What Is an Emergency Power Source?
An emergency power source is a backup system designed to supply power in situations where the regular power supply is interrupted, such as during power outages, disasters, or system failures. Regulations like JIS, the Fire Service Act, and the Building Standards Act define the requirements for emergency power sources in specific applications, such as lifts and fire sprinkler systems.
Uses of Emergency Power Sources
Emergency power sources are crucial in various settings, serving distinct purposes:
1. Hospitals and Medical Facilities
In hospitals, emergency power is vital for maintaining life-supporting medical devices during power failures. Hospital outlets are often color-coded according to JIS standards to distinguish between different types of emergency power sources. Red outlets provide general emergency power, activating within 40 seconds and operating for over 10 hours. Special emergency outlets start within 10 seconds, and green outlets, representing uninterruptible sources, activate immediately via UPS systems.
2. Households
Households may also have emergency power sources for disaster preparedness, using lithium-ion batteries, diesel generators, or propane gas generators. Propane gas generators, for instance, can provide electricity for around 74 hours using 50 kg of propane, aiding in various disaster-related needs.
3. Commercial and Office Buildings
Commercial and office buildings use emergency power to maintain critical functions like lifts and security systems during outages, ensuring business continuity.
Principles of Emergency Power Sources
Emergency power systems typically include storage batteries, generators, and automatic switching devices:
1. Storage Batteries
Storage batteries hold electrical energy in chemical form, ready to be converted back to power during outages, ensuring continuity of critical functions.
2. Generators
Generators convert fuel into rotational energy and then into electrical power, automatically providing power during failures. They are suitable for long-duration power supply needs and larger facilities.
3. Automatic Switching Devices
Automatic switching devices seamlessly transition from regular to emergency power supply in the event of a power loss, and vice versa, when regular power is restored.
How to Select an Emergency Power Source
Selecting the right emergency power source involves considering power requirements, operational duration, and switching speed, all within budgetary constraints:
1. Power Requirements
Assess the power capacity needed to operate essential equipment and systems during emergencies. Ensure the supply voltage matches that of the regular power supply.
2. Continuous Operation Time
Determine the required continuous operation time and accordingly plan for the fuel tank and storage battery capacities. For extended outages, additional fuel storage might be necessary.
3. Switching Speed
Consider the switchover speed, especially for backing up critical telecommunications equipment. Using storage batteries and DC power supplies can minimize outage times.