Energy based battery backup unit testing
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- discharging a battery backup unit (BBU) in a BBU degradation test by electrically coupling the BBU to a variable load;
monitoring a discharge energy consumption, in Joules or a functionally equivalent measurement unit, over time while the BBU is discharging until the discharge energy consumption reaches a specified amount of energy, wherein monitoring the discharge energy consumption comprises;
measuring electric current levels of the discharging and voltage levels across the BBU as the BBU discharges; and
integrating the electric current levels multiplied by the voltage levels over time to dynamically calculate the discharge energy consumption;
measuring a discharge time for the discharge energy consumption to reach the specified amount of energy and a closed circuit voltage across the BBU when the discharge energy consumption reaches the specified amount of energy;
electrically decoupling the BBU from the variable load when the discharge energy consumption reaches the specified amount of energy;
monitoring, after electrically decoupling the BBU from the variable load, the voltage levels across the BBU at least until the voltage levels across the BBU stabilize;
measuring, when the voltage levels across the BBU stabilize, an open circuit voltage across the BBU and a settlement time for the voltage levels across the BBU to stabilize; and
determining at least one of a degradation state or a rate of deterioration of the BBU based on one or more of the measured discharge time, the measured closed circuit voltage, the measured open circuit voltage, or the measured settlement time.
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Abstract
Several embodiments perform battery backup unit (BBU) degradation testing. For example, a BBU testing system can be coupled to or part of a BBU. The BBU testing system can discharge the BBU by engaging a variable load to the BBU. The BBU testing system can monitor a discharge energy consumption over time as the BBU discharges until the discharge energy consumption reaches a specified amount of energy. The BBU testing system can determine a discharge time for the discharge energy consumption to reach the specified amount of energy. The BBU testing system can then compute a degradation state of the BBU based on the discharge time.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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discharging a battery backup unit (BBU) in a BBU degradation test by electrically coupling the BBU to a variable load; monitoring a discharge energy consumption, in Joules or a functionally equivalent measurement unit, over time while the BBU is discharging until the discharge energy consumption reaches a specified amount of energy, wherein monitoring the discharge energy consumption comprises; measuring electric current levels of the discharging and voltage levels across the BBU as the BBU discharges; and integrating the electric current levels multiplied by the voltage levels over time to dynamically calculate the discharge energy consumption; measuring a discharge time for the discharge energy consumption to reach the specified amount of energy and a closed circuit voltage across the BBU when the discharge energy consumption reaches the specified amount of energy; electrically decoupling the BBU from the variable load when the discharge energy consumption reaches the specified amount of energy; monitoring, after electrically decoupling the BBU from the variable load, the voltage levels across the BBU at least until the voltage levels across the BBU stabilize; measuring, when the voltage levels across the BBU stabilize, an open circuit voltage across the BBU and a settlement time for the voltage levels across the BBU to stabilize; and determining at least one of a degradation state or a rate of deterioration of the BBU based on one or more of the measured discharge time, the measured closed circuit voltage, the measured open circuit voltage, or the measured settlement time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A battery backup unit (BBU) test system, comprising:
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a controller configured to initiate a BBU degradation test by engaging a variable load to discharge the BBU; a current meter configured to measure electric current levels of the BBU; and a voltage meter configured to measure voltage levels across the BBU; wherein the controller is configured to; monitor a discharge energy consumption, in Joules or a functionally equivalent measurement unit, over time as the BBU is discharged until the discharge energy consumption reaches a specified amount of energy, wherein monitoring the discharge energy consumption comprises; measuring the electric current levels of the discharging and the voltage levels across the BBU as the BBU discharges; and integrating the electric current levels multiplied by the voltage levels over time to dynamically calculate the discharge energy consumption; measure a discharge time for the discharge energy consumption to reach the specified amount of energy and a closed circuit voltage across the BBU when the discharge energy consumption reaches the specified amount of energy; electrically decouple the BBU from the variable load when the discharge energy consumption reaches the specified amount of energy; monitor, after electrically decoupling the BBU from the variable load, the voltage levels across the BBU at least until the voltage levels across the BBU stabilize; measure, when the voltage levels across the BBU stabilize, an open circuit voltage across the BBU and a settlement time for the voltage levels across the BBU to stabilize; and determine at least one of a degradation state or a rate of deterioration of the BBU based on one or more of the measured discharge time, the measured closed circuit voltage, the measured open circuit voltage, or the measured settlement time. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A backup power system for one or more computer servers, comprising:
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a battery backup unit (BBU); a server rack as a power consumer that relies on the BBU for backup power; a load switch to engage or disengage the server rack from the BBU; and a BBU testing system configured to; monitor a discharge energy consumption, in Joules or a functionally equivalent measurement unit, over time as the BBU is discharging via the load switch until the discharge energy consumption reaches a specified amount of energy, wherein monitoring the discharge energy consumption comprises; measuring electric current levels of the discharging and voltage levels across the BBU as the BBU discharges; and integrating the electric current levels multiplied by the voltage levels over time to dynamically calculate the discharge energy consumption; measure a discharge time for the discharge energy consumption to reach the specified amount of energy and a closed circuit voltage across the BBU when the discharge energy consumption reaches the specified amount of energy; electrically decouple the BBU via the load switch when the discharge energy consumption reaches the specified amount of energy; monitor, after electrically decoupling the BBU via the load switch, the voltage levels across the BBU at least until the voltage levels across the BBU stabilize; measure, when the voltage levels across the BBU stabilize, an open circuit voltage across the BBU and a settlement time for the voltage levels across the BBU to stabilize; and determine at least one of a degradation state or a rate of deterioration of the BBU based on one or more of the measured discharge time, the measured closed circuit voltage, the measured open circuit voltage, or the measured settlement time.
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Specification