Essential at critical facilities, UPS carry out a vital service to guarantee the proper operation of equipment, prevent data loss and lengthen the useful life of the facilities. Let’s look at the definitive questions and answers in order to learn about these types of systems.
What is a UPS?
Put simply, a UPS is a device that, thanks to its batteries, enables a continuous supply of power to any device it has connected should an outage or power cut occur.
UPS serve as a filter by correcting and improving the quality of the power that reaches its loads. This service does so by filtering voltage and frequency surges and drops, and also by eliminating harmonics in a certain type of UPS. Put simply, it provides equipment with clean, stable power and security against outages.
Why is a UPS required?
The quality of the power supply that reaches our facilities is not always stable, which can seriously affect the proper operation of this critical equipment.
The UPS enables a constant, high-quality power supply by filtering and regulating peaks or noise, protects us and guarantees the continuity of the service should a power outage occur. It is our security and guarantee of continuity of service.
How many types of UPS exist?
There are three types of UPS: off-line, line-interactive and double conversion on-line.
- Off-line UPS: This type of equipment does not keep either the voltage or the frequency constant in its outlet, which will be the responsibility of the inlet network.
- Line-interactive UPS: This type of equipment keeps the voltage constant at the outlet, but is not capable of keeping the frequency constant, which will depend on the inlet.
- Double conversion on-line UPS: This type of UPS is the one used in professional solutions and particularly for a data center. A UPS with these characteristics is capable of keeping the voltage and frequency constant in its outlet, independently of the inlet (always within a limited variability range).
A double conversion on-line UPS takes the stress wave from the inlet, passes it through the inverter at continuous current and then regenerates a stress wave with suitable value and frequency at critical load through a rectifier. It has a system of batteries that, in the event of a grid failure, will supply the rectifier, thereby maintaining the load during their ride-over capacity time.
The UPS has a static by-pass that comes into operation when an internal problem occurs in the equipment and it is not capable of keeping the outlet stable. It will also pass to by-pass in the event of a UPS overload, derivation or short circuit in the outlet.