Power protection vs.

UPS topology

Power quality (PQ) is a significant challenge to those responsible for the management of electrical networks and Data Centre facilities.
The widespread use of and increasing dependence upon electronic equipment - such as information technology equipment, power
electronics including programmable logic controllers (PLC) and energy-efficient lighting - have led to a complete transformation in the
nature of electrical loads. These loads are both the major root causes of - and the major casualties of – power quality problems. Due to
Technology

their non-linearity, all these loads cause disturbances in the voltage waveform.
Along with advances in technology, the organisation of the worldwide economy has evolved towards globalisation and the profit margins
of many activities have seen a tendency to decrease.
The increased sensitivity of the vast majority of processes (industrial, services and even residential) to PQ problems means that the
availability of high quality electric power is a crucial factor in terms of developing competitive advantage across every market sector.
It’s widely understood that mission-critical facilities must run continuously, and, of course, that any power interruption, even for a short
time, can disrupt business operations and result in significant financial losses.
Although today’s Data Centres are all designed with a high level of inherent redundancy in order to minimise downtime, just as important
as the mission-critical applications themselves, however, is the quality of the supplied power.
In order to achieve the delivery of consistent, high quality power, it is vital to understand the nature of PQ disturbances and their causes.

What affects the power quality ?

The most common disturbances that adversely affect the power quality are:
• power sags or outages due to network faults,
• short voltage variations due to the connection of heavy loads or the presence of faults in the network,
• distortion of currents and voltages due to non-linear loads present in the system or in the systems of other utilities, etc.
• flicker due to large intermittent loads,
• asymmetry in the supply voltage system.

How to ensure the power quality: the UPS

Modern technology offers various solutions to ensure the power quality; static UPS systems are undoubtedly the most versatile and
widely used and can be adopted for a very broad range of power ratings.
In response to the need to classify the various types of static UPS systems currently available on the market, the standard EN 62040-3
was developed. It distinguishes between three major topologies, according to the internal schemes adopted:
• VFD "offline"
Voltage and Frequency Dependent - Utilities are normally powered by the mains supply. In the event of power loss the load is
automatically switched over to a built-in battery to keep it supplied without interruptions.

• VI "line interactive"
Voltage Independent - The load is supplied by the mains power supply and protected against under and over voltages by an AVR
(Automatic Voltage Regulator) voltage stabilizer. If the mains power is lost, the load is instantaneously powered by the battery.

• VFI "online double conversion"

Voltage and Frequency Independent - This is the only UPS working-mode that assures total load protection against all possible mains
quality problems. The power is converted twice (AC to DC through a rectifier then DC to AC through an inverter) to provide high quality
voltage, stable frequency and protection against power grid disturbances. If the mains power is lost, the load is powered exclusively by
the battery. The internal bypass supplies the utilities in case of inverter output voltage anomalies.

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 Power protection vs. UPS topology

UPS topology
Disturbance type Wave form Possibles causes Consequence
VFD VI VFI
Voltage Mainly due to opening and automatic Tripping of protection devices, loss of
interruption re-closure of protection devices to information and malfunction of data
decommission a faulty network section. processing equipment.
The main fault causes are insulation • • •
failure, lightning and insulator flashover.

Voltage sag/dip Faults on the transmission, in distribution Malfunction of IT equipment, safety

network, or in consumer’s installation. systems, or lighting. Loss of data.
Start-up loads. System shutdown.
• • •

Voltage Transmitters (radio), faulty equipment, Most consequences are common to

fluctuation ineffective grounding, proximity to EMI/ under-voltages. System halts, data loss.
RFI source. The visible consequence is the flickering
of lighting and screens.
• • •

Under voltage Increase of consumption, voltage System halts, data loss, stop of sensitive
reduction to lower the consumption. equipment
- • •

Voltage surge Atmospheric, surges are due to lightning; Data loss, flickering of lighting and
Transient, surges are due to insulation screens, stop or damage of sensitive
faults between phase and earth or rupture equipment.
of neutral conductor;
- • •
Switching, surges are due to opening
of protection devices, generated by
energizing capacitor banks or caused by
variations in inductive current.
Voltage spike/ Lightning, ESD, switching of lines or power Destruction of electronic components, data
transient factor correction capacitors, utility fault processing errors or data loss.
clearing.
- - •

Harmonic Modern sources like all non-linear loads Increased probability in occurrence of
distortion such as power electronics equipment resonance, neutral overload in 3-phase
including ASDs, switched mode power systems, overheating of all cables and
supplies, data processing equipment, high equipment, loss of efficiency in electric
efficiency lighting. machines, electromagnetic interference - - •
with communication systems, errors in
measures when using average reading
meters, nuisance tripping of thermal
protections.
Noise Transmitters (radio), faulty equipment, Disturbances on sensitive electronic
ineffective grounding, proximity to EMI/ equipment, usually not destructive. May
RFI source. cause data loss and data processing
errors. - - •

Frequency Unstable operating of the generator, System halts, data loss.

variation unstable frequency of the utility power
system.
- - •

Notching Fast switching of power components System halts, data loss.

(diodes, SCR, etc.), rapid variation in the
load current (welding machines, motors,
lasers, capacitor banks, etc.). - - •

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