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Power continuity · DC power systems

Outage recorder backup

A supercapacitor backup supply for a 24 V recorder. The model checks runtime, voltage during transfer, and component derating.

Discharge and transfer model executed

Computed backup-supply voltage after power loss, for nominal and derated components.
Computed backup-supply voltage after power loss, for nominal and derated components.

Implementation

Constant-power nonlinear discharge with ESR, converter losses, input current limit and UVLO

Time-domain output-capacitor transfer model

Storage comparison, component criteria and functional schematic

Executed synthetic/theoretical validation with a selected operating envelope, adverse conditions, and reproducible acceptance evidence.

Inputs and assumptions

  • 12 W for 2 s, then 6 W; 125 s recording/shutdown target
  • All component and recorder values are declared reference assumptions; no hardware measurements

Results

RECORDED ANALYSIS

Recorder backup discharge

Compare the included analysis results.

Charts display stored numerical results, not live solver runs.

Recorded results for the included reference case
Combined-derating runtime134.09 s
Required duration125 s
2 ms transfer minimum23.707 V
Virtual validation checks13 / 13
Combined-corner steady-load limit6.433 W
Modeled transfer-gap limit16.938 ms
Report figures (4)
Nominal and combined-derating discharge
Nominal and combined-derating discharge
Transfer interruption sensitivity
Transfer interruption sensitivity
Functional power path
Functional power path
Component-corner runtime and ideal shunt-balanced charge
Component-corner runtime and ideal shunt-balanced charge

Open the full report ↗

Verification

16 tests; analytical runtime, energy conservation, step refinement and deliberately failing storage case. Additional virtual validation: 13 checks matched their expected outcomes. Adverse design conditions remain in the results.

python run.py
Download the verification record ↓

Additional scenarios

13 outcomes checked through synthetic/theoretical. The report lists the expected and observed outcomes for each check.

Read the validation report ↗

Project files

The ZIP contains the source, inputs, results, and instructions. These files are also available individually.

Download project ZIP · 412 KB
Archive checksum

SHA-256

159c3a09c4f2645228061ca226cda845c33fe5d0f3d448b6d351eafa22382c33
Original project scopeArchived brief PDF ↗

Run locally

Python 3.11+ / NumPy / SciPy / Matplotlib

Extract the ZIP and open a terminal in the dc-recorder-backup folder. The README includes setup and usage details.

python -m pip install -r requirements.txt
python run.py
python -m unittest -v

Limits

  • No physical circuit, PCB, purchased components or bench measurements are included. Values are reference qualification targets.
  • The regulator is ideal apart from fixed efficiency, idle load, ESR, current limit and UVLO. The virtual bench adds reduced leakage, imbalance and charging models. Loop stability, actual thermal rise and selected-part dropout behavior remain outside the model.
  • The 2 ms transfer interruption is an assumed requirement. Reverse blocking is a topology requirement, not a measured backfeed result.
  • Recorder file integrity and shutdown completion need tests on the actual device. A passing energy calculation does not establish either.