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Application of Ultracapacitor based Energy Storage as Smart Grid Initiative for Recuperation and Reuse of Energy in Elevators for High Rise Buildings in Smart Cities

Subcategory (under Clean Energy): Cross Cutting
Technology Readiness Level (TRL): TRL 7 - Pre-commercial demonstration
Technology Outline (Process Description)

The UPLIFT – ULTRACAPACITOR POWERED LIFT developed in this project is a compact, environmentally friendly and maintenance free system that demonstrated an energy efficient (~25% savings), safe and reliable elevator system with a significantly enhanced user experience, by way of energy recuperation and reuse using ultracapacitor based energy storage systems in elevators. UPLIFT saves the energy otherwise dissipated in resistor banks while also providing for emergency rescue operations in the event of power failure in a seamless manner thus reducing the anxieties of the occupants of the elevator car in the event of a power outage. With DC link interfacing, the system integration is significantly simplified with improvement in power quality benchmarks compared to current technology options.

Salient Features/Advantages

  • ENERGY SAVING – Net turnaround efficiency of 28.5% demonstrated.
  • SAFETY – Elevator observed to continue seamlessly to next floor in the same direction in case of power failure
  • POWER QUALITY – Reduced net energy draw / maximum demand from utility. No adverse harmonics injected in the system
  • ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY – Requirement of DG could be avoided for low rise buildings
  • MAINTENANCE FREE – Batteries have 2-3 years max. Life whereas UPLIFT uses ultracapacitors having 10+ years life typically
  • COMPACT SOLUTION- Fitted in the elevator room with minimum footprint
  • ENHANCED USER EXPERIENCE – Elevator observed to continue seamlessly to next floor in the same direction in case of power failure

Key Outcomes

  • UPLIFT has been developed to the level of a product of TRL Level 7
  • UPLIFT has been subjected to testing by professionals of a partner to the project, M/s Johnson Lifts, Chennai in a lift installation and observed to meet laid out project objectives

IP Protection details

  • Patent filed (Title, national/International): Nil
  • Patents Granted: Nil
  • Copyrights obtained /progress on commercialisation /Pl. specify connect with industry: Commercialization under exploration with Elevator Manufacturers; Scaled up technology being developed for Port Applications on Cranes – Selected for funding by UNIDO under FLCTD Program

Contact details (for more information)

  • Nodal Person name: Amit Raje
  • Email ID: amitraje@aartechsolonics.com
  • Organisation name (Relevant link/web page): Aartech Solonics Limited 
Supporting Photographs/Images

Organizations involved in the development (logo/name)

Aartech Solonics Limited

Johnson Lifts & Escalators

IIT Bombay

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