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 management systems (BMS), cell-level current interrupt devices, safety fuses, and other features designed to isolate a damaged cell or battery module 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 white paper, ‘Lithium-Ion Battery Safety in UPS Applications: Facts vs. Fiction’.
Other resources on our website include:
– Our guide, ‘Lithium-Ion UPS Batteries: A Complete Guide to TCO, Safety, and Making the Right Choice for Your Infrastructure’.
– Our article, ‘The Higher Upfront Cost of Li-Ion UPS Batteries Pays for Itself — Here’s the Proof’.
– 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.