Factory operations whether administrative or manufacturing are highly dependent on power. It’s very unlikely to find a factory with manual operations today. Power outages in factories can cease operations leading to hefty monetary and non-monetary losses.
Even a short-lived power outage can be a nightmare in a facility with cross-functional teams and online control & monitoring. The loss of coordination, connectivity, and control would halt entire functions.
The grid power supply reliability has decreased over the years, but dependence on electrical power has increased to a much higher extent. The need for emergency power backup is evident across all settings; residential, commercial, and industrial.
You may live an hour or two without electricity at home, but it’s unimaginable in industries. Let’s see how emergency power backup works in factories. We’ll also suggest experts-recommended power solutions for emergency backup in factories—buckle up!
Do Factories Need Emergency Backup Power?
No matter you’ve a large facility or small operations, power disruptions are not uncommon. It can be due to weather conditions or electrical failures in the system that are not in your control. Would you risk your operations in case it happens? All it takes to keep up and running is an emergency backup power. Having a backup for an entire facility can be capital-intensive, you can still have emergency power backup for core functions. You would at least not require to restart everything from point zero.
Hence, emergency power backup is well-needed in factories. It prevents losses during sudden power outages. Here’s why do factories need emergency power backup;
Continuous Operations
The obvious reason for having an emergency backup power is to ensure continuous functioning. The cost of stopping production due to power outages is higher than installing a power backup system in the factory. Having a power backup is the foremost requirement of factory operations.
Preventing Off Scheduling
Power outages bring a range of problems, the one you can imagine is not meeting your production deadlines. You can completely go off schedule even with a few hours of power disconnectivity. An emergency power backup can prevent such a situation from happening in the first place.
Ancillary Services
Having power backup for the entire large factory may not be feasible due to high costs, capacity, etc. But power backup for ancillary services like control systems, safety systems, data servers, and coordination equipment is necessary. It will help avoid complete blackouts in the factory and keeps you in control.
How Do Factories' Backup Generators Work?
The backup generator is connected to an electrical outlet in your factory. There can be a separate electrical panel for the generator, it depends on the type and functioning of the generator.Usually, integration of the backup generator with your factory’s electrical network is simple, more like plug-and-play with additional safety components such as breakers and changeovers.
There are multiple types of backup generators like fuel-based and solar powered. The fuel-based generators use gasoline or diesel to generate electrical power whereas solar generators use solar energy. Both types of generators have their merits and demerits, it depends on your needs which would suit you better.
Factories’ backup generators stay on stand-by to take the load whenever a power disruption occurs. The load transfer is via Automatic Transfer Switch, it senses the disconnection and transfers load to the backup generator. The load is transferred back to grid supply whenever power restores.
Here’s a more detailed view on how factories’ backup generators work:
Standby
When grid supply is available the generator stays on standby. In case of fuel-based generators, you must ensure that fuel levels are adequate. For solar generators, either solar energy must be available or the batteries must be charged.
Backup
The moment a power outage occurs, the ATS (automatic transfer switch) will shift the load to the generator. The transfer time is in milliseconds, none of the devices or equipment turn off.
Repeat
As soon as the power restores, the ATS again transfers the load to grid supply. The generator returns to standby mode to repeat the process when another power outage happens.
3 Best Emergency Backup Power for Factories
Having a reliable power backup for factories is crucial to ensure continuous operations. Let’s explore experts-recommended power backup for factories.
BLUETTI EP900 + B500 Home Battery Backup
The BLUETTI EP900 + B500 Home Battery Backup is an ultimate backup solution for your factory. It will keep powering all your ancillary services during power outages. The system has an expandable capacity of 9,920Wh~19,840Wh. You can use grid supply and solar power to charge the batteries. It comes with superior quality LiFePO4 battery packs having high capacity and long-lasting life.
Its integration with the existing electrical network is seamless. The system has IP65 ratings for indoor and outdoor use. You can control and monitor the system with a highly interactive BLUETTI mobile application. It shows real time data about battery levels, charging status, and more. There’s an advanced battery management system to ensure optimal charge levels, battery health, and longevity.
BLUETTI EP800+B500 Home Battery Backup
Do you have a data center and safety system in your factory? Take no risk with power outages and install the BLUETTI EP800+B500 Home Battery Backup. The system has 9920Wh capacity (expandable to 19.8kWh) to provide reliable power backup. It is operable on solar energy and grid supply for enhanced reliability. Additionally, the system is IP65-rated with portable design for indoor and outdoor usage.
The system comes with advanced LiFePO4 battery packs with integrated battery management system. You can control and monitor the functions via BLUETTI mobile application, the system has smart bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. You can couple the system with existing electrical infrastructure without any modifications.
BLUETTI AC500 + 2*B300S | Home Battery Backup
The BLUETTI AC500 + 2*B300S Home Battery Backup comes with expandable capacity from 3,072Wh to 18,432Wh. It has an EPS module to provide uninterruptible power supply during sudden power outages. You can plug-in independent equipment to the system via 16 versatile outlets. The system uses LiFePO4 battery packs known for their safety and high efficiency. There’s a multi-recharge facility (6 Ways to Recharge) for flexibility and higher reliability.
The rated solar input is 5000W for a continuous output of 5000W. The system is equipped with pure sine wave inverter to provide high quality AC power, best for data servers. You can control and monitor the system using the BLUETTI mobile application. The connectivity over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is seamless.
Benefits of BLUETTI Backup Power
BLUETTI is a world leading manufacturer of hi-tech power solutions. The brand is synonymous with quality and reliability. It is bringing revolution in the energy sector with its advanced equipment and devices. Here are the benefits that you can reap from BLUETTI Backup Power:
- BLUETTI backup power can be used independently from grid supply. You can use solar input for a more reliable backup during frequent outages.
- The BLUETTI devices offer seamless connectivity through bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It enables remote control and monitoring.
- If your power needs grow over time, all the systems are upgradeable and have high expandable capacity.
- The BLUETTI power backup equipment is hi-tech and reliable. The inverters provide pure sinusoidal AC power and the battery packs have advanced LiFePO4 technology.
- You can ensure continuous factory operations during power outages with BLUETTI power solutions.
Portable Solar Panels Used with Backup Power
You can unleash the real potential of power backup with solar energy. It enhances the reliability and provides access to continuous power supply. Let’s browse portable solar panels that you can use for backup power.
BLUETTI PV350 Solar Panel 350W
BLUETTI PV350 Solar Panel is a highly efficient and portable solar panel with foldable design. It offers a high conversion rate with up to 23.4% benchmark efficiency. The panel offers 350W output and compatibility with power backup systems. It has an ETFE coating for durability and protection against splashes and dust. The solar panel has a kick-stand with adjustable angles for better output.
BLUETTI PV420 Solar Panel 420W
BLUETTI PV420 Solar Panel 420W is a durable and portable solar panel offering a 420W output. The panel supports fast recharging and is highly compatible with power backups. It has an ETFE coating and IP65 rating to withstand rough weather conditions. The design is portable and foldable with a kickstand mechanism for easy setup. The single panel can capture 2kWh solar energy daily.
Final Thoughts
Power outages are a reality and can happen any time. The reliability of grid supply has always been compromised. You must prepare beforehand to prevent losses due to power outages. The power backup is the need of the hour for factories. It’s not just that a power outage will affect production, there’s a range of support operations going within the factory that can be affected by power disruptions.
The most critical part of any facility is its safety systems, you can’t risk safety due to power outages. Same goes for control and monitoring that’s mostly online. Therefore, it’s crucial to have a power backup in your factory. Get a reliable power backup installed in your facility.
