Uninterruptible power supplies are essential not only for data centers but for manufacturing and industrial facilities as well. A power disruption can bring production downtime that results in increased labor costs, wasted raw materials, and delayed delivery of finished goods. This can cause a ripple effect throughout the supply chains that impacts business relationships and customer service.
Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units provide an important source of backup power that minimizes the risk of outages. However, industrial facilities have different UPS needs than data centers. Wide variations in temperature, high levels of humidity, and other environmental factors can impact the UPS unit’s performance.
At the same time, there is value in utilizing UPS units designed for typical data center applications if those units can withstand “light” industrial duty. While specialized solutions will be required for the harshest environments, lithium-ion UPS units are an excellent choice for many manufacturing and industrial facilities.
Features to Look for in an Industrial UPS
Ruggedized Housing
The operative components of the UPS should be housed in an enclosure that minimizes infiltration by dust, water, and other potentially damaging materials.
Temperature Range
The UPS unit’s battery should perform well at temperatures beyond those found in a data center.
Reliability
Because downtime costs are high in manufacturing and industrial facilities, the UPS should be highly available and ready to supply needed power on demand.
Rapid Transfer to Backup Power
Delays between power failures and the startup of generators can damage equipment that requires continuous power. The UPS is able to transfer power to battery backup with no interruption.
Maintenance
UPS units in manufacturing and industrial facilities may be difficult to access. A UPS with minimal maintenance requirements streamlines operations and reduces the total cost of ownership.
Remote Monitoring
A UPS with network connectivity and remote monitoring capabilities allows facilities operators to respond to alerts and troubleshoot problems without going onsite.
Why Lithium-Ion Batteries Are the Best Choice for an Industrial UPS
UPS units with lithium-ion batteries provide the performance needed for light industrial applications. Lithium-ion batteries are highly reliable, with a longer lifespan than traditional valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries. They also have a higher energy density and can reliably supply the heavy load needed for industrial equipment.
In addition, lithium-ion batteries require less maintenance than VRLA batteries. The battery management system included with a lithium-ion UPS continuously monitors the system’s health and the state of the battery charge. An annual torque check is all that’s needed.
The Enconnex Line of UPSs
Enconnex offers a complete line of rack mount UPSs. Available in power capacities ranging from 800 VA to 10 kVA, in online (double-conversion) and line-interactive battery topologies, and lithium-ion (LiFePO4) and lead-acid battery compositions. Our UPSs provide clean and reliable backup power for critical IT equipment and feature best-in-class features such as load shedding, auto-restart, and pure sine wave outputs. Customers can bundle Enconnex UPSs with our line of EdgeRack micro data center cabinets for a complete, prefabricated solution. Contact our team to learn more about how we can optimize your environment.
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