Development of improved small VRLA batteries for the telecommunications industry

The decentralization of power requirements within the telecommunications industry has fueled a dramatic increase in the demand for small capacity batteries used for backup power applications. Over the past decade, small VRLA (valve-regulated lead acid) batteries have come to dominate this market segment because of their significant advantages over conventional flooded lead acid batteries. However, the design life of such batteries is 3-5 years, compared with a life of 15-20 years for flooded and larger VRLA batteries. While some manufacturers have emphasized the development of less expensive batteries with no change in design life, at Yuasa we have worked on the development of a new generation of longer-lived VRLA batteries. The new RLA (for robust lead acid) batteries are designed for a fifteen-year life, resulting in a true five to seven year life even under elevated temperature conditions. RLA batteries provide a reliable, cost-effective alternative to conventional small VRLA batteries, while dramatically reducing overall service and life cycle costs. In this paper, we present the design improvements incorporated into RLA batteries, and discuss the cost benefits associated with their use in typical telecommunication installations.