UPS/STANDBY POWER
Getting the best from your batteries Chris Cutler from Riello UPS takes a deep dive into UPS batteries and outlines the steps data centre operators should take to reduce the risk of premature failure.
ata centre operators across the country depend on uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) to provide the ultimate insurance that if there’s any issue with the mains electricity, their vital servers and other critical equipment will keep on running. But without a well-maintained, quality battery system that provides the all-important emergency power when needed, the UPS itself is practically useless. As many as 80% of UPS failures can be linked to issues with the batteries, while batteries also constitute a large proportion of the total cost of a UPS, representing a considerable investment for operators.
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18 www.datacentrereview.com Q1 2022
That’s why good upkeep is critical, as letting the battery system fall into a poor state heightens the risk to both your critical load and business continuity. The basics of UPS batteries While a growing number of data centres are exploring alternative solutions such as lithium-ion, the majority of UPS systems today use sealed or valve-regulated lead-acid batteries, often shortened to SLA or VRLA. These cells are big and heavy, due to their low energy-to-weight and energy-to-volume ratios. But they do deliver high surge currents, making them perfect for providing instant backup during a temporary mains failure or to power up a generator. Most of the VRLA batteries used in data centres will have a 10-year design life, which suggests that the battery will last for 10 years. But there’s one important caveat. That assumption is based on ‘perfect’ operating conditions. Of course, there’s no such thing as a perfect operating environment. There are simply too many factors that can influence a battery’s lifespan, and over time, performance will inevitably reduce. Guidelines issued by EUROBAT, the Association of European Automotive and Industrial Battery Manufacturers, state that a battery reaches its