UPS Systems – Parallel & Synchronous Operation
Certain online UPS Systems have the ability to be connected in parallel in order to provide redundancy. Expressed as an "n+x" system, "n" is the num...
Certain online UPS Systems have the ability to be connected in parallel in order to provide redundancy. Expressed as an “n+x” system, “n” is the number of UPS needed and “x” the number of UPS over and above the actual power requirement.
Redundancy can also be achieved if your load has dual inputs and providing power by two separate UPS Systems. In such circumstances you could remove the need to parallel the UPS together.
The issue arises with this situation in that if the output voltage waveform are not synchronised they could end up out of phase. For a single phase system operating at a nominal 230Vrms this could mean a potential between two “live” conductors in the same enclosure of 460V!
Usually a UPS output frequency is synchronised to the input power frequency. This allows the UPS to “bypass” without any loss of power in the event of a fault or overload. As a result, the AC power source feeding the UPS Systems must originate from the same supply.
When the UPS drop onto battery power during a power outage their outputs are then controlled by their own internal clocks. A full power waveform is generated in 20 milliseconds. In order for two waveforms to be antiphase there needs to be a time delay between them of 10 milliseconds. In a 5 minute power cut this means that two disparate UPS systems need only have a variance between their clocks of around 30ppm or 0.003% – a tiny amount – for an antiphase situation to occur.
The UPS Systems need to have synchronisation to prevent this from happening, and not all systems are capable of this. The E200 6KVA and 10KVA UPS Systems from Dale Power Solutions have this very important feature allowing the UPS to be independent but have a synchronized output.
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