Uninterruptible Power

Supply (UPS)
Industrial Electronics
Master’s in Industrial Engineering
7-21 May 2020
EPQ disturbances classification
• Interruption: voltage magnitude is zero (different considerations
depending on the interruption duration)
• Under (over)-voltage: voltage magnitude is below (above) its nominal
value
• Impulse transient: sudden increase of the voltage (and/or current)
• Oscillatory transient: sudden superimposed oscillation of the voltage
(and/or current)
• Voltage sag: A reduction in RMS voltage over a range of 0.1 – 0.9 pu for
a duration greater than 10ms but less than 1s.
• Voltage swell: An increase in RMS voltage over a range of 1.1 - 1.8 pu
for a duration greater than 10ms but less than 1s
• Flicker: systematic variations of the voltage waveform envelope with
frequencies less than 25Hz

pu (per-unit system) is the expression of system quantities as fractions of a

defined base unit quantity.
EPQ disturbances classification
• Harmonics (interharmonics): Non-sinusoidal waveforms
• Noise: unwanted superimposed voltage (or current) on the
waveform
• Frequency variations
• DC offset
• Voltage / current unbalance (3 phase systems): deviation in
magnitude of voltage/current of any of the three phases
UPS definition
• It is an electrical apparatus that provides emergency power to a
load when the input power source fails.
• It provides near-instantaneous protection from input power
interruption, by supplying energy from backup energy systems
(battery, supercapacitor or flywheel).
• The run-time of backup systems is relatively short (few minutes),
but sufficient to start a standby power source or properly shut-
down the protected equipment.
• Standards
• EN 62040-1:2008 Uninterruptible power systems (UPS) – Part 1: General
and safety requirements for UPS
• EN 62040-2:2006 Uninterruptible power systems (UPS) – Part 2:
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements
• EN 62040-3:2011 Uninterruptible power systems (UPS) – Part 3: Method
of specifying the performance and test requirements
• EN 62040-4:2013 Uninterruptible power systems (UPS) - Part 4:
Environmental aspects - Requirements and reporting
• EN 62040-5-3:2016 Uninterruptible power systems (UPS) - Part 5-3: DC
output UPS – Performance and test requirements
UPS market
“The Global Uninterruptible Power Supply Major key players
(UPS) Market was observed to have • SORO Electronics,
generated a value of USD 7,225.7 Mn in 2017 • Socomec,
and is predicted to appreciate at a CAGR* of • ABB,
8.3% during the forecast period from 2018 to • Xiamen Kehua Hengsheng Co.
2025. This projects an optimistic outlook for Ltd.,
the global market. The growing demand for • Emerson Electric Co.,
continuous power supply is expected to lead • Beijing Dynamic Power Co.
to a market value of USD 13,154.4 Mn by the Ltd.,
end of 2025. Power consumption is at an all- • Schneider Electric,
time high due to several reasons, including • Guangdong Prostar New
urbanization, expansion of the retail & Energy Technology Co. Ltd.,
commercial sector and a rapid increase in • PowerMan, Zhejiang SANKE
industrial activities. Businesses organizations Electrical Co. Ltd.,
of all sizes are investing in IT infrastructure • KSTAR Corporation,
which consumes a lot of power. Deployment • AEG Power Solutions,
of UPS systems minimizes the damage that • Jeidar Electronics,
occurs during power fluctuations. UPS can • Eaton Corporation,
also be connected to generators to provide • EAST Group Co. Ltd.,
electricity in situations where there are • Jiangsu EKSI Electrical
electrical outages. In some parts of the world, Manufacturing Co. Ltd.,
countries struggle with a consistent power • Sendon International Ltd.,
supply.”
(Market Research Future, www.reuters.com)
* CAGR: Compound Annual Growth Rate
UPS classification
• Described in EN 62040-3
• Voltage and frequency dependent (VFD), formerly known as
off-line.
• Voltage independent (VI), also known as line interactive.
• Voltage and frequency independent (VFI), also known as on-
line or double conversion.
UPS Power capability
UPS – VFD
• Nominal operation: Mains electricity flows to the output and the
batteries are charged by means of the AC/DC converter.
• Failure operation: Batteries provide the energy to the load through the
DC/AC converter.
• Pros: low-cost (usually used in low-power and non-critical applications.
Non-sinusoidal output).
• Cons: Do not protect against many EPQ disturbances (typically valid for
voltage interruption).

