Today's high-power computing facilities and data centers rely on the availability and reliability of power supplies and backup systems. This is due to the critical nature of computing in fields such as climate research, oil and gas exploration, quantum mechanics, and molecular modeling.
The question that plagues most data center operators is what kind of investment they need to make to ensure a reliable power supply. For some time, most data centers have relied on valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) battery UPS systems. However, operators are under pressure to improve performance, control lifecycle costs, and comply with increasingly stringent energy efficiency legislation.
UPS systems are typically used to bridge the power gap until the backup power source comes online. Furthermore, UPS and battery systems also protect data servers from damage caused by power surges by absorbing and releasing energy, acting as a power conditioner. One way to achieve this is to switch to the latest generation of Li-ion batteries in UPS systems.
THE TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES OF LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES
Li-ion battery systems are compact and lightweight, with high energy density. Their reduced weight requires less civil engineering and structural support, lowering construction costs. More importantly, Li-ion battery modules can be configured to create systems that meet precise requirements for energy capacity, voltage, and storage. While
VRLA batteries must be kept at a constant temperature of 25°C, Li-ion batteries operate even at 35°C. This, in turn, reduces the need for cooling and ventilation, resulting in energy savings, improved energy efficiency, and enhanced environmental performance. Additionally, Li-ion batteries have electronic battery management systems that control charging and discharging operations for integration into data center management systems.
Once operational, Li-ion technology requires minimal preventative maintenance, and batteries can be fully recharged in as little as one hour. For data center operators, fast charging means better availability of their UPS backup power. Operators can also potentially downsize their UPS systems, since higher availability means less need for additional backup power.
LI-ION BACKUP SYSTEMS FOR TOTAL'S SUPERCOMPUTERS
Recognizing these advantages, Total adopted a Li-ion battery-based UPS for its supercomputer at its high-power computing data center in Pau, France.
Total uses the supercomputer to improve the accuracy of its oil and gas exploration and production operations. Geologists use the center to create subsurface models of oil and gas reservoirs to identify areas for drilling wells. This improves the efficiency of their exploration and production activities.
For this, a company like Total needs a high-performance, hot-swappable UPS that integrates with its monitoring systems and improves the facility's energy efficiency without requiring a shutdown for maintenance. It also requires a solution capable of feeding UPS power back into the grid or supporting other loads.
The data center powering one of the world's largest industrial supercomputers uses advanced Li-ion batteries, and this trend is expected to continue growing in popularity and consistency. After all, supercomputers are complex machines used for increasingly complex applications. From medicine to astronomy, leading the way in data management requires robust and reliable backup power, thanks to Li-ion batteries.
