Advances in generator technology mean that batteries within uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) are increasingly being specified to provide power for shorter periods, boosting efficiency and lowering overheads.
However, it is critical to ensure the right technology to meet the needs of the modern data centre, says EnerSys applications manager Mark Coughlin.
“Generators can now be switched over much faster, so where batteries were traditionally specified for 15 minutes autonomy, there is now high demand for sub-five minute autonomy. But in order to support that – the battery should be designed specifically to support those discharge durations.”
Coughlin says the firm’s DataSafe XE range, which harnesses EnerSys’ thin plate pure lead technology, is specifically designed to support lower discharge durations.
As power grids becoming more constrained in some urban locations, creating higher potential for supply disruption, data centre operators require best in class technology, says Coughlin.
However, performance does not necessarily come at a premium. The DataSafe XE range can operate at higher temperatures than other technologies, providing the potential to reduce cooling costs.
Meanwhile, it provides a shelf life of 24 months, four times that of standard AGM batteries. As well as increasing asset replacement cycles, the enhanced operating life gives data centre operators and developers greater flexibility during project deployment, where delays can otherwise prove costly.
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