MAINS NOMINAL
FAILURE

=
BATTERIES
UPS – VI
• Nominal operation: Mains electricity flows to the output and the
batteries are charged by means of the AC/DC converter.
• Failure operation: Batteries provide the energy to the load through the
DC/AC converter.
• Pros: Transformer utilization reduces some EPQ disturbances, but also
provides galvanic isolation
• Cons: Low-frequency transformer adds weight and becomes expensive.

NOMINAL
FAILURE
MAINS

BATTERIES
=
 UPS – VFI
• Nominal operation: Mains electricity flows to the AC/DC and
DC/AC converter. Bypass switch only used for maintenance*.
• Failure operation: Batteries provide the energy to the load
through the DC/AC converter.
• Pros: The most reliable solution for any kind of EPQ perturbation
• Cons: Expensive. Double power conversion (efficiency penalties).
AC/DC and DC/AC rated for full power.

STATIC BYPASS

MAINS =
BATTERIES
=
NOMINAL
FAILURE
* VFD (and VI) modes can also be achieved with the UPS-VFI structure if required.
UPS – VFI: Nominal operation mode
• Nominal operation: Mains electricity flows to the AC/DC and
charges the batteries but at the same time supplies the
DC/AC converter. The output frequency remains
synchronized with the input frequency (within some margin)
in order to provide easy power transfer to bypass if
required. Once batteries reach the EOC voltage, power is not
injected to them and it only flows to the output. The DC/AC
provides stable AC power (voltage and frequency).

STATIC BYPASS

MAINS =
BATTERIES
=
NOMINAL
UPS – VFI: Stand-by operation mode
• Stand-by: Load is supplied through the bypass switch
while the batteries are charged. In this mode, the load is
not protected against EPQ disturbances.

STATIC BYPASS

MAINS =
BATTERIES
=
STAND BY
UPS – VFI: Source failure
• Source failure: Load is supplied from the batteries
through the DC/AC. The static bypass inhibits since
there is no grid frequency synchronization. The load
could be supplied until batteries run out of energy.

STATIC BYPASS

MAINS
=
BATTERIES =
SOURCE FAILURE
UPS – VFI: UPS failure
• UPS failure: If the UPS detects a failure, the static bypass
automatically takes over and transfers the power to the
load. This process takes place without power
interruption to the load. UPS disconnects and informs
about its failure. Load is not protected against EPQ
perturbation.

STATIC BYPASS

MAINS =
BATTERIES
=
UPS FAILURE
UPS – VFI: Frequency converter
• Frequency converter: Additional UPS function. As the
output is fully decoupled from the input, its frequency
can be controlled (usually 50/60Hz). Static bypass
disabled. Rarely used.

STATIC BYPASS 60Hz

50Hz
MAINS =
BATTERIES
= FREQUENCY
CONVERTER
UPS – VFI: Maintenance
• Maintenance: UPS is inhibited using an external
maintenance bypass. The operation usually is divided
into two phases: 1st ) transfer to static bypass; 2nd )
transfer to external bypass. The load always receives
power. Once the UPS is totally decoupled, it could be
repaired or maintained. EXTERNAL MAINTENANCE BYPASS

STATIC BYPASS

MAINS =
BATTERIES
= MAINTENANCE
MODE
Rectifier
• Function: Power conversion from the line power to DC
voltage for battery charging and keep controlled voltage
at the input of the inverter.
• Topologies:
• Low-frequency controlled rectifiers (Thyristor)
• High-frequency controlled rectifiers (IGBT)
• Power devices:
• Low-frequency: thyristors
• Medium-high frequency: IGBT
• Very high frequency: SiC MOSFET

MAINS = DC
 Rectifier: power devices - thyristor
• Thyristor*: Solid-state semiconductor device with four
layers of alternate P and N type materials. It works as a
bistable switch, conducting when the gate receives a
current trigger and continuing to conduct until the
voltage across the device is reversed biased (not
continuous gat current is required to remain in on state)

