Sodium-Ion Energy Storage Batteries Enter Telecom Backup Power: Backup Time Calculation and Low-Temperature Selection for Torchn Rack-Mounted 51.3V Sodium Batteries

Telecom base stations and equipment room backup power have long been dominated by lead-acid batteries, with LiFePO4 gradually penetrating in recent years; sodium-ion batteries, due to good low-temperature performance, abundant raw materials, and outstanding safety characteristics, are becoming a third technical route being seriously evaluated. Yangzhou Dongtai Solar Energy Co., Ltd. (brands Lanyu LANYU / Torchn) officially announced the launch of sodium-ion energy storage batteries in August 2026 (see official website news newsDetail id=58), among which rack-mounted models target telecom backup power scenarios. This article is based on real parameters from the official website and general engineering formulas.

I. Why Telecom Backup Power Is Starting to Look at Sodium Batteries

For unattended base stations, high-altitude/severe cold region sites, and operators with fluctuating budgets, "low-temperature reliability + long-term cost" is the core reason sodium batteries are being noticed.

II. Rack-Mounted Sodium Battery Models On Sale (Verifiable on Official Website)

Torchn rack-mounted energy storage sodium battery series (19-inch cabinet built-in design, 51.3V platform):

Among them, the complete parameters of the 170Ah model (Torchn WKC F08-51.3170):

III. Backup Time Formula

The "required support duration" for telecom backup power is determined by the site class (e.g., 4h/8h/24h). Selection formula:

For sodium batteries in backup scenarios, DoD 0.9 and efficiency 0.95 can be used for estimation (engineering values; specifics subject to the manufacturer's parameter sheet).

Nominal energy conversion (using the general formula): Energy (kWh) = Voltage (V) × Capacity (Ah) ÷ 1000. Verification: 51.3 × 170 ÷ 1000 = 8.721 ≈ 8.72kWh, consistent with the official website.

IV. Calculation Example: Base Station Load 2kW, Backup 4 Hours

• Required energy = 2 × 4 ÷ 0.9 ÷ 0.95 ≈ 9.36 kWh

• Usable energy of a single F08-51.3170 ≈ 8.72 × 0.9 × 0.95 ≈ 7.46 kWh, slightly insufficient

• Option A: Two units in parallel (8.72 × 2 = 17.44kWh), usable ≈ 14.9 kWh, supporting about 7 hours, with ample margin;

• Option B: When the load drops to 1.5kW, a single unit's usable 7.46 kWh ÷ 1.5 ≈ 4.97h, so a single unit meets the 4-hour requirement.

If the site requires 8 hours of backup at 2kW load: required ≈ 18.7kWh; two units in parallel (14.9kWh usable) is tight, while three units in parallel (about 22.4kWh usable) is more reliable—parallel capacity simply adds up by whole units, making planning simple.

V. Low-Temperature Scenario: How to Calculate Derating at -20°C

Sodium batteries perform better at low temperatures than LiFePO4, but they are not without degradation. In engineering practice, it is recommended to convert according to the manufacturer's low-temperature discharge curve. General approach:

Assume a severe cold site at -20°C has a sodium battery retention rate of about 85%–95% (official statement: low-temperature capacity retention is noticeably better than LiFePO4). Taking a conservative 85%: F08-51.3170 usable energy ≈ 8.72 × 0.85 × 0.9 ≈ 6.67kWh, still supporting a 2kW load for about 3.3 hours; under the same conditions, LiFePO4 usually requires heating film assistance, and the energy consumption is counted as part of the station load.

VI. Rack-Mounted vs. Wall-Mounted: Form Factor Decision Table

VII. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can sodium battery backup power really save long-term costs?

A: Sodium is abundant, and raw material costs have long-term downward potential; meanwhile, sodium batteries have long cycle life and require no heating at low temperatures, which can reduce replacement and energy consumption costs. Short-term unit cost is still higher than lead-acid, so it is suitable for evaluation based on total cost of ownership (TCO).

Q2: Can rack-mounted sodium batteries be placed directly into an existing 19-inch cabinet?

A: The product is rack-mounted design and can be built into a 19-inch cabinet; before formal deployment, please verify cabinet space, load-bearing, and heat dissipation according to the official dimensions (e.g., 170Ah model 440×780×235mm).

Q3: How many units can be connected in parallel at most?

A: Officially rated up to 20 units in parallel per single unit; calculated with the 170Ah model, the theoretical maximum is about 8.72 × 20 = 174.4kWh (51.3V system), covering large-capacity backup sites.

Q4: Do low-temperature sites need heating film?

A: Sodium batteries retain capacity at low temperatures noticeably better than LiFePO4, and most severe cold scenarios can maintain relatively high usable capacity without additional heating; for extreme conditions, it is still recommended to calculate according to the manufacturer's low-temperature curve and evaluate insulation measures.

Q5: How to confirm protocol matching with existing power supplies/inverters?

A: Officially stated massive protocol library, compatible with more than 95% of mainstream off-grid energy storage inverters on the market; for telecom backup power projects, it is recommended to provide the DC power supply model to the manufacturer for protocol confirmation (CAN/RS485).