Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems have been so needy and helpful in many fields. With frequent power cuts and unexpected natural disturbances, power loss is common nowadays. Still, with advanced technologies, it has become easy to encounter certain power failure issues.
Specialized models of UPS systems are available today in the market to meet the power demands of various applications.
This post gives you a brief idea of various types of UPS that are specifically and suitably used in different fields.
Firstly, though known, let’s understand what a UPS is.
UPS – Uninterruptible Power Supply – As per the name you can understand that it continuously provides power supply to your equipment. May it is a small household electric appliance or huge machinery, substantial power voltage is supplied by UPS. It has four main components – a rectifier or a charger that takes in the power supply from the main source and convert it to DC. This is used in case of a power cut.
The stabilized DC output produced by the rectifier is again converted back to AC by inverter. The UPS uses an efficient and standard battery to enable efficient function. Suppose the UPS power supply fails, then on bypass, the current is supplied to the load directly from the mains – static switches are used for this purpose. So, there will always be immediate response upon power failure.
Different types of UPS systems
To meet various kinds of situations and provide continuous power supply, UPS systems are designed in different ways.
- Stand-by UPS –It is also known as offline UPS. It has AC/DC and DC/AC inverter, battery, low pass filter, surge suppressor, and a static switch. This UPS is called standby UPS because the inverter is always in a standby mode and gets activated only if there is a power cut. With the help of a static switch, this standby UPS works efficiently and ensures a continuous flow of electricity.
Standby UPS is mostly preferable for personal computers because it is so efficient, compact in size, and relatively inexpensive.
- Online UPS–This type of Ups uses a double conversion technology – the current from the main source does not directly reach the load or device. It is first converted to DC by the rectifier and then converted to AC by inverter and then it reaches the end equipment. Online UPS systems, therefore, assure clean power output and avoid any kind of voltage or power issues. Even under power loss conditions, they provide consistent current flow and also enable high-level protection.
However, they are a bit more expensive than offline or line-interactive UPS systems. But, they are highly efficient and more helpful.
- Line-interactive UPS–This UPS allows perfect voltage regulation. Though the electrical source is the first line of power, the inverter technology gives substantial power to the battery for charging. When there is a power outage, the battery converts this to AC power and supplies to the final load.
To ensure safety, sometimes, a tap-changing transformer is also included in the line-interactive UPS. This type of UPS is highly reliable, small in size, and is useful for many applications where uninterruptible power is necessary.
Topology of UPS
Let’s know some of the common UPS types used.
- Single-phase line-interactive UPS – This UPS with capacities lower than 1kVA is generally used for PC and peripherals.
- Single-phase on-line UPS – It enables an efficient power supply for three-phase power applications. They can be designed with capacities ranging from 1 – 20kVA. They are prominently used for data centers and industrial equipment.
- Three-phase on-line UPS –Providing single-phase power for server and network equipment, they are built with capacities 10-200kVA.
- Three-phase modular on-line UPS –This modular online UPS enables power supply for three-phase power applications within a single rack. Their capacity range is between 20-200kVA.
Various UPS Applications
The three different types of UPS systems are useful for various applications.
- Industrial UPS– As you know, small, medium and large-sized industries use different kinds of machinery and equipment. Problems due to the power failure in industries are easily cleared by Industrial UPS. They are used for manufacturing plants, factories, textile industries, food processing industries, etc.
- Medical UPS– In healthcare centers, hospitals, and other medical institutions, sensitive electric and electronic equipment are used for diagnosis, analysis, and treatments. Medical UPS provides consistent and safe power supply is assured of such instruments. They are most importantly used to support life-supporting systems and other such sensitive critical equipment.
- Computer or Communication System – These UPS systems are mostly used in offices, server farms, web hosting sites, and network companies. They ensure uninterruptible power supply to the computers – so, they avoid data corruption or loss.
- Defense or Military Application–Even in certain military applications, UPS systems are used. Security, safety, and other alarming equipment need an uninterruptible power source. These UPS systems allow continuous operation of such equipment and maintain strict defense and military measures without a slight shot of negligence.
So, the different types of UPS systems are successful in fulfilling the operations of many fields. They are useful for houses, schools, offices, educational institutions, computer labs, hospitals, military centers, etc. Bonded with trust, Servocare by Servomax Limited serves different kinds of such UPS systems to its diversified clients all over the world. It is not only a reliable UPS manufacturer but also a branded service provider in India.