* Also called SCR (Silicon Controlled Rectifier), however the term thyristor is coined for a family of
different devices
 Rectifier: power devices -thyristor
Thyristor I-V characteristics
• Turn-on: gate current pulse
(train of pulses) that forces
an anode current larger
than IL (latching current)
• Turn-off: Anode current
falls below IH (holding
current)
 Rectifier: power devices -thyristor
Turn-off methods:
• Natural commutation (line commutation) if and external circuit
reverse biases the device
In natural commutation, the source of
commutation voltage is the supply
source itself. If the SCR is connected to
an AC supply, at every end of the
positive half cycle the anode current
goes through the natural current zero
and also immediately a reverse voltage
is applied across the SCR. These are
the conditions to turn OFF the SCR.

This commutation is possible with line

commutated inverters, controlled
rectifiers, cyclo converters and AC
voltage regulators because the supply
is the AC source in all these converters.
 Rectifier: power devices -thyristor
Turn-off methods
• Forced commutation, a second device (often another
thyristor) reduces the current of the main thyristor
below IH
Class D:
When the supply voltage E is applied, both SCRs are in
OFF state and hence the capacitor voltage is zero. In
order to charge the capacitor, SCR2 must be triggered
first. So the capacitor charges through the path E+ –
C+ – C- – SCR2- R- E-.
When the capacitor is fully charged the SCR2 becomes
turned OFF because no current flow through the SCR2
when capacitor is charged fully. If the SCR1 is
triggered, the current flows in two directions; one is
the load current path E+ – SCR1- R- E- and another
one is commutation current path C+ – SCR1- L- D- C.
As soon as the capacitor completely discharges, its
polarities will be reversed but due to the presence of
diode the reverse discharge is not possible. When the
SCR2 is triggered capacitor starts discharging through
C+ – SCR2- SCR1- C-. When this discharging current is
more than the load current the SCR1 becomes turned
OFF.
Again, the capacitor starts charging through the SCR2
to a supply voltage E and then the SCR2 is turned OFF.
Therefore, both SCRs are turned OFF and the above
cyclic process is repeated. This commutation method
is mainly used in inverters and also used in the Jones
chopper circuit.
 Rectifier: 6 pulse thyristor rectifier
• Description: In a 6-pulse controlled rectifier, thyristors
conduction does not begin until a gate signal is applied
while the SCR is forward-biased. Thus, the transition of
the output voltage to the maximum instantaneous line-
to-line source can be delayed.

! 2π/3+α
1 3Vm,L−L
VO = Vm,L−L sin(ωt)d(ωt) = cos α
π/3 π/3+α π
Simulation exercise: 6 pulse - diode & thyristor
rectifier
• Please discuss the differences and the potential
applications as the UPS rectifier section
Simulation exercise: 6 pulse thyristor battery
charger*
• Please discuss the operation principle of the following
circuit and propose a variation to regulate the battery
current

* Battery is modelled as 10mF capacitor (simulation speed-up)

Rectifier: 6 pulse thyristor rectifier
• Uses: High power UPS because of simplicity and
reliability.
• Control: Phase control and natural turn-off. Control
feedback should be a function of battery current,
battery voltage, temperature…
• Input inductors: Required to reduce THDi and improve
PF.
• 5th order filter: It is the first harmonic present in three-
phase rectifiers. Passive filters could be used to reduce
its effect (not effective in light load conditions,
moderate-high losses in heavy load conditions, critical
because of risk of resonance). Higher harmonics could
be also filtered.
Rectifier: THDi - thyristor rectifiers
THDi

30,00%

25,00%

20,00%

15,00%
THDi
10,00%

5,00%

0,00%
6 pulsos 6 pulsos + 6 pulsos + 12 pulsos 12 pulsos + IGBT PWM
filtro filtro 5 filtro
(5,7,11,13) (5,7,11,13)
Inverters: basic structure
Considerations
• Line to line voltage: +Vin, –Vin and 0V.
• M1 & M4, M3 & M6, M5 & M2 could not be in ON state at
the same time
• Power semiconductors must be bidirectional (current)
M1 M3 M5
+ VAN -
M1d M3d M5d
A Z
+ VAB B Z
+ - N
Vin C Z

M4 M6 M2

M4d M6d M2d

Inverters: six-step modulation
Considerations
• Each switch has a duty ratio of 50 percent (not allowing for blanking
time)
• The switching action takes place every T/6 time interval, or 60º
• The three-phase load connected to this output voltage may be
connected in delta or ungrounded neutral wye (which is the more
common load connection)
Harmonic representation– ungrounded neutral wye load connection
! " π #!! ! " # π$ % &'!
! 4Vin ! 2Vin 2π !!
VLLh =!
! cos h !! VLNh =!
! 2 + cos h − cos h h = 1, 5, 7, 11, 13..
hπ 6 3hπ 3 3 !

