Data center battery enhancement method and system

• US 9,252,631 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2012
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew V. Latham
• Original Assignee: Andrew V. Latham
• Inventors: Latham, Andrew V.
• Primary Examiner(s): AMAYA, CARLOS DAVID
• Application Number:
  US13/491,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20120313437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 307 64- 66, 320/122, 320/132, 320/134, 320/136
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/102 being switching converters H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0018 using separate charge circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0025 Sequential battery discharge in systems with a plurality of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

A method for increasing workable power output and run time duration of a battery backup system is disclosed. A plurality of battery groups is provided. A microprocessor electrically connects the power output of a first battery group and a second battery group to a UPS. The microprocessor monitors the output voltage of the first and second battery groups. When the monitored output voltage of the first and second battery group falls below a predetermined level, the microprocessor electrically disconnects from the UPS the first battery group and electrically connects to the UPS the power output of another of the plurality of battery groups. The first battery group is configured to be re-connectable to the UPS after a time period equal to or greater than necessary to permit the output voltage of the first battery group to recover to about its nominal voltage rating.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a plurality of battery groups each having a nominal voltage rating, the power output of each battery group wired for electrical connection to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) through a microprocessor-controlled power switch, and the voltage level of the power output of each battery group being monitored by the microprocessor through a voltage sensing circuit;

electrically connecting the power output of a first battery group and a second battery group to the UPS by use of microprocessor control;

monitoring, by the microprocessor, the output voltage of the first battery group and the second battery group; and

when the monitored output voltage of the first battery group falls below a predetermined level,

electrically disconnecting from the UPS by microprocessor control the first battery group and electrically connecting to the UPS by microprocessor control the power output of another of the plurality of battery groups in view of the monitored output voltage of the first battery group approaching a value corresponding to Peukert'"'"'s Number n, wherein C=IⁿT is Peukert'"'"'s Equation, wherein C is the theoretical capacity of a battery expressed in amp-hours, I is the current, and T is time, and

reconnecting the first battery group to the UPS by microprocessor control after a time period equal to or greater than necessary to permit the output voltage of the first battery group to recover to about its nominal voltage rating in view of the monitored output voltage of the first battery group approaching a value corresponding to Peukert'"'"'s Number n.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the another of the plurality of battery groups is a battery group that first recovers to its nominal voltage rating.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the another of the plurality of battery groups is a battery group that has spent a longest amount of time in a recovered state with respect to nominal voltage rating.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the another of the plurality of battery groups is a battery group that first recovers to ambient temperature.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the another of the plurality of battery groups is a battery group that has spent a longest amount of time in a recovered state with respect to ambient temperature.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the another of the plurality of battery groups is a battery group that first recovers to it nominal pH rating.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the another of the plurality of battery groups is a battery group that has spent a longest amount of time in a recovered state with respect to nominal pH rating.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the another of the plurality of battery groups is randomly selected from the remaining plurality of battery groups.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the another of the plurality of battery groups is sequentially selected from the remaining plurality of battery groups.

10. A method, comprising:

providing a plurality of battery groups each having a common nominal voltage rating, the power output of each battery group wired for electrical connection to an associated voltage regulator of a plurality of microprocessor-controlled voltage regulators, the voltage level of the power output of each battery group being monitored by a microprocessor through a voltage sensing circuit, each of the voltage regulators wired for electrical connection in series to provide a combination voltage to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), wherein an output voltage of a first voltage regulator associated with a first battery group is set by microprocessor control to a first voltage level that is larger than one or more voltage levels set by microprocessor control and associated with corresponding ones of the remaining plurality of voltage regulators;

monitoring, by the microprocessor, the output voltage of the first battery group; and

when the monitored output voltage of the first battery group falls below a predetermined level,

decreasing by microprocessor control the output voltage level of the first voltage regulator to the one or more voltage levels and increasing by microprocessor control the output voltage level of another of the plurality of voltage regulators to the first voltage level to maintain the combination voltage,

wherein the output voltage of the voltage regulator associated with the first battery group is to be increased to the first voltage level by microprocessor control after a time period equal to or greater than necessary to permit the output voltage of the first battery group to recover to about its nominal voltage rating.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the another of the plurality of voltage regulators is associated with a battery group that first recovers to its nominal voltage rating.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the another of the plurality of voltage regulators is associated with a battery group that has spent a longest amount of time in a recovered state with respect to nominal voltage rating.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the another of the plurality of voltage regulators is associated with a battery group that first recovers to ambient temperature.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the another of the plurality of voltage regulators is associated with a battery group that has spent a longest amount of time in a recovered state with respect to ambient temperature.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the another of the plurality of voltage regulators is associated with a battery group that first recovers to it nominal pH rating.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the another of the plurality of voltage regulators is associated with a battery group that has spent a longest amount of time in a recovered state with respect to nominal pH rating.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the another of the plurality of voltage regulators is randomly selected from the remaining plurality of voltage regulators.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the another of the plurality of voltage regulators is sequentially selected from the remaining plurality of voltage regulators.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein a rate of decreasing the output voltage of the first voltage regulator is about the rate of increasing the output voltage of the another of the plurality of voltage regulators such that the combination voltage remains substantially constant.

20. A battery backup system, comprising a plurality of battery groups each having a nominal voltage rating, the power output of each battery group wired for electrical connection to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) through a microprocessor-controlled power switch, and the voltage level of the power output of each battery group being monitored by a microprocessor through a corresponding voltage sensing circuit, the microprocessor to:

electrically connect the power output of a first battery group to the UPS;

monitor the output voltage of the first battery group; and

when the monitored output voltage of the first battery group falls below a predetermined level,

electrically disconnect from the UPS by microprocessor control the first battery group and electrically connect to the UPS by microprocessor control the power output of another of the plurality of battery groups in view of the monitored output voltage of the first battery group approaching a value corresponding to Peukert'"'"'s Number n, wherein C=IⁿT is Peukert'"'"'s Equation, wherein C is the theoretical capacity of a battery expressed in amp-hours, I is the current, and T is time, and

reconnect the first battery group to the UPS after a time period equal to or greater than necessary to permit the output voltage of the first battery group to recover to about its nominal voltage rating in view of the monitored output voltage of the first battery group approaching a value corresponding to Peukert'"'"'s Number n.

21. A battery backup system, comprising:

a plurality of battery groups each having a common nominal voltage rating, the power output of each battery group wired for electrical connection to an associated voltage regulator of a plurality of microprocessor-controlled voltage regulators, the voltage level of the power output of each battery group being monitored by a microprocessor through a corresponding voltage sensing circuit, each of the voltage regulators wired for electrical connection in series to provide a combination voltage to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), wherein an output voltage of a first voltage regulator associated with a first battery group is set by microprocessor control to a first voltage level that is larger than one or more voltage levels set by microprocessor control and associated with corresponding ones of the remaining plurality of voltage regulators, the microprocessor to;

monitor the output voltage of the first battery group; and

when the monitored output voltage of the first battery group falls below a predetermined level,

decrease the output voltage level of the first voltage regulator to the one or more voltage levels and increase the output voltage level of another of the plurality of voltage regulators to the first voltage level to maintain the combination voltage,

wherein the output voltage of the voltage regulator associated with the first battery group is to be increased to the first voltage level after a time period equal to or greater than necessary to permit the output voltage of the first battery group to recover to about its nominal voltage rating.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of voltage regulators is a variable voltage regulator.