Integrated Systems For UPS: New Solutions In The Power Quality Chain

By Chloride North America

Power quality solutions for critical loads have to satisfy some specific needs such as reliability, cost, environmental impact and power conditioning capability. A correct trade-off between these depends on each specific application. The most typical solution for the supply of critical loads is by means of a double conversion UPS that takes the backup energy from batteries. The main purpose of this paper is to show how new technologies already successful in other applications (such as flywheel energy storage systems and fuel cells) can become a useful alternative to existing power quality solutions for critical loads. In particular, the focus is on flywheels as a partial or complete replacement for batteries as a backup power in UPS.