Study outlines benefits of Lithium-Ion batteries in UPS systems

Chances are, you’ve got a lithium-ion battery in your pocket. Or, on your wrist. Maybe both.

But you probably don’t have one in your data center or network closet just yet. At least not in your Uninterruptible Power Supply.

N1 Critical Technologies looks to change that.

We were the first company in North America to produce and bring to market a selection of single- and three-phase UPS systems that use internal, long-lasting lithium-ion battery packs, giving users a host of benefits unmatched by competitors that use antiquated lead-acid battery technology.

But don’t take our word for it. A white paper by Robert Lindsay of Data Center Frontier lists the many benefits of lithium-ion technology in UPS systems that we’ve been touting for some time now. In fact, they’re many of the same concepts we had in mind when we developed our systems: Reliable, Stable, Long-Lasting, Maintenance-Free, And MORE!

Here are some of Lindsay’s points that we find key in why everyone should be using Lithium-Ion battery technology in their UPS systems:

• In UPS applications, lithium-ion (LI) provides a 10-30% lower total cost of ownership (TCO) vs. lead acid systems over a 15-year lifespan of the device;
• LI batteries have longer predictable lifespan (15-years vs. 4-5 years for lead acid batteries) and a longer cycle life (3000+ charge/recharge cycles vs. a couple hundred — depending on conditions — for lead);
• LI batteries should last the entire 12-15-year lifespan of your UPS system, fully eliminating the high-cost need of replacing lead acid batteries every 3-4 years;
• LI batteries are more reliable than lead-acid batteries;
• LI batteries can be stored with little change to the total lifespan of the battery;
• LI offers reduced weight (about 1/3 less) and size, opening up valuable space in server and network room applications;
• LI operates in higher ambient temperatures (ours are tested up to 140ºF) without significant performance degradation;
• LI batteries recharge about 12X faster than lead-acid, making them ready to handle multiple outages faster;
• LI batteries have 1/3 the carbon footprint of lead-acid batteries and are not as environmentally invasive. As they’re lighter and smaller, they’re also easier to transport, using less fuel and container space;
• Users of UPS systems with LI batteries will be able to redesign and reorganize data center floorspace for cash-generating IT infrastructure, while also saving on room cooling requirements, floor reinforcements, battery shelving, etc.;
• Lithium-iron phosphate battery chemistry (which is what’s used in N1C products) is “the best chemistry for use in UPS applications” and is readily available;
• Lithium-iron phosphate chemistry is stable, making it safer to use in data centers than other lithium-ion chemistries (such as lithium-cobalt batteries);
• Thermal runaway temperature of lithium-iron phosphate is 518ºF, higher than other lithium battery chemistries;
• Lithium-iron phosphate will not react with oxygen following an accident (such as piercing a battery), therefore will not cause an explosion or fire;
• In the event of a fire, lithium-iron phosphate batteries can be extinguished by an ordinary water sprinkler system (lithium-cobalt oxide and lithium-manganese cobalt batteries have no effective fire retardant);
• LI batteries will “completely replace lead acid batteries in UPS applications” over the next few years;
• With overall cost savings, companies that use lithium-ion UPS systems can re-allocate funds to other necessary operational expenses or upgrades.

Download the white paper from Data Center Frontier here.

Buy your next lithium-ion UPS systems — whether they’re small single-phase units, or large three-phase systems — from N1 Critical Technologies.

Call: 855-208-0011