BATTERY MAINTENANCE
WITH SUMMER SIGNALLING POTENTIAL PERIL FOR BATTERY BACKUP SYSTEMS VULNERABLE TO OVERHEATING, LEO CRAIG OF RIELLO UPS IRELAND SHARES TOP TIPS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF PREMATURE FAILURE… Avoiding a UPS battery burnout
Leo Craig, MD, Riello UPS Ireland.
Leaving at least a 10mm gap between each block ensures adequate ventilation.
“By far the most common cause of UPS battery failure is high ambient temperatures.”
Batteries are crucial to any uninterruptible power supply. Indeed, without a well-maintained battery set that kicks in when there’s a power outage, your UPS is practically worthless. But did you know that as many as 80% of UPS failures are traced to issues with the batteries? Most UPS systems still use sealed or valve-regulated lead acid batteries (SLA/VRLA), which typically come with a 5- or 10-year design life.
Most SLA/VRLA batteries have a rated capacity based on operating temperatures of 20-25°C. For every 10°C increase above this, their service life halves. So, at the height of summer when ambient temperatures could hit 40-50°C, just think of the potential damage. Now if you’re a data centre, there’s every chance you’ve got air conditioning systems keeping temperatures cool or you’ve got a separate climate-controlled battery room. But if your site doesn’t have such luxuries, what can you do to avoid a meltdown? Install your UPS and batteries in a well-ventilated area free of dust or moisture. Avoid placing them in direct sunlight or close to any open windows too. Remember also to leave at least a 10mm gap between each block to ensure adequate ventilation. This ensures there’s enough room for heat to dissipate and allows the battery casing itself to slightly expand as it gets warmer, reducing your risk of experiencing thermal runaway. PREVENTING PREMATURE BATTERY FAILURE A rigorous regime of maintenance, monitoring and testing is also important. Batteries should be manually checked at least once a year, usually at the same
time as the annual PMV on your UPS. This involves inspecting the terminals for corrosion, looking for any sign of leaks, cracks or swelling, removing debris and tightening inter-cell connections. Mission critical sites such as data centres often opt for more in-depth testing, for example non-intrusive impedance testing that makes it easier to spot cell deterioration over time, or even discharge testing using a load bank. This examines your batteries under normal and peak loads, although it does require your batteries to be out of service for a limited time period. Following these positive steps will help lengthen the lifespan of your UPS batteries and make sure you aren’t left drained during the hot summer months. Download Riello UPS Ireland’s Lifespan of UPS Batteries whitepaper for free from https://riello.ie/lifespan-batteries- whitepaper
FACTORS IMPACTING BATTERY LIFESPAN
There are several issues that influence your UPS batteries’ lifespan. Firstly, there’s the frequency and depth of discharge. Every time your batteries discharge, it slightly reduces capacity, although partial discharges have less impact than fully draining them. Then there’s operating voltages – overcharging dries your batteries out, while undercharging leads to sulphate crystals forming on the plates, which harden over time and reduce capacity. However, by far the most common cause of UPS battery failure is high ambient temperatures. As temperature increases, so too does the rate of chemical reaction, which leads to water loss and corrosion.
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