UPS based on lithium-ion batteries: understanding the pros and cons of Schneider Electric's product example
With global technological progress, things remain that have not changed for decades. This, for example, lead-acid batteries for uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), which have been used in the manufacture of these devices for decades, and the technology itself was invented back in 1859. But progress still does not stand still, and more advanced technologies take their toll. So, the Schneider Electric company, which produces uninterruptible power supplies under the APC brand, has been offering a number of UPS models with lithium-ion batteries since 2015. We will tell you how such UPSs differ from traditional ones, and what is their advantage.
Are the differences significant?
Lithium-ion batteries are now used almost universally - in portable electronics, electric vehicles and other devices. They have several advantages over acid-lead ones, which are very important for UPS installed in server rooms, data centers, industrial processes or critical infrastructure. Among them:
Significantly lower weight and dimensions . With the same physical volume, lithium-ion batteries have a higher level of energy density. They can store more than three times more energy per kilogram of weight than lead batteries. Therefore, you can significantly save space in the server or data center, which is especially important for small and medium enterprises.
No noticeable memory effect. The battery does not require full discharge before the charge cycle, which is especially important for the UPS, since when the equipment is powered without supplying energy from the network, they are not always completely discharged. Of course, lithium-ion batteries also have a minimal memory effect. However, it is so small that, according to scientists, we are talking exclusively about the fundamental presence of the effect, and not about its any significant effect on the battery.
Wide range of operating temperatures. Lead batteries lose about half their power when the temperature rises every 10 degrees at temperatures above +25 degrees Celsius. This means that in the room where they are used, more powerful cooling is needed. At the same time, lithium-ion batteries are much less sensitive to temperature fluctuations, such changes practically do not affect the battery life. They can be used at temperatures up to +50 degrees Celsius without noticeable changes in performance. The only where lead batteries still benefit are temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius.
High current levels when charging and discharging. Lithium-ion batteries can quickly receive and give large amounts of energy. This makes them a more productive solution for powering energy-intensive equipment.
A large number of charge / discharge cycles . The average values for lead batteries are 700 cycles, while for lithium-ion ones - 5000. For UPSs, this indicator is not very important, since they only work occasionally.
Long period of operation . But this indicator is just very important for the batteries used in the UPS. For a lead battery, the service life (without exceeding the permissible amount of charge / discharge) is 3 years, while lithium-ion batteries last more than 10 years.
Very low self-discharge. On average, this figure does not exceed 2% of the initial charge per month.
Advanced condition monitoring . Li-ion batteries are equipped with an advanced condition monitoring system. For example, it enables your smartphone to not only show how much percent of the charge is left, but also to show which application consumes how much and how much is the remaining charge of energy until it is fully discharged, as well as the “health state” of the battery. In lead batteries, this is almost impossible to implement. And for the UPS, this function is critically important, as it allows you to know about the status of each device and, in case of malfunction, quickly replace it.
Against this background, the only significant drawback of lithium-ion batteries is their price. It is really much higher than the cost of lead, so UPS based on such batteries is more expensive. However, over time, the difference is leveled - spending on new batteries and maintaining the availability of existing ones will be much less and less likely, which in the long run makes the purchase of UPS with lithium-ion batteries even more financially beneficial - you will spend a lot of money once, but you will forget it for a long time about such an item of expenditure. Depending on where lithium-ion batteries are used, savings of between 10 and 40% can be achieved over their life compared to traditional UPSs. You can calculate the long-term benefits of a UPS with lithium-ion batteries using a special calculator.
APC Solution The
Schneider Electric Arsenal has three series of uninterruptible power supplies under the APC brand, which can use lithium-ion batteries. The configuration of these models allows you to immediately purchase solutions on lithium-ion batteries, and to replace the lead battery with a lithium-ion after the end of its service.
Galaxy 7000
Energy-efficient solutions featuring three-phase UPS protection with high adaptability to meet the needs of medium and large data centers, buildings and critical infrastructure. In the lineup are available six devices of different capacities .
Galaxy VM
One of the simplest in its class to install and maintain devices with effective overload protection. The model range is intended for use in medium-sized data centers, as well as in industrial facilities. Galaxy VM Series devices have upper and lower cable inputs, eliminating the need for an additional side cabinet. They also provide full access to the front panel and have a modular design, which allows you to use several installation options. In the lineup there are five devices .
Symmetra MW
This model range is intended for large data centers and critical infrastructure facilities. The Symmetra MW Series features three-phase protection and an internal parallel connection configuration that provides a high level of fault tolerance. In total, six devices are available in the lineup .
