Power conditioning is one of the lesser-known but equally foremost functions of an uninterruptible power supply (Ups). Its primary purpose, of course, is to supply a source of electrical vigor to vocalize continuity of company throughout an interruption in mains electricity or until an alternative source of vigor (such as a generator) starts up.
Why the Need for Power Conditioning?
High Voltage Power Supply Circuit
There are issues related with raw mains electricity that can cause problems for electronic equipment. These include, but are not exiguous to: sags, surges, brownouts, spikes and transients, electrical noise, harmonics, frequency variations and, of course, complete blackouts. At best, power problems can cause equipment (particularly computer and telecommunications equipment) to lock or crash. At worst, they can consequent in a complete breakdown - thus entailing costly and disruptive fix and/or replacement. In the case of computers, they can also consequent in data being lost or corrupted, which for many industries that are heavily regulated (such as banking and finance) can be disruptive to business, damaging to prestige and credibility, and in extreme cases, can lead to heavy fines or financial penalties.
Power Conditioning, therefore, by uninterruptible power supplies and related equipment, is a process by which it monitors incoming mains electricity, cleanses it and significantly reduces the consequent of problems such as those highlighted already. Some Ups, fitted with special filters, can sell out the consequent of harmonics. All Ups vocalize frequencies to within prescribed limits thus correcting frequency fluctuations. Ultimately, this means protected loads upstream, receive a clean and regulated supply of electrical energy.
Power Conditioners
Power conditioners attenuate spikes, transients and electrical noise voltages to low levels. They can be solid state electronic or transformer-based. Where these types of problems predominate, and sensitive equipment is being protected, that's where power conditioners will be used, typically in commercial environments. Some power conditioners can also supply voltage stabilization over a wide input voltage window (typically minus 20 to plus 15%) and yield voltage regulation (typically plus or minus 5%). Models of this type can be referred to as Constant Voltage Transformers (Cvt) or Ferroresonant type design.
This type of transformer is more reliable than a solid-state electronic build and provides electric isolation (a means of preventing unwanted electrical currents from traveling between two separate units). It's history rest in uninterruptible power supply designs from the 1980s (known as Ferro Ups), which paired the Cvt with a Line Interactive Ups to accomplish a 'no-break' output. Though reliable and robust, this type of uninterruptible power supply was only practical for single-phase installations and couldn't compete on cost, noise, physical size and weight, with transformerless Ups designs that were beginning to emerge.
Automatic Voltage Stabilisers (Avs)
Avs supply security from sags, brownouts and surges. They can be electro-mechanical or solid-state electronic devices and are often referred to as self-operating Voltage Regulators (Avrs). Avs typically have wide input voltage windows (minus 40 to plus 20%) to enable them to do their job. When presented with a low or high mains power supply voltage, a control circuit selects a transformer tap setting to buck (step down) or boost (step up) the voltage to more accepted levels. The yield voltage tracks the input voltage window as there is, typically, no voltage regulation.
Some self-operating Voltage Stablisers consolidate a filter to supply both the load and Avs with security from spikes, transients and electrical noise. The primary application of an Avs is in remote areas where sags, surges and brownouts are coarse to safe equipment such as fridges, freezers and domestic electrical goods.
Filters and Filter Strips
Filters supply security from spikes, transients and electrical noise. Instead of attenuating problems like power conditioners, filters clamp peak voltages to pre-defined levels and prevent damaging electrical noise from passing through to related loads.
There are a whole of filters ready and execution varies considerably across the range. Filter (surge) strips, for example, are ordinarily used within Ict environments for power distribution. At the higher end, more expert filters can be acquired for expert environments, such as scientific laboratories. Filter performance, clamping level and speed of response, is dependent upon their circuit build and the size of the disturbance it is faced with.
Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors (Tvss)
Tvss supply security from transient voltages and high-energy spikes, particularly those induced into a building's electrical supply by local lightning strikes. They are rated in terms of the Amps (A) or Joules (J) they dissipate. They regularly sit parallel to the load and only react when presented with a transient or high-energy surge.
When installed within a building, a 'zoned approach' is recommended, which places high rated devices before distribution boards. A Tvss may be fitted upstream of a Ups or inside a bypass panel, generator Amf panel or distribution boards to supply security from around lightning strikes.
Tvss designs tend to be based around Metal Oxide Varistors (Movs) rather than Gas removal Tubes (Gdts) typically found in surge suppressors. Some manufacturers consolidate their Mov designs with a Silicon Avalanche Diode (Sad) front-end to speed up their response time.
Uninterruptible Power furnish - Power Conditioning
