Battery room
A battery room is the term used to describe the facility that houses the uninterruptable power supply for large computers, telecommunications and other industries requiring continuous power. The storage batteries provide direct current for the uninterruptable power supply equipment. This equipment will in turn supply the facility with uninterrupted alternating current if a power outage occurs. Though rarely needed for longer than a few minutes these battery rooms can provide a power supply backup for hours or even days if necessary.
One of the most common uses for a battery room is as backup power for a telecommunications system. The direct current power from the local power supply runs the telecommunications network plus keeps the batteries charged through a rectifier. If a generator is on site the usual life of the batteries is about four hours. The generator can recharge the batteries which will continue as a power supply backup until power is restored.
The amount of time a battery can provide power supply backup is known as the "ride-through." The amount of electrical load provided and the time the power supply will last are inversely related. If the battery room can provide 900 amps of power for 15 minutes then it can provide 450 amps of power for 30 minutes. Lead-Acid Batteries are commonly used and are wire together in a series connecting them in a parallel circuit. In this way a group of batteries can be taken off line for maintenance with compromising the entire power supply.
Battery rooms are also used in electrical power plants. In power outages where the generators are shut down a power supply backup is needed to restart the generators. This is called a black start. Battery rooms are also needed to operate the switchgear or the large circuit breakers that isolate the electrical equipment. Submarines both the diesel-electric variety and nuclear submarines require battery rooms. Diesel-electric submarines use the battery room as a source of power which nuclear submarines need a battery supply backup for life support systems and steering should the nuclear reactor fail.
Safety and maintenance are important issues. Since the materials from which the batteries are made are hazardous those who work around them must take special precautions. Hydrogen gas can be a byproduct charging the batteries so the rooms must be well ventilated. Sulfuric acid and potassium hydroxide, both very corrosive maybe contained within the batteries. Spills or erosion of a battery wall can be dangerous.
Battery rooms are essential for the continued operations of critical equipment. They provide much needed power supply back up to telecommunications systems, large computers, ocean going vessels, and even electrical power plants. While backup generators can provide power there would be no power supply to start the generator without a battery room storing power supply backup for a time when the power goes off.
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