UPS Choke Bypass Switch for Fault Isolation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In existing power systems, UPS failures can lead to reduced power quality due to transient conditions and saturation of PDU isolation transformers, as well as insufficient fault current to disconnect the faulty UPS, affecting the load's power supply.
Innovation Solution
A ring bus configuration with multiple UPSs, chokes, and static switches that allow for selective choke bypassing when a fault is detected, using a controller to manage power distribution and isolate faults quickly, ensuring continued power quality and redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple UPSs are coupled to a load to provide power redundancy, then reliability is improved, but power quality deteriorates due to transients and transformer saturation during failures
Solution Approach 1:
A static switch is introduced as an intermediary component between each UPS and the ring bus, positioned in parallel with a choke. This static switch acts as a mediator that can rapidly bypass the choke when a UPS fails, preventing transient conditions and transformer saturation from propagating to the load, thus maintaining power quality while preserving redundancy
Solution Approach 2:
The static switch is pre-configured in parallel with the choke before any failure occurs. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when a UPS failure is detected, the bypass path is already in place and can be activated immediately, preventing the harmful transients and saturation effects before they can degrade power quality at the load
2Reliability
If chokes are used to isolate faults in parallel UPS systems, then reliability is improved by preventing fault propagation, but power quality deteriorates due to insufficient fault current and voltage drops
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes its configuration based on fault conditions. During normal operation, the choke remains in the circuit to provide isolation. When a fault is detected, the static switch rapidly transitions the circuit from a choked state to a bypassed state, dynamically adapting to maintain both fault isolation and voltage stability
Solution Approach 2:
The impedance parameter of the circuit is changed by bypassing the choke. When the static switch activates, it changes the circuit parameter from high impedance (through the choke) to low impedance (direct bypass), allowing sufficient fault current to flow and preventing voltage drops while maintaining reliability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively maintains power quality by rapidly isolating faulty UPS units and preventing voltage drops, ensuring uninterrupted power supply to loads even during UPS failures, thereby enhancing system reliability and fault response times.
Implementation Method 1
a static switch coupled between an associated UPS of the UPSs and the ring bus. Each choke electrically couples an associated UPS to the ring bus. The static switch is switchable to selectively bypass at least one choke.
Data Source
AI summary
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system is provided. The UPS system includes a plurality of UPSs, a ring bus coupled to the UPSs, a plurality of chokes, and at least one static switch coupled between an associated UPS of the UPSs and the ring bus. Each choke electrically couples an associated UPS to the ring bus. The static switch is switchable to selectively bypass at least one choke.