Power outage alarm solution based on super capacitors

Power outage alarm solution based on super capacitors

In many unmanned device operation scenarios, power outages are a common and unforeseeable issue. For example, if key infrastructure such as remote monitoring sites, edge computing devices, and industrial routers fail to respond in a timely manner in the event of power interruption, data loss or equipment failure will result, which will adversely affect business continuity. Therefore, how to respond and handle power outages in a timely manner has become an urgent problem for enterprises to solve.

At present, the common solution for power outages in the market is to equip devices with built-in or external batteries as backup power sources. This type of solution can provide short-term battery life for devices during power outages, while saving data and sending alerts. However, the battery solution also has some significant drawbacks:

High cost: The procurement cost of the battery itself is high, and additional circuit design and protective measures are required to ensure safety.

Safety hazards: Batteries pose risks such as overheating, fire, and leakage, especially when working in extreme environments where safety issues become more prominent.

Poor environmental adaptability: The normal operating temperature of the battery usually needs to be above zero degrees, and outdoor equipment often cannot meet the conditions in winter.

Transportation and maintenance are complex: Batteries belong to the category of dangerous goods transportation and are subject to strict logistics restrictions. In addition, batteries require regular maintenance and replacement, which increases operational costs.

In some application scenarios, such as when only data needs to be saved and alarms sent during power outages, without the need for long-term backup power supply, battery solutions appear too cumbersome and expensive. Therefore, it is necessary to find a more efficient and economical alternative solution.

In response to the above challenges, HomtecsM2M proposed a power outage alarm solution based on super capacitors. Super capacitors, also known as electrochemical capacitors, are a new type of energy storage device that falls between traditional electrolytic capacitors and batteries. Compared to traditional batteries, super capacitors have higher power density and longer charge and discharge cycles. Therefore, we have built-in super capacitors in industrial routers, which can provide brief but sufficient power support during power outages through this innovative design, enabling data storage and rapid reporting of alarm information.

1. Scheme principle

Integrate super capacitors into the device, and when an external power interruption is detected, the super capacitor immediately takes over the power supply of the device. Within a short period of seconds to tens of seconds, the device can complete operations such as data saving and power outage alarm reporting. The fast response capability and efficient energy output of super capacitors make them an ideal choice for power outage emergency applications.

2. Advantages of Super capacitors

Fast charging and discharging speed: The charging speed of super capacitors is much higher than that of traditional batteries, and they can usually be charged in a few seconds, which means that the device can quickly restore backup power.

High cycle life: The charging and discharging times of super capacitors can reach hundreds of thousands of times, far exceeding the thousands of times of lithium batteries, greatly reducing replacement frequency and maintenance costs.

Wide temperature adaptability: Super capacitors can operate normally within a wide temperature range of -40 ℃ to+70 ℃, making them very suitable for harsh conditions in industrial environments.

High safety: Super capacitors do not pose the risk of explosion and fire like lithium batteries, and their safety is higher, making them suitable for use in high-risk industrial scenarios.

Environmentally friendly: The material of super capacitors is recyclable and environmentally friendly, in line with the current trend of green environmental protection.

HomtecsM2M's built-in super capacitor industrial router solution has been put into use in multiple projects, and in practical applications, the solution has demonstrated the following advantages:

Power outage alarm: When the external power supply suddenly interrupts, the router can still maintain normal operation for tens of seconds, and the power outage alarm information is promptly sent to the maintenance center through the 4G/5G network. This provides valuable time for operations personnel to take emergency measures.

Data protection: After a power outage, super capacitors provide brief power support to routers, enabling them to complete data caching operations and prevent important data loss.

Battery free maintenance: By not using traditional batteries, the need for battery replacement and maintenance is eliminated, significantly reducing long-term usage costs.

Strong adaptability: This solution is particularly suitable for scenarios with unstable electricity, such as base stations in remote areas, unmanned energy stations, and smart transportation intersection control systems.

Comparison with traditional solutions

From the table, it can be seen that super capacitors are significantly superior to traditional battery solutions in terms of charging speed, cycle life, safety, temperature adaptability, and other aspects. Therefore, for unmanned equipment scenarios that only require data storage and timely alarms in the event of power outages, solutions based on super capacitors are undoubtedly a better choice.