RMS value Harmonic distortion Output power

!
2 2 #2
2
! VLLrms − VLLrms 1
∞ "
! VLN rms h
VLLrms = Vin T HDVLL = Po = 3 ·R
3 VLLrms1 h=1
|Zh |
!
2 2
√
2 VLN rms − VLN rms1
VLN rms = Vin T HDVLN =
3 VLN rms1
!"∞
2
h>1 Iohrms VLN rmsh
T HDIo = I oh =
|Zh |
Io1rms
PWM basics (modulation) – time
domain
PWM signal is rectangular signal which period is constant but the on-time (and off-time)
varies proportionally with the control (modulating) signal
PWM basics (modulation) - FFT
Inverters: PWM modulation (I)
1. Frequency modulation ratio (mf)
• The Fourier series of the PWM output voltage has a
fundamental frequency which is the same as the
reference signal.
• Harmonic frequencies exist at and around multiples of
the switching frequency. The magnitudes of some
harmonics are quite large, sometimes larger than the
fundamental.
• The frequency modulation ratio mf is defined as the ratio
of the frequencies of the carrier and reference signals
ftri
mf =
fmod
Inverters: PWM modulation (II)
2. Amplitude modulation ratio (ma)
• The amplitude modulation ratio ma is defined as the ratio
of the amplitudes of the reference and carrier signals.
Vmod
ma =
Vtri
• If ma < 1, the amplitude of the fundamental frequency of
the output
Vo1 = ma Vin

3. Carrier and reference signal synchronization:

• mf = odd and multiple of 3
Inverters: PWM modulation (III)
• VmodA, VmodB, VmodC: reference signals. Sinusoidal
delayed 120º each other
• Vtri: carrier signal (triangular)
• Driving:
• If VmodA > Vtri -> M1 ON M1 M3 M5

• If VmodB > Vtri -> M3 ON M1d M3d M5d

A
+ VAN
Z
-

• If VmodC > Vtri -> M5 ON +

+
-
VAB B Z
N
C Z

If VmodA < Vtri -> M4 ON

Vin
•
If VmodB < Vtri -> M6 ON
M4 M6 M2
• M4d M6d M2d

• If VmodC < Vtri -> M2 ON

 ma=0.8, mf=21 , Vin=75V

Inverters: PWM modulation (III)

Line to line voltage: 3 phase PWM

 Rectifier-inverter: power devices - IGBT
• IGBT*: Solid-state power semiconductor device used as
a switch. It has four layers of alternate P and N type
materials (like a thyristor, but the thyristor action is
suppressed) which are controlled by a MOS gate
structure.

* Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor

Rectifier-inverter: power devices - IGBT
IGBT output characteristic
• Turn-on (VGE > Vth):
Current flow (from
collector to emitter). ON

• Turn-off (VGE< Vth):

Positive and negative
voltage blocking
capabilities
• IGBT operating point: OFF
load line
Rectifier: PWM techniques
• PWM rectifier: It is an AC/DC converter that is
implemented using forced commutated power
electronic semiconductor switches.
• Advantages (compared to line-frequency rectifiers):
• Lower size and weight
• Bidirectional power flow
• Lower cost
• Lower THDi
• Tight control
• But… higher complexity
Simulation exercise: 3 phase PWM rectifier
• Please discuss the operation principle of the following
circuit and the main differences with 6 pulse thyristor
rectifier
Rectifier: Current Source PWM Rect
• Current Source Rectifier: They replace thyristor bridges
in applications where controlled current is required (e.g.
battery chargers)
• Power switch: Block voltage in both directions (IGBT +
series diode, RB-IGBTs are not available for high current)
Rectifier: UPS performance
• Input voltage range: The larger the input voltage the
larger the capability of the UPS to maintain the DC
output voltage without battery discharging.
• Frequency tolerance: The variation of frequency
requires the use of the inverter (battery utilization) and
results in problems with bypass synchronization.
• Power factor: It is key parameter to properly size the
UPS from the grid point of view.
• THDi: Harmonic EPQ problems and power factor
reduction
• Output voltage operation: Higher output voltage
margins provide better flexibility to battery and inverter
configuration.
 https://www.ipes.ethz.ch

