Off-line System in an off-line system, the critical load is powered from the raw

mains via the bypass line during normal operation. The load is transferred to t
he UPS inverter output if the mains fails or transgresses preset voltage limits.
On-line System in an on-line system, the critical load is fed by conditioned pow
er from the UPS inverter output during normal operation. If the mains power fail
s, the inverter continues to feed the load using DC power from the battery, with
no switching interruption. If the battery autonomy is exceeded, or the UPS fail
s, the load can be automatically switched to an alternative mains supply using a
static switch.
MTBF Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) is a measure of the average time a device
will function before failing. MTBF ratings are measured in hours and indicate t
he reliability of hardware devices such as UPS equipment.
MTTR Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) measures the total time in hours from when a dev
ice fails until when it is restored to full operation. MTTR includes fault diagn
osis time, and any time necessary to obtain replacement parts, as well as the ac
tual repair work time.
Power Density the unit of power density is Watts/m. The power density of a UPS sy
stem is found by dividing its power output in Watts by the floor area it covers,
in square metres. A high power density figure is an important feature for UPS s
ystems.
Power Factor is a ratio defining the relationship between useable power in Watts
and total supplied power in VA (Volt Amperes). The power factor imposed by a lo
ad on a UPS system can be either lagging or leading. Traditional data centre loa
ds have been lagging, but blade servers, which impose a leading power factor, ar
e becoming increasingly popular because of their dense and flexible processing p
ower. The closer the power factor is to unity, the greater is the power efficien
cy of the UPS operation.
Rectifier/Charger the part of the UPS system that converts AC input power into D
C power for feeding the conditioning and inverter components, and charging the b
ack-up battery.
Redundancy for highly critical loads, it is essential to make the UPS system res
ilient to the failure of any single module. This can be achieved by connecting a
number of UPS modules in parallel to a common critical load bus. Redundancy exi
sts if the number of modules actually connected exceeds the number of modules ne
eded for the load. This means that if any one module fails, the remainder can co
ntinue to support the critical load without interruption.
Radio Frequency Interference electrical noise resulting from some parts of t
RFI
he equipment or wiring acting as a radio antenna. The noise may be large enough
to disrupt communications or cause computing errors.
THDi stands for the Total Harmonic Distortion of the input current waveform. It
is generally accepted that the THDi should be kept low to avoid excessive curren
t distortion at the point of common coupling within a building due to the cumula
tive effect of all connected equipment.
Transformerless Design UPS are now possible, due to advances in power semiconduc
tor technology and the introduction of the Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IG
BT) device. Transformerless design allows smaller, lighter and more efficient UP
S implementation. Other advantages include a higher input power factor, lower TH
Di, reduced capital and operating costs, lower audible noise and enhanced batter
y life.
UPS a UPS or Uninterruptible Power Supply is best defined as a backup power supp
ly that, in case of a power failure, allows enough time for an orderly shutdown
of a computer or other electronic equipment, or for a generator to take over. A
UPS therefore protects computers and other electronic equipment from mains fail
ures and power problems. If the mains voltage falls below a minimum level or fai
ls entirely, the UPS battery can maintain power to the load until either the mai
ns is restored or an orderly shutdown sequence is performed. Load protection fro
m mains borne spikes, surges and noise is also provided.
VRLA Battery VRLA or Valve Regulated Acid Batteries emit virtually no gas, requi
re no topping up and need no special ventilation apart from that required by loc
al building codes.