Thursday, January 21, 2021

Understanding UPS Systems: 3 Essential Things You Need to Know

Many of us in the emergency backup power industry are often asked to manage a range of complex systems that require particular attention to detail, efficiency, and power quality. This is a lot to work with and it is always helpful to have some guidance on the basics of these systems. Here's an overview for understanding Managed Ups Services:

1.) NOT ALL UPS SYSTEMS ARE THE SAME.

To truly understand UPS systems, it is important to become familiar with the types of UPSs and how they work.

Standby UPS

This is a faulty / repairable type of UPS. This system usually consists of a battery to provide a short-term source of electricity, a rectifier or charger to maintain battery voltage, an inverter to supply power to the load during normal operation, and a static switch to transfer the load. automatically between the grid and the inverter with minimal interference. It can also have input and output isolation transformers and filters to provide proper isolation and noise reduction. They also contain control circuits, sensors and monitors. This UPS system converts AC power to DC that is compatible with the voltage and characteristics of the battery.

Double conversion UPS

This type of UPS differs from an online or standby interactive UPS in several areas. First, the main power path is the inverter versus the AC grid. In this system, a failure in the AC input will NOT activate the transfer switch as the AC input is a backup source. This type of system works by converting power from AC to DC and then back to AC. Protects your installation at the highest level by isolating your equipment from the public mains power. Since the device is always online, it provides power with no transfer time to your equipment, making it ideal for mission-critical installations or locations with poor power conditions. It also has an internal static bypass, so in the event of a serious failure of your UPS, you can maintain critical loads on the grid during repair or replacement.

Line interactive UPS

This type of UPS monitors the incoming mains voltage and provides automatic voltage regulation when low or high voltage conditions occur. The Line-Interactive UPS extends battery life because you may not have to constantly switch to battery operation in areas prone to outages. Line interactive blocks also provide surge and surge protection. They also provide radio frequency interference (RFI) and electromagnetic interference (EMI) filtering. This UPS is ideal for applications where you are not protecting critical equipment and where the utility power is kept clean. These UPSs are usually inexpensive, even for a small office.

2) TOTAL UPS SERVICE COST VARIES DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU PURCHASE AND HOW THE UPS IS USED.

Several factors can affect the total cost of ownership of a UPS. Overall life cycles can be affected by:

 

Energy inefficiency is one of the largest controllable UPS costs. The efficiency of a new UPS system in real online mode can range from 85% to 98%. However, UPS systems, especially when underutilized, can consume huge amounts of energy with 40 to 50% efficiency in some legacy systems. At QPS, we can help you estimate your total cost of ownership, including the cost of wasted energy, over the life of your system.

Dust, dirt and moisture will reduce overall efficiency. Power outages can also cause problems if not properly assessed.

Irregular maintenance or poorly designed systems. Failure to perform routine preventive maintenance will significantly shorten the life of your UPS. It also increases costs due to the need for more frequent replacement of parts. Poorly designed systems give the same results.

Some systems may come standard with a 3-year warranty instead of 1 year. Extending the initial warranty often helps lower your total cost of ownership.

3) YOUR UPS PROTECTS YOU MORE THAN A LOSS OF POWER.

You also regulate your power and protect your equipment.

Why is power regulation so important? Because power grid anomalies can reduce performance! The power conversion acts as a noise buffer and smooths out possible power fluctuations before moving it towards you. It is important to note that only an online true double conversion UPS will protect against all nine power anomalies.

There are nine common power problems that a power control system protects against:

  • Power failure: complete power outage from the public network.
  • Power failure: intermittent low voltage problems. It is like being sleepy after dinner.
  • Voltage surges or surges: short-term high voltage exceeding 110% of normal output power. This is similar to high levels of caffeine in humans.
  • Low voltage (undervoltage condition) - the mains voltage is reduced for a long period. This can be from a few minutes to several days. This usually happens during the summer months when air conditioners put pressure on the electrical grid.
  • Overvoltage: Overvoltage in the mains voltage for an extended period from several minutes to several days.
  • Power line noise is a high frequency power wave caused by RFI or EMI.
  • Frequency Drift: Loss of stability at normal power supply frequency of 50 to 60 Hz.
  • Switching transient: instantaneous undervoltage in the nanosecond range.
  • Harmonic Distortion: Distortion of the normal power wave, usually transmitted by uneven loads.

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