What is an uninterruptible power supply (UPS)?

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) offers guaranteed power protection for connected electronics. When power is interrupted, or fluctuates outside safe levels, a UPS will instantly provide clean battery backup power and surge protection for plugged-in, sensitive equipment.

Will a 3-phase UPS system continue to dominate in the future?

Centralized, 3-phase UPS systems will continue to dominate for the next few years, at least, even though problems with batteries, product reliability and safety, in addition to other factors, are likely to persist.

What is a centralized 3-phase UPS system?

Centralized 3-phase UPS has long been the system of choice for most larger (total UPS capacity of 1 MW or greater) enterprise and colo data centers. Centralized systems are typically viewed as having higher levels of reliability when compared with modular or distributed alternatives, thanks to the single static switch inside centralized models.

How many volts does a 3 phase UPS system run?

Today, most centralized 3-phase UPS systems operate at between 400 volts and 480 volts. UPS systems operating at a higher-than-typical voltage can offer eficiency advantages. These medium-voltage (MV) UPS systems usually operate between 6.6 kilovolts (kV) and 24 kV and are highly eficient.

Will centralized UPS systems continue to dominate data centers?

Some clear trends emerge, notably that centralized UPS systems will likely continue to dominate in data centers with at least 1 megawatt of IT capacity, especially in those owned by enterprises and colocation providers.

What is the power factor of an ups?

The ratio of watts to VA is called the 'power factor' and is expressed either as a number (i.e. – 0.8) or a percentage (i.e. – 80%). When sizing a UPS for your specific requirements, the power factor matters most. Generally, your UPS should have an Output Watt Capacity 20-25% higher than the total power drawn by any attached equipment.