batteries. In contrast, Saft’s batteries are based on nickel technology that ensures total reliability and long life over a wide range of temperatures.
For the metro substations, Saft is supplying over 140,000 maintenance free Uptimax battery cells to Borri, the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) manufacturer. They will support critical sub-systems, including the UPS serving the Station Power Substation systems and cover signal signaling, automated fare collection, telecomand SCADA, platform screen doors and tunnel ventilation. If the main power supply should fail, the batteries will also provide up to eight hours of backup power for the CCTV, emergency lighting and firefighting equipment.
Saft is also supplying complete ‘plug and play’ onboard battery systems to Kinki Sharyo, the rolling stock manufacturer for 75 sets of three-car driverless metro trains. The MRX batteries will provide backup power for up to 60 minutesto support emergency lighting, airconditioning, door operation and communication systems in the event of an interruption to the main power supply. Saft MRX batteries have been developed specifically for onboard rail applications where their exceptionally compact and lightweight design is ideally suited for projects like the Doha Metro where installation space is at a premium.
Pierre-marc.leroy@saftbatteries.com