What are the functions of a UPS system?
Have you ever asked yourself the question: What is a UPS? And how does a UPS system work in the first place? As a provider and specialist for UPS solutions, we would like to give you a brief overview. The definition of “UPS” is abbreviated and means “UPS” in English. UPS is an uninterruptible power supply. A UPS system is responsible for the smooth and safe supply of electricity for devices, industries or plants. It is, so to speak, a modern safety system that protects against interference and filling in the power grid.
Static UPS systems with battery system:
In the event of downtime, a UPS system can provide valuable energy. Disruptions are, for example, power outages, over- or Undervoltages in the power grid or short circuits. With innovative UPS technologies such as static UPS systems, the power grid is optimally supplied with voltage. Static systems have a battery system and are operated either online, inline interactive or offline .
1. On Line UPS – VFI (Voltage and Frequency Independent)
The safest of all UPS variants is the On Line UPS. The consumers are constantly supplied with artificial voltage from the battery and the mains voltage is only used to charge them. On-line UPS also monitor themselves. As soon as a fault is detected, the UPS system switches to direct mains operation and thus bypasses the UPS conversion. This process is also called bypass .
The advantages of an On Line UPS are obvious: Due to the constant conversion of the current, the output quality always remains exactly the same and the consumers enjoy full filtering effect. Continuous battery monitoring and redundancy capability also make the On Line UPS the most reliable UPS variant. These UPS systems are particularly suitable for highly sensitive network servers and data communication systems. VFI technology provides stable alternating current over time. This technology is used in single- and three-phase UPS systems. Application: Server rooms.
2. Line Interactive UPS – VI (Voltage Independent)
A Line Interactive UPS uses a mixing process between on-line and off-line technology, in which the battery is constantly charged and the power supply is usually provided by the power grid. The big difference to the off-line UPS is that the mains current is controlled by an automatic voltage regulator (AVR), which makes the output voltage much more stable. The input voltage is thus frequency-synchronous to the voltage output. This technology is used in single-phase UPS systems. Area of application: Office space. Line Interactive UPS also have a very good price-performance ratio and can also be used for smaller server systems and telecommunications systems due to the voltage filtering.
3. Off Line UPS System – VFD (Voltage and Frequency Dependent)
In UPS systems that are “off line”, the mains voltage is normally transmitted directly to the connected devices. However, as soon as voltage fluctuations or failures occur, the system automatically switches to battery operation. Off-line UPSs are characterized by their low price and compact design. However, they lack various filter functions and it is not possible to start the system without a network. Thus, off-line UPS are more suitable for simpler PC and peripheral devices and less for larger electrical and server systems.
UPS systems offer protection against the 9 common power supply problems:
- Power outages
- Voltage dips
- Voltage surges
- Undervoltages
- Surges
- Transients
- High-frequency noise
- Frequency fluctuations
- Harmonics
What capacity should my UPS have?
The required battery power for a UPS system depends primarily on the apparent power (in VA) of the consumers. By adding up the performance values of all peripherals, the minimum capacity is obtained, which ensures a bridging time of five to ten minutes in the event of a power failure. If the end devices are to be supplied with power for longer, the capacity must be increased or an emergency power generator must be switched on.
What do I have to consider when buying a UPS?
When deciding on a UPS system, the environmental conditions should be considered above all.
- Is the mains voltage usually fluctuating or stable?
- Will the power grid be affected by other consumers?
- Which devices must be supplied?
- How much space can I provide for the UPS system?
Taking all these factors into account, a suitable UPS system can then be selected. We will be happy to advise you on the selection of your individual power supply.