Instead of an afterword
The use of lithium-ion batteries in uninterruptible power supplies has not yet become mainstream. Lead-acid batteries dominate the market, primarily due to their low cost. However, there is already a tendency to narrow the price gap, so we can safely assume that the proportion of lithium-ion batteries will gradually increase, as they have a number of significant advantages. Among them are a long service life, high energy efficiency, a wide range of operating temperatures and other advantages.
Are the differences significant?
Lithium-ion batteries are now used almost universally - in portable electronics, electric vehicles and other devices. They have several advantages over acid-lead ones, which are very important for UPS installed in server rooms, data centers, industrial processes or critical infrastructure. Among them:
Significantly lower weight and dimensions . With the same physical volume, lithium-ion batteries have a higher level of energy density. They can store more than three times more energy per kilogram of weight than lead batteries. Therefore, you can significantly save space in the server or data center, which is especially important for small and medium enterprises.
No noticeable memory effect. The battery does not require full discharge before the charge cycle, which is especially important for the UPS, since when the equipment is powered without supplying energy from the network, they are not always completely discharged. Of course, lithium-ion batteries also have a minimal memory effect. However, it is so small that, according to scientists, we are talking exclusively about the fundamental presence of the effect, and not about its any significant effect on the battery.
Wide range of operating temperatures. Lead batteries lose about half their power when the temperature rises every 10 degrees at temperatures above +25 degrees Celsius. This means that in the room where they are used, more powerful cooling is needed. At the same time, lithium-ion batteries are much less sensitive to temperature fluctuations, such changes practically do not affect the battery life. They can be used at temperatures up to +50 degrees Celsius without noticeable changes in performance. The only where lead batteries still benefit are temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius.
High current levels when charging and discharging. Lithium-ion batteries can quickly receive and give large amounts of energy. This makes them a more productive solution for powering energy-intensive equipment.
A large number of charge / discharge cycles . The average values for lead batteries are 700 cycles, while for lithium-ion ones - 5000. For UPSs, this indicator is not very important, since they only work occasionally.
Long period of operation . But this indicator is just very important for the batteries used in the UPS. For a lead battery, the service life (without exceeding the permissible amount of charge / discharge) is 3 years, while lithium-ion batteries last more than 10 years.
Very low self-discharge. On average, this figure does not exceed 2% of the initial charge per month.
Advanced condition monitoring . Li-ion batteries are equipped with an advanced condition monitoring system. For example, it enables your smartphone to not only show how much percent of the charge is left, but also to show which application consumes how much and how much is the remaining charge of energy until it is fully discharged, as well as the “health state” of the battery. In lead batteries, this is almost impossible to implement. And for the UPS, this function is critically important, as it allows you to know about the status of each device and, in case of malfunction, quickly replace it.
Against this background, the only significant drawback of lithium-ion batteries is their price. It is really much higher than the cost of lead, so UPS based on such batteries is more expensive. However, over time, the difference is leveled - spending on new batteries and maintaining the availability of existing ones will be much less and less likely, which in the long run makes the purchase of UPS with lithium-ion batteries even more financially beneficial - you will spend a lot of money once, but you will forget it for a long time about such an item of expenditure. Depending on where lithium-ion batteries are used, savings of between 10 and 40% can be achieved over their life compared to traditional UPSs. You can calculate the long-term benefits of a UPS with lithium-ion batteries using a special calculator.
APC Solution The
Schneider Electric Arsenal has three series of uninterruptible power supplies under the APC brand, which can use lithium-ion batteries. The configuration of these models allows you to immediately purchase solutions on lithium-ion batteries, and to replace the lead battery with a lithium-ion after the end of its service.
Galaxy 7000
Energy-efficient solutions featuring three-phase UPS protection with high adaptability to meet the needs of medium and large data centers, buildings and critical infrastructure. In the lineup are available six devices of different capacities .
Galaxy VM
One of the simplest in its class to install and maintain devices with effective overload protection. The model range is intended for use in medium-sized data centers, as well as in industrial facilities. Galaxy VM Series devices have upper and lower cable inputs, eliminating the need for an additional side cabinet. They also provide full access to the front panel and have a modular design, which allows you to use several installation options. In the lineup there are five devices .
Symmetra MW
This model range is intended for large data centers and critical infrastructure facilities. The Symmetra MW Series features three-phase protection and an internal parallel connection configuration that provides a high level of fault tolerance. In total, six devices are available in the lineup .
Instead of an afterword
The use of lithium-ion batteries in uninterruptible power supplies has not yet become mainstream. Lead-acid batteries dominate the market, primarily due to their low cost. However, there is already a tendency to narrow the price gap, so we can safely assume that the proportion of lithium-ion batteries will gradually increase, as they have a number of significant advantages. Among them are a long service life, high energy efficiency, a wide range of operating temperatures and other advantages.
