Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has granted its certification to the AC6000, a lithium-ion uninterruptible power supply (UPS) manufactured by Methode Electronics' Active Energy Solutions, a division of Methode Electronics, Inc. The AC6000 was is the first line-interactive UPS designed to both protect IT equipment from outages and supplement the AC grid during peak energy consumption. The highly efficient AC6000 unit operates with an input and output of 208Vac or 240Vac, supporting equipment drawing up to 6kW for up to seven minutes.
The 2U unit also supports peak shaving capability to supplement power supply during high demand. The units can be operated in parallel for higher-power applications. Features of the battery management system: Leverages years of automotive research; Maintains battery cell power balance; Highly efficient power management with low quiescent draw; Integrated safety electronics; Provides thermal management for individual cells.
"UL certification is a key milestone as it verifies the quality and integrity of the product. The AC6000's certifications -- certified against UL #s1973, 1778, 991 and 1998 -- proves this new lithium solution delivers a safe, proven and reliable solution over the life of the battery," said Emilie Stone, general manager of Methode Electronics' Active Energy Solutions. "Our customers were constantly replacing their lead-acid-based UPS' due to rapid health degradation. Now data center managers can relax knowing that using and testing the battery won't cause degradation."
Stone continued, "This is the first lithium-ion, high density UPS on the market at this power level. Space is a valuable commodity in data centers, and the AC6000 frees up scarce real estate to support the core business."
Lithium-ion technology is taking data centers to the next level with more power in a smaller footprint. Designed not only to protect IT equipment from power outages, the AC6000 also has the unique ability to supplement the ac grid during peak energy consumption.
"Our lithium-ion solution gives customers the ability to 'peak shave,' supplementing a data center's power draw from the battery and then recharging it at a non-peak time," added Stone. "Instituting regular peak shaving can lead to significant energy conservation, which saves our customers money and reduces their environmental footprint at the same time."
The AC6000 also has a strong reusability factor, allowing it to be cycled continually and making it an active participant in the data center. By planning for regular provision of off-grid power, a data center can significantly reduce its energy use -- providing measurable, environmental and financial benefits.
