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Having efficient, reliable and up-to-date technology is essential for traffic control and intelligent transportation systems. To keep operations running safely, DOT and ITS providers need to rest assured that their traffic control and telecommunications systems remain operational and always perform at optimal rates, no matter what challenges arise.
A UPS, or uninterruptible power supply, is a vital solution for all DOT and ITS operations, providing reliable and stable power supplies so there’s never a risk of lost communication. This guide to UPS power supplies will explore what a UPS is and how long it can last. Additionally, we'll explore the different types of UPS and how it works and provide tips on how to choose the right UPS for your operation.
In the telecommunication, transportation and traffic control sectors, monitoring activity and collecting real-time data 24 hours a day is crucial to success. Any interruption in power impacts communications and leads to safety risks in the community. Managers need to find high-quality and reliable solutions that mitigate risk by solving the problem of power loss. The solution is an uninterruptible power supply.
Whether you need a backup power solution or an efficient power supply that can overcome power quality issues, a UPS is a vital solution for DOT and ITS operations. Specifically, industrial UPS systems are power devices that supply almost instantaneous power in the event of a power outage or reduction or loss in power supply quality. When power is interrupted or inhibited, the UPS device activates by supplying power from energy stored in batteries.
An industrial UPS is designed to handle the power capacities of major operations, including traffic and transportation control and communications. Having access to a commercial UPS battery system prevents operational disruptions and the related financial, safety and data loss associated with a potential major power interruption. UPS systems range in capacity and can be tailored to meet any operation’s needs to provide the correct amount of power in the optimal format.
In the most basic sense, UPS systems work exactly the same as a backup battery. When the main electrical grid fails or is interrupted in any way, such as when the voltage falls below a certain threshold, the devices connected to the grid lose their power. This power loss initiates the connected backup battery to supply power to the connected devices. This way, systems never cease operation. UPS power systems also work by preventing power surges, allowing for the safe and orderly shutdown and reactivation of connected networks.
The different sizes, shapes and configurations of UPS power systems determine how much power to supply to connected systems and for how long. Local departments of transportation, municipalities, data centers, transportation operations, traffic control networks and more all require industrial UPS. These industrial UPS systems provide them with power to continue their vital operations, even when initial power is lost.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Fairbanks, Alaska, is one of the world’s largest UPS. This rural Alaskan utility cooperative provides a continuous power supply via 14,000 NiCad batteries, providing a total of 40 megawatts of power. The size and amount of power supply depend on the products and industrial UPS manufacturers.
Having a reliable and accessible UPS backup system is paramount in maintaining operational control — no matter the circumstances. Both DOT and ITS organizations operating in communities prone to power outages, brownouts and voltage fluctuations need the assurance of an industrial UPS.
Unfortunately, power disturbances interrupt traffic signals and cause unpredictable outcomes. An interruption in ITS networks creates dangerous conditions for commuters and triggers a cascade of secondary risks, including congestion, air quality concerns, increased noise pollution and an overall loss in productivity and well-being due to increased transit times.
Being prepared for power disturbances helps prevent health and safety risks, accidents, injuries and other undesirable conditions. A backup traffic power supply in the form of a UPS power supply system is a potentially life-saving solution. It also reduces operating expenses, protects operations from financial loss, and safeguards network hardware and data. Utilizing reliable backup power can minimize or eliminate various risks.
When selecting the right UPS for your local operation, it’s important to understand the different types of uninterruptible power supply systems and how they compare. UPS systems are manufactured by specific UPS topologies δΈ€ how the various devices and connections in a power supply network are physically configured or arranged relative to each other. These different UPS topologies determine the specific levels of power protection they're capable of providing.
In general, there are three UPS topologies available to DOT or ITS organizations:
The different types of UPS are categorized by how the power supply moves through the devices. Each topology type gets progressively more complex and capable, starting with standby as the most basic UPS and double-conversion as the most advanced UPS. Below is an overview of each type of UPS and how it works, with descriptions of each system’s unique advantages and disadvantages and the scenarios for which they’re best suited, helping you determine which option is right for your operation.
A standby uninterruptible power supply system is also called an offline UPS. It's the most basic type of UPS topology and is a simple battery backup system. These units provide light surge protection backup power via a battery source. During a period with regular power supply, standby UPS units get their power from an AC outlet. When the power supply is disrupted, rising or falling below acceptable limits, the standby mode activates, whereby it goes to the DC/AC inverter.
The advantages of an offline or standby UPS battery back system include:
Compared to more advanced UPS systems, standby or offline UPS has the following disadvantages:
The main point about standby UPS systems is their differences in their ability to accept a certain range of power — the wider the range, the less it drains the battery power, and the more backup energy is available when the power goes out or fluctuates. With ongoing or long-term voltage surges or sags, the battery life will be shorter.
A line-interactive UPS device provides a standby backup battery and power conditioning. With line-interactive UPS, the inverter is part of the output, and therefore, it’s always on. Because the inverter operates in reverse, it’s able to charge the battery while the AC input is stable. When input fails, it switches to battery power and regulates voltage.
These UPS devices offer the following advantages over standby systems:
Some of the disadvantages of line-interactive UPS options include:
These UPS models regulate voltage automatically. While line-interactive systems respond well to high and low voltage conditions without draining battery, they may not offer the continuous and totally uninterruptible power supply that DOT and ITS operations require.
