By becoming more efficient and powerful, uninterruptible power supplies have made great strides in recent years. Unfortunately, their battery hasn’t followed suit. For several decades, UPS batteries have remained largely the same in terms of capacity. However, there are still ways to maximize the available technology and receive the best return on your investment. To help you make a more informed decision, we will discuss the differences between valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) and lithium-ion UPS batteries, including chemistry, energy density, charge rate, service life, etc.
Lithium-ion lead-acid batteries
For most applications, lead-acid batteries have been the default standard option for many years. The reason for this blind preference is that VRLA battery predates lithium battery by more than 100 years, and many industry standards were originally designed to meet the specifications and shortcomings of this particular style. However, recent advances in lithium-ion batteries, especially lithium titanate cells, are more worthy of consideration than ever. Visit also: Dry Battery Price in Pakistan
The lithium-ion battery is not only more energy-dense than their lead-acid counterparts, but they are also lighter and have a faster discharge rate. These benefits also apply to lithium titanate UPS batteries, with the added benefit of increased safety, service life, and operating temperature ranges. When looking at the numbers, the gap between these two battery systems becomes increasingly apparent.
cost of batteries
The only factor VRLA batteries outperform their lithium-ion equivalents is cost. In many cases, lithium-ion batteries can be significantly more expensive. However, in a classic “you get your money’s worth” case, this may be a cost you are willing to pay for the increased performance and safety of lithium batteries.
Energy density
The lithium-ion battery has more than twice the energy density of VRLA batteries. In real-world applications, this translates to smaller, lighter cabinet spaces with exactly the same capacity and runtime, if not much more. Extremely powerful in its implications, this upgrade can have far-reaching impacts on the overall configuration, pricing, and capabilities of your UPS system, which is best.
Taxes
Toshiba’s team found that VRLA battery had a 1C charge rate, while lithium-ion batteries had a 7C rate. Since rate C is an inverse relationship between capacity and time, this data means that lithium-ion can discharge at a rate 7 times greater than that of VRLA. In UPS applications, the result is a drastic reduction in battery size requirements to achieve the same effects.
When these size requirements are applied to pricing, our previous problem with lithium-ion batteries is solved. Your team will have to buy far fewer lithium batteries than VRLA batteries, easily offsetting their higher initial prices. Therefore, lithium-ion gives you a lot more money (and charge) for your money, especially when it comes to small runs.
Lifecycle of Batteries
It is standard that VRLA batteries are replaced every five to seven years. With Lithium-Ion, this concern becomes an archaic need. Referring to the data table above, lithium ions have a lifespan 75 times that of their VRLA counterparts. An additional benefit of lithium-ion UPS batteries is their ability to eliminate the need for constant attention. These batteries can remain intact and unused for a year and a half before losing their charge. In contrast, VRLA will often completely discharge within a few months, whether they have been used or not.
Temperature difference
When it comes to operating temperature ranges, lithium-ion wins again. Some consumers report a deviation from the recommended temperature range, cutting battery life in half. Lithium cells have a much greater range, making them more suitable for UPS systems and other installations where temperature fluctuations often occur.
Security
If you have done research or have experience with UPS systems. You may be wondering about the safety of each style of battery. Some industry supporters have raised concerns about the safety of lithium-ion chemistry, citing examples of burning phones, laptops, and other electronic devices. However, it has often been shown that the reason for these fires is the carbon used as the anode in the battery.
In the absence of this carbon anode. Lithium titanate for UPS systems is the safest option for lithium-ion chemical batteries available on the market today. Concerns about fires associated with lithium-type should be virtually ruled out.
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