Patent Application
20070114852
The present invention is related to an uninterruptible power supply system, and more particularly to a parallel uninterruptible power supply system.
Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is an emergent power supply device connected between a power source and a load, in which the power source can be a commercial AC power supply or any other AC power source. The uninterruptible power supply is configured to supply the power required for powering a load in an emergent condition so as to ensure the normal operation for the load when the power source becomes abnormal.
In order to protect important electronic equipment with more efficiency and safety, UPS has been extensively employed to ensure the normal operation for various electronic devices. More particularly, a parallel UPS system has been testified to be the best choice for providing high quality, high continuity electric power to electronic devices that are vulnerable to the problem of power outage.
In the circuit block diagram of
The power supply modules 122, 132 of the first UPS 12 and the second UPS 13 are configured to process the AC power received from the power source 11 and output the processed electric power to the distribution box 15 through the switch devices 121, 131, respectively. Also, the power supply modules 122, 132 are configured to convert the AC power into DC power and store the DC power in the battery modules 124, 134, respectively. The microprocessors 123,133 are configured to transmit the status information of the power supply modules 122, 132 to the control modules 125, 135. Also, the battery modules 124,134 can transmit their status information to the control modules 125, 135.
The switch devices 121, 132 are under the control of the control modules 125, 135, respectively. When the control modules 125, 135 detect that the output voltages S1, S2 of the power supply modules 122, 132 are abnormal, i.e. the power supply modules 122, 132 are malfunctioned or the AC power derived by converting the DC power supplied from the battery modules 124, 134 can not meet the requirements of the load 16, a control signal is issued to the switch devices 121, 131 to allow the power source 11 to provide the output voltages S1, S2. The displays 127, 137 are configured to display the system status information of the first UPS 12 and the second UPS 13.
Because the first uninterruptible power supply 12 and the second uninterruptible power supply 13 are necessary to communicate with each other, the control module 125 and the control module 13513 are configured to conduct signal transmission through respective external communication ports 126, 136. That is, the signals outputted from the microprocessors 123, 133 and the signals outputted from the battery modules 124, 134 are first transmitted to the control modules 125, 135 and then respectively transmitted to the external transmission port of the other uninterruptible power supply. This ensures that the uninterruptible power supplies 12 and 13 share the system status information with each another. The uninterruptible power supplies can communicate with each other by means of the signal transmission and can further equally share the operative power for the load 16.
As stated above, the signals outputted from the microprocessors 123, 133 and the battery modules 124, 134 are first transmitted to the control modules 125, 135 and then respectively transmitted to the other uninterruptible power supply through the external communication ports 126, 136. Such communication mode would result in a long communication path and cause the slowness of the signal transmission, which would in turn prolong the response time of the entire uninterruptible power supply system 10. More disadvantageously, both of the external communication ports 126, 136 have complicated circuit architecture and require an internal communication chip 1261, 1361 to conduct signal transmission, which would increase the manufacturing cost and deteriorate the product competitiveness.
There is a need to develop a parallel uninterruptible power supply system in which the internal uninterruptible power supplies can communicate with each other without the need of an external communication port.
An object of the present invention is to provide a parallel uninterruptible power supply system that can conduct signal transmission between the internal uninterruptible power supplies without the need of a communication port. Therefore, the inventive parallel uninterruptible power supply system can provide a faster signal transmission rate and a shorter response time, and can further reduce the manufacturing cost by eliminating the internal communication chip located within of the communication port.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a parallel uninterruptible power supply system that can conduct signal transmission between the internal uninterruptible power supplies by means of signal transmission lines, so that each internal uninterruptible power supply can receive the data signal outputted from the power supply module of the other uninterruptible power supply to achieve multilateral communication between the internal uninterruptible power supplies.
To this end, a broader aspect of the present invention provides a parallel uninterruptible power supply system, which at least includes a first uninterruptible power supply, a second uninterruptible power supply, and a connector. The first uninterruptible power supply includes a first control module, a first power supply module, a first battery module, and a first signal transmission line connected to the first control module, the first power supply module, and the first battery module for transmitting data signal outputted from the first power supply module and the first battery module. In addition, a second uninterruptible power supply is connected in parallel with the first uninterruptible power supply and includes a second control module, a second power supply module, a second battery module, and a second signal transmission line connected to the second control module, the second power supply module, and the second battery module for transmitting data signal outputted from the second power supply module and the second battery module. The connector is connected with the first signal transmission line and the second signal transmission line for allowing the first control module to receive data signal directly from the second power supply module and the second battery module and allowing the second control module to receive data signal directly from the first power supply module and the first battery module, so that the first uninterruptible power supply and the second uninterruptible power supply can communicate directly with each other.
