Uninterruptible

Power Supply (UPS):

An Introduction

Topic Outline

Introduction
Power Line Disturbances
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
General Discussion
Summary

Introduction
Purpose
What is an uninterruptible power supply (UPS)?
Why is it necessary to use a UPS?

PURPOSE

To discuss the different types of UPS

What does the UPS protect against?
Components of a UPS
Issues regarding selection and sizing.
Different types and causes of power line disturbances

What is an Uninterruptible Power Supply

(UPS)?
UPS is a device that has an alternate
source of energy that can provide
power when the primary power source
is temporarily disabled.
The switchover time must be small
enough, not to cause a disruption in the
operation of the loads.

Why is it necessary to use a UPS?

It protects against multiple types of power
disturbances.
It is the only device that protects against an outage.
It offers protection against:
equipment not operating properly,
computer and equipment damage,
data loss, and
time and expense to recover back to where
you were, if even possible.

Causes of Power Disturbances

Storm activity lightning, wind, ice
Objects coming in contact with power line and
tripping breaker tree branches, animals etc.
Utility fault clearing
Construction activity
Accidents motor vehicle, other
Equipment failure
Overloading
Load switching
Non-linear loads
Poor grounding

Types of Power Disturbances

Interruption
Sag (under voltage)
Swell (over voltage)
Voltage fluctuation
Frequency variation
Spikes / transients
impulsive
oscillatory
Waveform distortion
dc offset
harmonics
Inter-harmonics
notching
noise
Voltage imbalance

Duration of Power Disturbances

INSTANTANEOUS
MOMENTARY
TEMPORARY
SUSTAINED

CYCLE OR LESS
CYCLE TO 3 SEC
3 SEC TO 1 MIN
GREATER THAN 1 MINUTE

Distortion in Input Voltage

The voltage supplied by the utility may not be sinusoidal.

(a) Chopped Input Voltage Waveform

(b) Distorted Input Voltage Waveform due to
Harmonics

Power Disturbances Comments

Not only is modern equipment more susceptible to
power disturbances, but also the equipment itself
generates more disturbances.
All loads, from large powerful motors and industrial
equipment to small, sensitive electronic components,
are connected to the same power grid.

What Can You Do To Minimize

The Effects of Power
Disturbances?
Buy equipment that has internal protective
devices:
for example, battery back up for any
appliance that contains a clock
Use one or more external protective devices:
surge protectors
line filters
isolation transformer
voltage regulating line conditioner
UPS

UPS

Architectures
Waveforms
Inverter technology
Components
Switchover time
Advantages / disadvantages
Sizing
Battery safety

UPS
ARCHITECTURES

LINE INTERACTIVE
ON-LINE

LINE INTERACTIVE
UPS
AUTOMATIC
SWITCH

AC SUPPLY
BATTERY
CHARGER

CRITICAL
LOAD
(AC)

INVERTER
DC TO AC

BATTERY

AC FAIL

ADVANTAGES:
AC to DC converter / battery charger does not have to
provide full load power (potentially cheaper)
Less stress on dc-to-ac inverter since it runs at no load
until UPS switches to battery power (potentially cheaper)

ON-LINE UPS
AUTOMATIC
SWITCH

AC SUPPLY
CONVERTER
AC TO DC

INVERTER
DC TO AC

CRITICAL
LOAD
(AC)

BATTERY

INVERTER FAIL

ADVANTAGES:
Zero switchover time from main line to battery power
Always isolated from power disturbances on the main line

LAPTOP COMPUTER POWER

SUPPLY
CRITICAL
LOAD

AC SUPPLY

(DC)
CONVERTER
AC TO DC

CONVERTER
DC TO DC

BATTERY

COMPONENTS
CONVERTER - AC TO DC
SPD (Surge Protection Device) - PROTECTS AGAINST
SPIKES AND TRANSIENTS

BATTERY
STORED ENERGY DEVICE - PROTECTS AGAINST
INTERRUPTIONS

INVERTER DC TO AC
WAVEFORM SYNTHESIS PROTECTS AGAINST DC OFFSET
AND INTERHARMONICS
FILTER PROTECTS AGAINST HARMONICS, NOTCHING AND
NOISE
VOLTAGE REGULATOR PROTECTS AGAINST SAGS,
SURGES AND FLUCTUATIONS

SWITCHOVER TIME:
MONITOR AND CONTROL HARDWARE /
Typical switchover time: 2 4 ms (one quarter cycle or less)
SOFTWARE
For some equipment, this is not tolerable

SIZING THE
UPS
Equipment ratings for loads:
Obtain ratings from nameplate or specification sheet
Energy usage may be specified in volt-amps (VA) or watts
(W) and in values that are either maximum or nominal
(VA) and (W) are related via power factor

Total UPS load must not exceed the UPS volt-amp (VA) rating
Total UPS load must not exceed the UPS watt (W) rating
Oversize / derate to add life
Runtime charts

BATTERY
SAFETY
MAINTENANCE
INSPECT PERIODICALLY
REPLACE AS NEEDED

RISKS
ACID
ELECTRIC SHOCK
BURN
FLYING, MOLTEN METAL (EYES)
INJURIES RESULTING FROM CARRYING HEAVY
BATTERY PACKS

DISPOSAL
DISPOSE OF PROPERLY
RECYCLE WHENEVER POSSIBLE

UPS Control

Typically the load is highly nonlinear and the voltage output of the
UPS must be as close to the desired sinusoidal reference as possible

UPS Supplying Several Loads

With higher power UPS supplying several loads, malfunction

within one load should not disturb the other loads.

DOES A UPS OFFER COMPLETE

PROTECTION
?
Some power disturbances
may exceed the handling capability
of the UPS.
UPS failure

UPS: Using the Line Voltage as

Backup

Needs static transfer switches

SUMMARY
UPS SPECIFICATION CONSIDERATIONS
POWER QUALITY:
Architecture - line interactive or on-line
Waveform - square, modified sine, true
sine
Immunity to disturbances other than
outage

RUN TIME WITH AN OUTAGE

RELIABILITY
AUDIBLE NOISE
MONITOR AND CONTROL HARDWARE /
SOFTWARE
LOCAL / REMOTE CONTROL

INITIAL COST