Elevator UPS for a Residential Building: Where does one start?

[warmsecondrinse]

We had a power outage in my building recently and the elevators did what they were supposed to do. They went down to the next lower floor and the doors opened. So nobody got stuck, which is good. However, this created concern regarding the many elderly people and those with health conditions in the building. At the following board meeting the possibility of purchasing a generator. Some explorations were made and a cost of approx $50,000 was determined for a generator (fuel not mentioned) that would cover one elevator for continuous use.

We're talking about one elevator rated for 2000 lbs. Top to bottom is 15 floors, inclusive.

It would seem to me that a UPS backup would be considerably cheaper.

Stats:

14 residential floors, each with ~23 apartments per floor --> 325 apartments x 2 people ~= 650 people.

Building has 4 elevators rated at 2000 lbs. All were replaced within the last 3 years. Even with Covid restrictions of 1 person/family allowed in the elevator at a time I rarely wait more than a couple of minutes. I've no idea if the elevators have any regenerative capacity or not.

Resident compliance with everything is really high. Many people walk up a couple of floors to get some exercise and then take an elevator the rest of the way. I'm confident if there were a power failure 90% of the people physically able to would take the stairs down in order to stretch the operation time of any backup unit.

I want to compare apples to apple so the UPS would be for 1 elevator rated at 2000 lbs. running between 15 floors.

I'd like to do some preliminary research on what's involved and get a ball park idea of costs. I have done a bit of internet sleuthing and what I've found is a bunch of high tech glossy brochures and an entreaty to allow them to solve all our problems. However, I've found nothing that even hints at "What kind of elevators do you have and what do you want our UPS packages to do with them?"

So I tend to think I'm going about this all wrong. Or am I being naive?

My lease comes up May 31st and I want to be able to buy the unit I'm currently renting. So while I obviously benefit from having an elevator that works during a blackout, I also want to show that I'm the kind of resident they want to have here as an owner.

The maintenance people have figured out that I know a little bit more about the buildings one-pipe water heating/cooling system than most residents do. When there's air in the system they don't make a visit. They just text and ask me to open my units' bleed valves. i take it as a compliment.

So do any of you guys know enough about this just to give me an idea as to how research what's involved with a battery backup for an elevator and how to find a rough estimate of costs?

I'll do all the legwork. I'm just asking what direction to go off in.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[circlew]

UPS systems are meant to provide power until a generator picks up the load. They are mainly used to keep computer systems from having to be rebooted, and essential lighting on, such as in operating rooms. They are excellent for their intended use, but I question the practicality for use with large motor loads. I would think the cost of a system with sufficient battery capacity to run an elevator would likely be higher than $50,000. The price quoted for the genset (if it includes installation) doesn't sound too high, as my aunt paid about $25,000 for her 60 KW Kohler diesel around 1998.

 

[combo52]

Building Back-Up Power

I don't think I ever saw a building with elevators over a few stories without a back-up generator, I think they all have them in DC and Maryland.

 

An elevator and the emergency hall lighting etc does not draw that much power, here in the DC area many are fueled by diesel fuel or Natural Gas.

 

John L.

 

[qsd-dan]

Tom is correct. UPS's are designed to briefly carry power until the generator(s) fire(s) up and the BG transfer switch kicks over.

UPS batteries are a bit on the unstable side even when properly designed with more than enough headroom. At work, we had a power failure and the UPS batteries decided to release some magic smoke during the transitional phase....then the FM-200 dispersed. Although memorable, it didn't rank up there as my favorite day at work.

 

[tolivac]

Go with others on here UPS supplies are designed more for electronic loads rather than for elevators.A genset would be best for that.In a Gov't building I worked in while in DC They had two diesel gensets to take up essential loads-a 950Kw and 2Mw generators.Those could run the elevators and other required loads in the building-including the VOA studios.I lived in apt buildings for years in the DC area-they had elevators-never had a power failure in these buildings.One building had 2 13Kv-208/120V transformers.Other had one 480V and 208/120V that ran from the 480V supply.You learn a lot exploring the apt house you live in and get freindly with building engineers.In the stairways,hallways there should be lights that can run from battery power in case the power does go off.The apt buildings I was in had those.You could see your way in or out of the building.Of course you may have to climb stairs yourself.Did that anyway for cheap exercise even with power on.

 

[warmsecondrinse]

Many thanks for the info!

I did find reference to batteries possibly needing to be kept in a separate, fire proof room.

I did find one add-on package for 101K. But there was a strange lack of numbers.... of any type.

I was expecting to be bombarded with facts and figures I didn't understand and need to collect a bunch of data......

Instead.... You know that tv commercial for buying your next car online? The car dealership is a big, loud, CREEPY circus. That's what these web pages reminded me of.

Anyway, thanks again.

Jim

 

[tolivac]

Battery rooms also had to be seperately vented-since charge-discharge of batteries make explosive-flammable gases.Have had to deal with battery rooms-one battery room in the building I am in now-have to check it on each shift-for proper charge-discharge currents.48V and 120V DC battery supplies.48V for switching-control circuits.The 120V DC for 4160V breaker trip-close coils and breaker relays.The "relay" is actually electronic it controls the trip and close for the breakers.The old breaker system had actual relays to control the breakers.Also buildings with very large remote trip breakers would have these controls.Breakers too large and currents too dangerous for the breaker to be opened-closed by hand.Again some of these in the building-but self contained.They have charge levers to charge the close springs.

 

[retro-man]

The building I live in has a massive diesel generator to handle the elevators and security systems in the building. All entry doors are fob activated along with the parking gates. All stairway lighting and smoke detectors are covered. We have done a lot of lowering power consumption in low energy florescent lights in the stairways with motion detectors along with new elevators a couple of years ago.

Jon