Lithium-ion battery (LIB) solutions in UPS applications got a bad rap right from the start. Safety concerns about the high risk of overheating were fueled by the news filled with stories featuring batteries in electric vehicles and consumer electronic devices overheating and catching fire.
However, the reality is that there are stark differences between lithium-ion batteries for UPS applications versus lithium-ion batteries for EVs and consumer electronics.
It’s All About The Chemistry
Lithium-ion battery chemistries vary by application. In UPS applications, where there is a greater emphasis on safety, more stable chemistries are used than in lithium-ion batteries for other applications. In EVs and Smart Phones, for example, the primary objective is to pack as much power in as little space as possible. This not only requires a different chemistry than the more stable compounds used in LIB for UPS, it doesn’t leave room for the advanced safety features that UL Listings and the NFPA require for UPS and data center applications.
Lithium-Ion Batteries for Data Center and UPS Applications include mechanisms such as battery monitoring systems, safety fuses, and other features designed to isolate a damaged cell, so the chain reaction doesn’t spread to the rest of the battery string and cause thermal runaway.
More detail regarding the advanced safety features and unique chemistries of lithium-ion batteries for UPS can be found in our article, ‘Safety Concerns for Lithium-Ion Batteries in UPS Applications’.
Other resources on our website include:
– Our white paper on the Benefits of Lithium-Ion Batteries for UPS.
– Our article, ‘Lithium-Ion Batteries versus VRLA Batteries in 3-Phase UPS Systems’.
– Product details for single-phase and 3-Phase UPS Systems with Lithium-Ion batteries
For more details, including configuration assistance and pricing, send us an email, or call 800-876-9373.