Why Lithium-Ion Batteries are a Better Option for UPS Systems
The reason why lithium ion technology is the best suited for modern online UPS systems is its high performance characteristics. Although it is well known that VRLA batteries offer, on an average, 200-500 cycles of charge and discharge, lithium ion batteries, with an impressive 3,000 to 5,000 cycles, offer much greater life expectancy.
Quick recharge cycles are another important benefit of Lithium-ion battery technology. Advanced Lithium-ion batteries achieve a recharge of 90% in 2-4 hours. In contrast, recharge cycles of 90% of Lead Acid batteries might consume more than 12 hours. This means your mission-critical operations stay safeguarded even when multiple instances of a power outage happen in a short span of time.
Furthermore, lithium-ion batteries also have excellent performance characteristics when exposed to varying temperature ranges. The batteries can operate within temperatures up to 104°F without any performance issues. However, for VRLA batteries, their lifespan reduces by half with an increase in temperature by 15°F above 77°F. Therefore, the use of lithium-ion batteries in the UPS system is highly recommended for use in extreme environments where cooling might be limited.
However, one such benefit that has been overlooked is that the battery comes with the integrated Battery Management System (BMS). The battery management system has advanced features that include the monitoring of cell parameters such as temperatures, voltage, current, and charging status. The battery management system ensures that the battery has proper health monitoring, which safeguards the battery from current variances, temperatures, or charging-related problems.
Financially speaking, the long-term savings of lithium-ion batteries far outweigh the initial investment costs. More than 65% of the total cost of ownership is saved by the elimination of maintenance, the need for battery replacement, and operational expenditures. To this end, the fact that the life span of the lithium-ion batteries is between 8-15 years is well within the life span of the UPS.
Where space constraints are involved, the packaged UPS battery technology offered by lithium-ion batteries translates to a space-saving advantage of 40-60% over VRLA batteries. This offers increased floor space for use in revenue-generating equipment or additional power in the same space, making it ideal for both UPS manufacturers and dealers.
Step by Step Instructions to Replace the Battery of Your UPS Device with a Lithium
When you decide to replace the batteries in your traditional UPS with a lithium-ion UPS battery replacement solution, you need to plan carefully and take into consideration a number of factors. Before you embark on the replacement process, you should first check if your UPS system is compatible with the use of a lithium-ion battery.
First, check if your UPS has the capability of hot swapping, allowing the replacement of batteries while the system is in use. If the replacement requires the system to be shut down, so be it. Do not forget the safety gear when changing batteries.
When looking for a lithium-ion battery replacement, the
Confirm compatibility of operation voltages with your UPS, which may require 12V, 24V, or 48
The charge current must correspond with the specifications of the battery
Verify that the LBC thresholds are compatible with the voltage constraints associated with lithium-ion batteries
Verify that UPS supports an appropriate charge profile for lithium-ion batteries
The physical installation is simple but detail-intensive. Compared to VRLA batteries of a similar type, lithium-ion batteries are 40% lighter and smaller in size by 50%. At first, it is imperative to confirm that all the connections are aligned properly, particularly in a setup involving a series connection of multiple batteries.
For effective safety and performance, the lithium-ion battery to be used must be certified by the UPS manufacturer. The use of batteries from other manufacturers who are not involved in the certification process may pose a danger to the facility. Secondly, the use of proper earthing points is necessary to avoid electrical shocks, fire, and machine breakdown.
After completing the installation, it is necessary to check all connections, wiring, ground points, circuit breakers, and voltage ratings thoroughly. Terminal isolation helps prevent short circuits. Avoid any improper disposal procedures. You should dispose of used UPS batteries at electronic stores, local dumps, or other battery recycling centers. There are some battery suppliers and organizations that deal in selling or purchasing UPS batteries to be recycled.