Nested Redundant UPS System for Continuous Power Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UPS systems lack a robust and efficient method to provide nested redundancy, which is essential for ensuring continuous power supply and increased load capability while maintaining reliability.
Innovation Solution
A parallel redundant UPS system with at least three UPSs configured in parallel, featuring control circuitry that supports two redundant groups and subgroups, allowing selective enabling/disabling of UPSs based on load levels, and utilizing digital communications buses for synchronization and bypass control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple UPSs are connected in parallel to provide redundancy and increased load capability, then reliability and load capability are improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for coordination and control among multiple units
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the redundant UPS configuration into hierarchical groups and subgroups. The control circuitry segments the management of UPS units by implementing redundant groups where each group contains multiple UPSs, and further dividing each group into redundant subgroups. This segmentation allows independent control and coordination of smaller units within the larger parallel system, reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nested redundancy by creating redundant groups that contain redundant subgroups, which in turn contain individual UPS units. This nested structure allows the system to manage complexity hierarchically, where failures at the subgroup level can be handled independently without affecting the entire system, thus maintaining reliability while simplifying control through layered management.
2Reliability
If standby UPSs are used to back up faulty UPS units, then reliability is improved, but loss of time occurs during transfer of load between units
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuitry continuously monitors the status of all UPS units in the parallel configuration and pre-configures redundant groups and subgroups. When a UPS unit fails or is taken offline, the control circuitry already has pre-established backup paths and can immediately transfer the load to standby units within the same or nested redundant groups, eliminating transfer delays that would occur with traditional standby configurations.
3Ease of operation
If selective enabling and disabling of UPSs is allowed based on load levels, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to control circuitry requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuitry dynamically adjusts the operational status of UPS units based on real-time load conditions. When load levels are below predetermined thresholds, the system allows selective enabling and disabling of individual UPS units or subgroups for maintenance or optimization. When load exceeds thresholds, the system automatically requires collective enabling of sufficient units to maintain reliability. This dynamic adaptation provides ease of operation while the automated control logic manages the complexity of coordination.
Data Source
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AI summary
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system (200) includes at least three UPSs (214) configured to be connected in parallel to a common load (20). The system further includes control circuitry (212) configured to support at least two redundant groups among the UPSs and to support at least two redundant subgroups among at least one of the redundant groups of UPSs. In this manner, a nested redundancy may be provided.