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 80-NET UPS system: A state-of-the-art product solution designed to satisfy your power requirements and lower your cost of ownership.
Lowering the cost of ownership and reducing energy consumption has always been a driver but perhaps never more so than today. As designers, we strive to develop UPS systems that are as efficient as possible and minimise their impact on the environment in terms of electrical requirements and heat losses. Chloride’s innovative 80-NET range is surprisingly close to this ideal.
Traditionally, UPS used many transformers, chokes and capacitor banks in their design.
The 80-NET product now does the same job electronically. This has resulted in 60% lower weight, 40% smaller size, 30%
lower losses and 25% less input current than its predecessors. What are the features that make the 80-NET so special?
AC Input
To start with the 80-NET uses an IGBT rectifier which draws sinusoidal current at unity power factor from the supply. This
provides for negligible voltage distortion and excellent generator matching. The subsequent 25% reduction in input current also provides savings in supply cabling and switchgear costs.
AC Output
The UPS output voltage waveform is generated by an IGBT inverter. This highly stable and efficient device, using Chloride’s patented vector control system, enables the UPS system to support any leading or lagging power factor load within kVA/kW limits without derating. In addition, problems resulting from unbalanced three-phase and non-linear loads are a thing of the past.
Operation with a diesel generator set
It used to be common practice to oversize generators for use with UPS systems often by factors of x1.6 or even x2.5. However, because the current drawn by the 80-NET is sinusoidal and unity power factor, the need to oversize a generator is minimised. A genset need only be sized to match the maximum kVA and kW drawn by the 80-NET UPS system. In practice, this means that smaller generators can be selected.
High efficiency parallel operation
The high efficiency and flexibility offered by the 80-NET means that it is well suited to high power applications. Up to eight modules can be parallel connected to achieve ratings as high as 1.6 MVA. In an N+1 application this is especially interesting because much higher utilisation factors can be achieved. For example, in a 600 kVA N+1 application 2 x 600 KVA modules will normally only ever operate at a maximum loading of 50%, but by using 4 x 200 kVA 80-NETs the utilisation factor increases to 75%. Since the smaller 80-NET UPS systems are more heavily loaded, they operate more efficiently resulting in approximately 25% reduced losses. There are other advantages in terms of initial capital cost savings and because the 80-NET draws power at unity power factor input currents are significantly lower. This can reduce losses by as much as 25% which, at full system load, can mean energy savings of up to £20,000 per annum.
Summary
The 80-NET represents a significant step forward in UPS technology. With ratings from 60 kVA to 200 kVA systems up to 1.6 MVA can be realised. These mid to high power range solutions are now available for all but the largest of data centre applications. The design features and product characteristics described give us a significant array of system options without compromise. The exceptionally high efficiency, low input demand and small footprint and therefore lower installation and running costs mean that the 80-NET is making its mark on the UPS industry in a big way.
About the author
Rob Tanzer
BSc
Rob Tanzer is Technical Support Manager for Chloride Power Protection. He has worked in the UPS industry for over 30 years and has experience and knowledge of most of the different types of static and rotary UPS systems currently in service today. Rob is the author of several published technical papers covering UPS systems, thyristor power switching devices and different aspects of UPS systems applications.
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