Space vector concept

Electrical three phase quantities can be
described in three-dimensional orthogonal axes
(a,b,c), which is known as the space vector.
Phase R (a)
2!
Phase S (b) R(t) + aS(t) + a2 T (t)
"
SV (t) =
3
Phase T (c) 2

Space Vector a = e 3 πi
Space vector - ⍺𝛽0 frame
The alpha-beta transformation (Clarke transformation) can
be seen as the projection of the space vector onto two
stationary axes (alpha axis and beta axis).
Direct Clarke transformation Inverse Clarke transformation
⎛ ⎞ % ⎛
√1 √1 √1
⎞⎛ ⎞ ⎛ ⎞ % ⎛ √1 1 0
⎞⎛ ⎞
v0 2 2 2 va va 2 v0
⎝v α ⎠ = 2 ⎜ 2 √
1 1⎟ ⎝ ⎠ 1 1 3
⎝1 − ⎝ vb ⎠ =
vb ⎜ ⎟
⎝√ −2 2√ ⎠ vα
2 −
√2⎠
⎝ ⎠
3 √
3 3 3 12
vβ 0 2 2
vc vc √
2
− 12 − 23 vβ
T⍺𝛽
T-1⍺𝛽

V0 is null in three-phase balanced systems

Two-level three-phase inverter

• From the simplified schematic it can be seen that there are three switches
which can be in two positions (Level 1 -> 1; Level 2 -> 0)
• The total number of possible switch configuration is 23 = 8
• Six of these configurations correspond to different voltage applied to the load
and are referred to as basic vectors
• The other two configurations result in zero volts applied to the load and are
known as zero vectors
 https://www.switchcraft.org

Two-level three-phase
inverter
V0 (000): Zero vector
V0 -000 V4 -100 V1 (001): Phase +U
V2 (010): Phase +V
V3 (011): Phase –W
V4 (100): Phase +W
V5 (101): Phase –V
V6 (110): Phase –U
V1 -001 V5 -101 V7 (111): Zero vector

V2 -010 V6 -110

V3 -011 V7 -111
 https://www.switchcraft.org

Space vector modulation

It is a synthesis technique to obtain the driving signals of an
inverter by creating the space vector from the the adjacent
basic vectors and zero vectors.
V1 and V3 quickly alternate to emulate
the reference vector.

V0 and V7 are used to modify the

effective magnitude of each basic vector.

Once the space vector is computed the

inverse Clarke transformation creates the
three phase reference.

The actual driving signals can be obtained

using a triangular wave and phase
reference signal.
 https://www.switchcraft.org
Space vector modulation
 ⍺𝛽0 – dq0
frame
It is a transformation
(also named Park
transformation) where
the space vector and
the reference frame
rotates at the same
speed. Thus, three-
phase system is
represented into two
DC signals.
! " ! "! "
vd cos θ sin θ vα
=
vq − sin θ cosθ vβ

! " ! "! "

vα cos θ − sin θ vd
=
vβ sin θ cosθ vq

θ = θ0 + ωt
𝜃 is the angle between dq and 𝛼𝛽
reference frames
https://www.switchcraft.org
 https://www.switchcraft.org

Space vector modulation: control scheme

In any control loop DC signals are easier than others to be
tracked by PI controllers.
Thus, d-q signals are preferred.
Simulation exercise: 3-phase inverter (SVM control open loop) • Please discuss the operation principle of the following circuit
Simulation exercise: 3-phase inverter (SVM current control loop)
• Please discuss the operation principle of the following circuit
Simulation exercise: 3-phase inverter (SVM grid - current control loop)
• Please discuss the operation principle of the following circuit
Simulation exercise: 3-phase inverter with P-Q
control
• Please discuss the operation principle of the following
circuit