When it comes to an uninterruptible power supply system, only online or double-conversion UPS can fully protect IT infrastructure from power problems like voltage sags, spikes or complete outages. The term "double-conversion" refers to the process of incoming power that gets converted to direct current (DC) and then is converted back to AC. A double conversion through an AC-DC/DC-AC design ensures increased isolation between the power inconsistencies and the main power supply.
An online UPS uses the incoming AC power supply. Utilizing a rectifier, it converts it to DC, feeding the battery and the connected load through the inverter. This eliminates power transfer switches. When the main AC supply fails, the rectifier leaves the main circuit and the batteries maintain power flow to all devices connected to the UPS. As the power is restored, the rectifier resumes carrying the load through the circuit while resuming charging the batteries.
The advantages of the online or double-conversion UPS system include:
For data centers, ITS networks and DOT operations, online double-conversion UPS is the most common and relied-upon UPS option. It provides the highest level of power quality and continuous supply to the equipment load. As a result, online systems are able to regulate frequency, reducing the impact of voltage sags and spikes or outages.
In addition to understanding the different configurations of UPS systems, it's also important to understand the different forms of output waves from UPS systems. Depending on the model, UPS systems either have a pure sine wave output or a simulated sine wave output. The reason why the type of wave output matters is because it’s what determines the quality of the power supply when the network switches to battery power.
A sine wave is a mathematical calculation that describes a smooth, oscillating and periodic curve of any given figure. In power supply, a sine wave is a graphical depiction representing how the AC electrical signal alternates from +120 volts to -120 volts at a rate of 60 hertz. By optimizing the distribution and rate of sine waves, operations can improve the efficiency of their power supply, which is an essential ability when dealing with power interruptions.
Below is an overview of the two sine wave output options from UPS models.
This is the highest quality waveform. It’s a smooth and repetitive oscillation of AC power. An industrial UPS system uses sine wave output to operate integral information technology equipment. It prevents power shutdowns when the power supply switches from the main utility to the backup battery power supply.
Ultimately, pure sine wave is the cleanest form of wave output, guaranteed to produce better output for any information network connected to the UPS battery backup — the more sensitive the equipment, the more important having pure sine wave output is for a cleaner and smoother power supply. That's because pure sine wave helps maintain and improve the efficiency and performance of the equipment despite the interruption in utility power supply.
The downside of the pure sine wave output is that UPS models with pure sine wave cost significantly more than models with a simulated sine wave. However, the cost difference can be earned back in the value you get from a pure sine wave system due to its superior ability to protect critical telecommunications and technology infrastructure, including for intelligent transportation systems and department of transportation operations. Without it, vital network equipment can become damaged and rendered inoperative when power signal disruptions occur.
In contrast to a pure sine wave, a simulated sine wave is an approximated sine wave output. Rather than a smooth curve, a simulated sine wave produces a pulse that looks like a square. For that reason, simulated sine wave output is also called pulse-width modulated (PWM) sine wave. Because it's only an approximation to a pure sine wave, its output is considered lower quality, making it suitable for types of operations that don't require the smoothness and cleanness of pure sine wave.
A simulated sine wave supplies a much more cost-effective version of battery backup power for connected equipment. It’s less expensive to manufacture, making it a common sine wave output waveform in standby and line-interactive UPS systems, which are marketed as more affordable or entry-level solutions. These sine wave UPS systems may be more suitable for smaller commercial operations that don’t operate sensitive equipment.
Since simulated sine wave output doesn’t deliver the smooth curve produced by pure sine wave, it’s choppier and less stable and reliable. Some equipment types will unexpectedly shut down if powered by simulated sine wave UPS. Therefore, using UPS that deliver pure sine wave can prevent unexpected shutdowns and damage to equipment.
Now that you know the differences between the types of UPS and the output waveforms, the next step is to determine the size of UPS and the runtime you need. In order for your UPS to adequately power your network, it needs to be large enough to support your equipment.
The size of a UPS is referred to as its capacity — how much power, in watts, the UPS can provide. To determine the UPS capacity, you must determine the load, which is the total amount of power the entire network uses. Add up each piece of equipment’s total wattage to get your network load. If you're unsure of any piece of equipment’s wattage, consult your owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer.
Once you have the capacity calculated, you’ll next need to determine runtime, or how long you need your UPS to last. The runtime is the number of minutes a UPS can power all connected equipment during a power failure, so the minimum runtime is the amount of time your operation will need to complete proper equipment shutdown. This period is determined by the length of time the batteries in the UPS can power equipment through outages when the utility supply goes out.
That's why it's important to know your load — the higher the load, the shorter the runtime, and the wider the runtime range, the more UPS options that will be available to you. Depending on the model, a double-conversion UPS can offer a runtime of eight hours or more. Overall, UPS systems can have a total lifespan of five to 15 years or longer, based on the manufacturer and the model.
UPS solutions are integral to intelligent transportation systems and departments of transportation. Specifically, double-conversion uninterruptible power supply systems provide clean, reliable and continuous power to get your operation through a power outage or fluctuation in utility supply. Overcome brownouts, blackouts, surges and frequency distributions with a reliable industrial UPS solution from Multilink.
The traffic power solutions from Multilink include our selection of double-conversion UPS solutions. These UPS systems range from the EDP 1000 with a 700-watt capacity, to the EDP 1500 with an 1100-watt capacity, to the EDP 2000 with a 1400-watt capacity. For more information on traffic power supply solutions from Multilink, visit our power product pages or contact us today — call 440-306-7646.
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