Final answer:
To determine battery backup duration, one must take into account the battery capacity, power consumption rate, and battery efficiency. Real-life factors include battery decline, maintenance, and varying power demands during outages, essentials in fields like transportation and power generation.
Step-by-step explanation:
To consider how long batteries would supply power if all generators were lost, we need to acknowledge various factors such as the capacity of the batteries, the rate of power consumption by the systems dependent on these batteries, and the efficiency of the batteries themselves. Calculating the duration of battery backup would typically fall under physics due to the principles of energy storage and power usage involved.
For instance, if a battery system has a capacity of 3,000 kWh (kilowatt-hours) and the power demand is 6 MW (megawatts), we can calculate the timeframe by converting the demand into kilowatts and dividing the total capacity by the consumption rate. If ignoring efficiency losses and other practical considerations, such a system would theoretically provide power for 0.5 hours (30 minutes), as 6,000 kW would deplete 3,000 kWh in 30 minutes.
However, in real-life situations, battery efficacy declines over time and charge/discharge cycles, maintenance needs, replacement costs, and the actual demand during a power outage must all be considered. These complications are significant in sectors such as transportation and power generation where long-term energy storage and high power demand are common concerns.