Only a few years ago UPS were predominately the domain of large data centres and critical applications such as emergency services and banks. However, the introduction of lower power single phase units, an increased awareness of back-up options and increased reliability has resulted in even the smallest firms having some kind of UPS solution.
For buyers unaccustomed to purchasing UPS equipment, and why should they be, after all these are often something that might only be bought every few years, price, support and power outputs are likely to be the key deciding factors. Few of these buyers will bother to question the day-to-day energy consumption of a UPS, its probable lifespan or the green credentials of the technology involved.
One company seeking to provide more information concerning operational efficiency and also tackle head on the green agenda is Borri, one of the first companies to achieve in February 2011 an ETL (Energy Technology Listing) for its new ECO UPS range.
Borri’s decision to obtain an ETL was taken after the company was able to demonstrate that even a small saving in energy consumption could have a profound effect on operating costs. A typical UPS operates at around 88% efficiency compared to Borri’s new three phase ECO UPS which is 95% efficient. While 7% may not sound much, over a five year period it could save a massive £18,000 in energy consumption, see the graph above.
In fact the savings are so large that Borri’s ECO UPS will recover its purchase price, typically within just two years.
The success of the Borri ECO-UPS is due to the fact that its UPS equipment is one of the first in the world to use IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors) on its rectifiers and inverters, resulting in not only increased operating efficiency but also an input total harmonic distortion (THDi) of less than 3%.
As a further bonus because the units have a THDi of less than 3%, this falls within proposed new EU limits, so it will further help Borri’s customers to tick all the right boxes.
Borri believes up to a staggering one third of direct and indirect energy (air conditioning units) used to power a UPS is wasted due to poor installation configuration and energy inefficiencies. Many of these problems can be addressed by using a Borri double conversion ECO UPS, which is not only more efficient but retains this effectiveness even at low loads.
But getting a ETL listing is only the first step by Borri in helping its customers who range from famous academic institutions to well-known banking and manufacturing names.
Borri sales director, Mark Trolley, explains “The biggest plus with going on the ETL approval register is that Borri customers can now recover on an ECO UPS, the entire capital allowance in the first year, which for bigger corporations is 26%. SME orgnaisations also benefit because they can now obtain an interest free loan from the Carbon Trust which can be repaid over four years.”
To demonstrate even further its green credentials Borri also launched last month a UPS scrappage scheme. The scheme involves paying a minimum of £1,000 to the end-user if they decide to replace an existing less efficient UPS with one of Borri’s new ECO-UPS systems.
A trio of models are currently listed in the Borri ECO-UPS range. These comprise the B8000 ECO a transformerless solution and the B9000 ECO which is considered the most efficient on the UPS market. The larger B96000 ECO when configured in parallel format offers an output of 6.4 MVA, but has an energy efficiency of 95% and a reflected THD of less than 3%.
Trolley concludes: “Borri is not only committed to the highest possible manufacturing and installation standards, but also to the green agenda which when coupled together gives our customers unrivalled quality, product reliability and significant energy costs savings.”
Borri
01246 431431
[email protected]
www.borri.co.uk
