Fuel Cell Uninterruptible Power Supply
From Lauraibm
Contents |
In the Press
- World Battery and Fuel Cell Chemicals and Materials Market to Reach $21.2bn by 2010 (3-Aug-07)
- Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Unlimited UPS (Sep-04)
Summaries
Full article: World Battery and Fuel Cell Chemicals and Materials Market to Reach $21.2bn by 2010 (3-Aug-07)
Scientists are continuously developing alternative sources of power, which have higher energy density, longevity, are more economical, commercially viable, and above all, environmental friendly. Fuel cells provide power with zero emissions. Demand for fuel cell materials is slated to grow steadily through 2010. The market for polymers and carbon/graphite is expected to grow rapidly due to their increased use in fuel cells. Electrodes are expected to continue as the major functional materials segment due to the increased production of fuel cell systems.
Full story: Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Unlimited UPS (Sep-04)
An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) allows computer systems to keep running for a short time even if a facility loses power—the advantage being that the user has time to save data before the power cuts out. In the past UPS systems have relied on battery or diesel generators. However, recent advances in hydrogen fuel cell technology have provided a more environmentally friendly solution. The advantage of using hydrogen is that there is no CO2 emitted.
Like a battery, the fuel cell produces DC voltage, which is the same as used by UPS systems. Automatically, it's a good match. Another benefit is that hydrogen cells are a 10-year product. A battery for a UPS only lasts three or four years. Over those 10 years, facility executives will have to replace traditional batteries three times.
The disadvantage of hydrogen is that it is not very cost-competitive for short runs when compared to other UPS options, thus the future of hydrogen becoming a major player in the economy will depend upon producing, supplying and storing the element at a low cost for end users.
Uninterruptible Power Supply
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS), also known as an uninterruptible power source or a battery backup is a device which maintains a continuous supply of electric power to connected equipment by supplying power from a separate source when utility power is not available. There are two distinct types of UPS: off-line and line-interactive (also called on-line).
An off-line UPS remains idle until a power failure occurs, and then switches from utility power to its own power source, almost instantaneously. An on-line UPS continuously powers the protected load from its reserves (usually lead-acid batteries), while simultaneously replenishing the reserves from the AC power.
The on-line type of UPS, in addition to providing protection against complete failure of the utility supply, provides protection against all common power problems, and for this reason it is also known as a power conditioner and a line conditioner.
While not limited to safeguarding any particular type of equipment, a UPS is typically used to protect computers, telecommunication equipment or other electrical equipment where an unexpected power disruption could cause injuries, fatalities, serious business disruption or data loss. UPS units come in sizes ranging from units which will back up a single computer without monitor (around 200 VA) to units which will power entire data centers or buildings (several megawatts). Larger UPS units typically work in conjunction with generators.
Historically, UPSs were very expensive and were most likely to be used on expensive computer systems and in areas where the power supply is interrupted frequently. However, as prices have fallen, UPS units have become an essential piece of equipment for data centers and business computers, but are also used for personal computers, entertainment systems and more.
In certain countries, where the electrical grid is under strain, providers struggle to ensure supply during times of peak demand (such as summer, during which air-conditioning usage increases). In order to prevent unplanned blackouts, electrical utilities will sometimes use a process called rolling blackouts or load shedding, which involves cutting the power to large groups of customers for short periods of time. Several major blackouts occurred in 2003, most notably the 2003 North America blackout in the north-eastern US and eastern Canada and the 2003 Italy blackout, both of which affected over 50 million people, and brought attention to the need for UPS power backup units.
A UPS should not be confused with a standby generator, which does not provide protection from a momentary power interruption and may result in an interruption when it is switched into service, whether manually or automatically. However, such generators are typically placed before the UPS to provide cover for lengthy outages. Integrated systems that have UPS and standby-generator components are often referred to as emergency power systems.
- Source [Wikipedia]
