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High Performance VRLA Batteries
Uninterruptable Power Supplies (UPS) have been developed to support markets such as the Computer Industry. This industry requires a continuous AC power supply. One function of the UPS is to convert a DC supply to AC. A key component of any UPS is therefore, a battery. Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) batteries have been designed to support this and many other applications requiring a DC energy source.
A few decades ago the trend was to have large centralised computer
Systems supported by UPS equipment, giving typical standby power autonomies of 30 minutes or greater. Due to the physical size of the systems, large amounts of expensive floor space were required to accommodate the equipment.
However, with technical development using advanced circuit designs and methodologies the physical size of the equipment has dramatically reduced leading to the possible decentralisation of these systems. Additionally, advancement of technologies has led to improvement in the electrical efficiencies of the equipment however; power consumption has increased, as modern day electronics demands a constant current drain.
As a consequence of these factors typical standby power requirements have now reduced to 15 minutes or less; power demands have increased and available space for equipment is now at a premium. Accordingly, the to keep pace with this development the physical size of VRLA batteries needed to be reduced and be capable of delivering as much of its available energy in ever shorter periods of time.
A traditional VRLA battery would have been designed to be discharge over a long duration- typically 10 hours. Given the slower discharge period the electro-chemical action taking place within the battery becomes more efficient allowing a greater Ampere hour capacity to become available. Conversely, the faster the discharge the electro-chemical action is less efficient and therefore less Ampere capacity is available.
VRLA design engineers are constantly looking into methods of technology improvements to improve the efficiency and performance of the battery. Typically, a reduction of the internal resistance within the battery can improve the mass transport of active materials within the electro-mechanical reaction.
Whilst striving for optimum performance, careful consideration has to be given not to trade off other desirable characteristics such as service life, gas recombination, operational safety and reliability. By ignoring these characteristics it is relatively easy and inexpensive to achieve improved performance. Therefore, to avoid being let down by an inferior product we would always recommend the purchase of product from known, established manufacturers. At Yuasa, significant technological strides have and continue to be made to improve the performance and reliability of our products without the trade off of any of the desirable characteristics.
During the late 1980’s an NPH product was introduced which gave 40% more capacity than the standard 5 year NP range but maintaining all other associated characteristics. In the 1990’s high rate discharge, Endurance, long life products were introduced into the market giving a 25% increase in performance yet retaining the 10 year life characteristic. On the change of millennium Yuasa introduced its Super Watt long life (SWL) range designed to give maximum energy discharge performance over shorter autonomy times with the additional benefit of offering the customer a space saving solution.
Yuasa NP/NPL/EN/ENL/UXL/UXF/SWL VRLA products are designed to serve a wide field of applications within the market ranging from demanding applications such as UPS/Telecomm/IT/ Switch Tripping along with less demanding applications such as security alarms etc.
As Technology progresses it becomes increasingly more important for the end user to accurately identify their own real application needs. Based on this information then battery suppliers can accurately specify a battery, which is most suited to meet the customer requirements. |
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