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Novel use for a load bank !

broadgage

A load bank is generaly used for load testing generators and other equipment.

Earlier today I saw one being used to inflate a hot air balloon on the ground. Once aloft it was heated by a propane burner as normal. It was very effective.

I have used a load bank as an emergency heater for a very large sports hall, that worked fine, never seen one used to inflate a balloon before though.

  • ah electric ballooning - maybe a greener method once we get off burning methane in power stations !!

  • The only problem is the efficiency is  about 40% in place of 100%!

  • They are a pretty effective way to clear snow and ice from a car park in mid winter too. 

    regards, burn 

  • That's different, out of curiosity any idea what kind of size the loadbank was? 

    I've been asked to loan ours out a few times for odd purposes but its only 100kVA.

  • The load bank used to inflate the hot air balloon was 240 kw, but switched in steps and only run at 120 kw . When a balloon is completely deflated the propane burner cant be used. A portable blower powered  by a petrol engine is usual. A load bank is far more effective than a blower because the air is hot.

    The load bank used for heating a large sports hall was IIRC 500 kw, it worked excellently. Placed outside and directing heated fresh air inside via a doorway. All cold, damp, or stale air was thereby expelled. Once the building was ventilated and pre warmed, about 90 kw of portable fan heaters were used.

  • in reply to AdrianWint

    2 x 600kW (pre-handover testing of a data centre's 600kVA generators). 

    burn

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