An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is an electrical device that provides emergency power to a load in the event of a failure in the input power or mains supply.
The difference between uninterruptible power supplies and auxiliary or emergency power systems or backup generators is that uninterruptible power supplies provide near instantaneous input power interruption protection by providing energy stored in batteries, supercapacitors, or flywheels.
The battery running time of most uninterruptible power supplies is relatively short (only a few minutes), but sufficient to start backup power or properly shut down protected equipment. It is a continuous power supply system.
Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is commonly used to protect hardware such as computers, data centers, telecommunications equipment, medical systems, or other electrical equipment by protecting devices from power outages and fluctuations,
In these devices, unexpected power outages may result in injury, death, severe business interruption, or data loss. Understanding the components, types, and applications of power semiconductors in UPS helps ensure the reliability and performance of the system.
Main components of UPS
- Input power supply
The input power supply is the entrance of UPS, usually connected to the power grid. It provides power for UPS operation and is also responsible for voltage regulation and filtering to ensure stable power supply for UPS. - UPS controller
The UPS controller is the intelligent brain of UPS. It monitors the input power quality, load condition, and battery status. Based on this information, the controller can switch power sources to ensure continuous power supply. - Battery
The battery is a critical component of UPS, used to store electricity. When the power supply is interrupted, the UPS will immediately switch to battery power to ensure uninterrupted power supply. The capacity of the battery determines how long the UPS can provide power. - Output inverter
The output inverter converts the DC power of the battery into AC power to supply the output of the UPS. It ensures the quality and stability of the output power supply to protect the connected devices. - Output power supply
The output power supply provides the power generated by the UPS to connected devices such as servers, computers, network equipment, etc. It can provide constant voltage and frequency to maintain the normal operation of the equipment.