Now the foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be best understood through the following descriptions with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Several preferred embodiments embodying the features and advantages of the present invention will be expounded in following paragraphs of descriptions. It is to be realized that the present invention is allowed to have various modification in different respects, all of which are without departing from the scope of the present invention, and the description herein and the drawings are to be taken as illustrative in nature, but not to be taken as limitative.
The first UPS 22 and the second UPS 23 are connected in parallel with each other, and both are configured to receive the input AC power from the power source 21. The first UPS 22 is made up of a first switch device 221, a first power supply module 222, a first microprocessor 223, a first battery module 224, a first control module 225, a first display 226, and a first signal transmission line 227. In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the first signal transmission line 227 is implemented with a bus device for transmitting data signal.
In the circuit block diagram of
The first power supply modules 222 is configured to process the AC power received from the power source 21 and supply power to the distribution box 25 through the first switch device 221, and convert the received AC power into DC power for storage in the first battery module 224. The first microprocessor 223 of the first power supply module 222 is configured to transmit the data signal associated with the system status information of the first power supply module 222 to the first control module 225. Also, the first battery module 224 is configured to transmit the data signal associated with the status information of the battery module 224 to the first control module 225.
The first control module 225 is configured to receive the data signal associated with the system status information of the first power supply module 222 and the data signal associated with the system status information of the battery module 224, and perform a corresponding control function accordingly. The first display 226 is under the control of the first control module 225 for displaying the system status information of the first UPS 22.
The first control module 225, the first microprocessor 223, and the first battery module 224 are configured to conduct data signal transmission by means of the first signal transmission line 227, so that the first control module 225, the first microprocessor 223, and the first battery module 224 can communicate with each other.
As shown in
It should be noted that the principle and efficacy of the second switch device 231, the second power supply module 232, the second microprocessor 233, the second battery module 234, the second control module 235, the second display 236, and the second signal transmission line 237 are similar to those of the counterpart components located within the first UPS 22, and it is not intended to give details herein.
The first signal transmission line 227 is connected to the first control module 225, the first microprocessor 223 and the first battery module 224 by means of signal transmission lines at one end, and also connected to the connector 24 by means of signal transmission lines at the other end. Likewise, the second signal transmission line 237 is connected to the second control module 235, the second microprocessor 233, and the second battery module 234 by means of signal transmission lines at one end, and also connected to the connector 24 by means of signal transmission lines at the other end. Therefore, by connecting the first signal transmission line 227 and the second signal transmission line 237 with the connector 24, the first control module 225 can receive data signal outputted from the second power supply module 232 and the second battery module 234, and the second control module 235 can receive data signal outputted from the first power supply module 222 and the first battery module 224. This would enable the first UPS 22 and the second UPS 23 to communicate directly with each other, and thereby reduce the manufacturing cost of the parallel UPS system 20. Moreover, the signal transmission rate of the data signal can be accelerated because of the direction communication between the first UPS 22 and the second UPS 23 through the first signal transmission line 227 and second signal transmission line 237, and thus the response time of the parallel UPS system 20 can be shortened.
In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, a power transmission line 29 can be connected to the first UPS 22 and the second UPS 23 to achieve a parallel redundant configuration for a single-load condition or a multi-load condition, or achieve a power distribution system with capacity upgrade mode. In such embodiment, the distribution box 25 can be eliminated so that the manufacturing cost of the parallel UPS system 20 can be further reduced.
As depicted in
In the present embodiment, the power transmission line 29 can be a hard wire for transmitting electric power or any hard wires with sufficient capacity, all of which are without departing the scope of the present invention.
Certainly, the parallel UPS system 20 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention has a parallel redundant mode and a capacity upgrade mode, and their operating principles are described as follows:
1. Parallel Redundant Mode:
The principle of a parallel redundant mode operation is described as follows: If one of the uninterruptible power supplies 22 and 23 can not operate due to an aged battery or faulty electronic parts, the other uninterruptible power supply is required to increase its share of the operative power for the load and transmit a portion of its output power to the malfunctioned uninterruptible power supply through the power transmission line 29 to provide the operative power to the load instead of the malfunctioned uninterruptible power supply. On the other hand, the output power S3 of the first UPS 22 is limited to the rated output capacity P1 for the output end 228, like a socket element of the first UPS 22. Also, the output power S4 of the second UPS 23 is limited to the rated output capacity P2 for the output end 229, like a socket element of the second UPS 23. Therefore, in order to enable the first UPS 22 and the second UPS 23 to operate under a parallel redundant mode, the relationship between the output power S3, S4 and the sum S5 of the output power S3 and the output power S4 should satisfy the following condition:
S3≦P1, S4≦P2 and S5≦(P1+P2)/2
For example, both of the rated output capacities P1, P2 are set to 5 kva. In order to comply with the requirements for parallel redundant operation, the output power S3, S4 and the sum S5 of the output power S3 and the output power S4 must satisfy the condition of S3,S4≦5 kva and S5≦(5+5)/2 kva. As an example, the first load 27 to which the first UPS 22 is connected requires an operative power of 3 kva, and the second load 28 to which the second UPS 23 is connected requires an operative power of 2 kva. That is, the output power S3 should be 3 kva and the output power S4 should be 2 kva, and the total output power S5 should be 2 kva+3 kva=5 kva.
