UPS & STANDBY POWER FEATURE
Check your UPS battery performance whilst maintaining your critical load
The latest battery capacity re-injection functionality from Socomec enables the UPS’ own batteries to directly check battery performance without the need to external load bank
T
he reliability of a UPS system is not only dependant on the UPS, but also
the batteries, load specifications and operating environment. Batteries are often cited as the most common cause of UPS system failure, the design of the battery system, together with battery performance is a key element of any UPS system. Extending UPS battery life and back-up time, through a programme of regular maintenance and management, is vital for guaranteeing the ongoing performance of UPS systems, and it is also essential for providing power security to organisation’s critical assets and optimising the battery investment. Batteries are the workhorse of every
UPS system. They must be operating at peak performance in order for a UPS to guarantee the critical power supply, high temperatures, frequent cycles, deep discharge and high voltage recharge. A lack of regular maintenance reduces the lifecycle and performance of a battery. Preventing outages and minimising costly downtime are challenges faced by every facilities manager, the regular maintenance and replacement of batteries forms a critical element of every business continuity plan.
WHEN DID YOU LAST CARRY OUT A BATTERY-CHECK? One of the most frequent causes of unplanned outages in an UPS system is premature end of life of battery blocks. If undetected, a failing battery block can accelerate aging within the rest of the battery string, thereby jeopardising the integrity of supply to the critical load. The single most effective way to ensure
the reliability of the UPS system is to conduct preventive maintenance, including regular battery checks and replacements. Typically, in order to perform a safe and effective battery check - reviewing the operating environment and main battery parameters at string level - the UPS manufacturer will carry out a series of regular checks in order to keep the equipment operating at optimum levels,
and to avoid system downtime along with the associated risks of damage to the critical loads. Every facilities manager will be familiar
with the operating and infrastructure constraints associated with planning and executing regular UPS system checks. The design of the switchboard is one key point; availability and access to connection points for load test banks, as well as the management of high heat dissipation during the tests all require careful review, planning, risk assessments and the associated method statements. The safety of staff and building security have to be carefully reviewed and managed during the load bank tests. Furthermore, the costs associated with the test process can be a burden on an already stretched operating budget. Whilst the manpower for such tests may be accounted for indirectly via the wider preventive maintenance budget, it is frequently necessary to incur other significant costs in terms of load bank and cable hire costs etc.
EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT BATTERY CHECKS – ONLINE With Socomec’s Delphys Green Power and Delphys Xtend Green Power range of UPS, the process of conducting battery discharge testing is said to be simplified. The battery capacity reinjection function enables the battery to be discharged to the upstream mains network through the UPS rectifier. This function is carried out online with the load fully protected. The UPS rectifier acts as a current generator synchronised to the mains voltage; the reinjected power is active power (KW) only, there is no reinjection of reactive power (kVAR). The reinjected current is sinusoidal, and therefore does not affect the LV installation. If mains power is lost during the test, the reinjection is automatically stopped with no effect to the system load. For an N+1 or 2N installation the system autonomy is ensured by the other units. During a routine battery capacity
reinjection test, carried out by a Socomec
technician, the reinjected power is consumed by the other
loads or UPS systems on the site. The reinjection test requires no changes to cabling within the existing installation. The battery discharge power (kW) is constant and configurable. This Socomec UPS function enables the routine maintenance and testing of the critical UPS system, and batteries, to be easily carried out without the need for additional load banks or cabling. As well as the financial benefit of no longer needing to hire load banks and cabling, the Socomec reinjection function is said to simplifies the operational planning associated with such tests. Colin Dean, managing director, Socomec UK, explains: “Socomec has now combined the highly efficient Delphys UPS range with the innovative battery capacity reinjection function, making it easier to monitor and maintain battery performance. The reinjection test provides an accurate, safe and simplified process to periodically test the battery performance. There are no load banks to hire, heat losses to manage, no temporary installations to carry out and no electrical hazard risk.”
Socomec
www.socomec.com
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING | DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 11
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