When the first UPS 22 and the second UPS 23 are operating under a normal condition, the first UPS 22 and the second UPS 23 communicate with each other by means of the first signal transmission line 227, the second first signal transmission line 237, and the connector 24. If the result of the communication indicate that the first UPS 22 and the second UPS 23 equally share the operative power for the first load 27 and the second load 28, i.e. each of the first UPS 22 and the second UPS 23 is required to supply an output power of (3 kva+2 kva)/2=2.5 kva. Because the second load 28 to which the second uninterruptible power supply 23 is connected requires an operative power of 2 kva only, 2 kva out of the output power of the second UPS 23 is outputted to the second load 28 and 0.5 kva out of the output power of the second UPS 23 is delivered to the first UPS 22 through the power transmission line 29 to achieve balance on load sharing. Under this condition, the sum of the output power generated by the first UPS 22 and the output power delivered from the second UPS 23, i.e. 2.5 kva+0.5 kva=3 kva, is supplied to the first load 27 as the operative power for first load 27.
If one of the first UPS 22 and the second UPS 23 is malfunctioned, the other one is obliged to increase its share of operative power for the load and replace the malfunctioned uninterruptible power supply for supplying the operative power for the load. For example, if the second UPS 23 is malfunctioned and becomes inoperable, the first UPS 22 is obliged to increase its output power from 2.5 kva to 5 kva. That is, the total operative power for the first load 27 and the second load 28 is entirely supplied from the first UPS 22, in which 3 kva out of the output power of the first UPS 22 is outputted to the first load 27 and 2 kva out of the output power of the first UPS 22 is delivered to the second UPS 23 through the power transmission line 29 for output to the second load 28, and thereby accomplish a parallel redundant operation.
2. Capacity Upgrade Mode:
Under this mode, the first UPS 22 and the second UPS 23 do not possess the parallel redundant functionality as stated above. However, the total output power of the first UPS 22 and the second UPS 23 can be maximized to the sum of the rated output capacity P1 of the first UPS 22 and the rated output capacity P2 of the second UPS 23, i.e. S5≦(P1+P2). In this manner, the output power of the parallel UPS system 20 can be upgraded significantly. Besides, the output power S3 of the first UPS 22 and the output power S4 of the second UPS 23 are respectively limited by the rated output capacity P1, P2 for the voltage output terminal 228, 238, like socket elements, and thus the output power S3 and S4 should satisfy the condition of S3≦P1, S4≦P2. For example, both of the rated output capacities P1 and P2 for the first voltage output terminal 228 and the second voltage output terminal 238 of the first UPS 22 and the second UPS 23 are 5 kva. In order to comply with the requirements for the capacity upgrade mode, the output power S3 and the output power S4 have to comply with the condition of S3, S4≦5 kva. As an example, the first load 27 to which the first UPS 22 is connected requires an operative power of 5 kva and the second load 28 to which the second UPS 23 is connected requires an operative power of 3 kva. That is, the output power S3 is 5 kva and the output power S4 is 3 kva, and the total output power S5 is 5 kva+3 kva=8 kva.
When the first UPS 22 and the second UPS 23 are operating normally, the first UPS 22 and the second UPS 23 can communicate with each other by means of the first signal transmission line 227, the second signal transmission line 237, and the connector 24. If the result of communication determines that the uninterruptible power supplies equally share the operative power for the first load 27 and the second load 28, each of the first uninterruptible power supply 22 and the second uninterruptible power supply 23 is set to provide an output power of (5 kva+3 kva)/2=4 kva. However, the second load 28 to which the second uninterruptible power supply 23 is connected requires an operative power of 3 kva only, so that 3 kva out of the output power of the second UPS 23 is outputted to the second load 28 and 1 kva out of the output power of the second UPS 23 is delivered to the first UPS 22. The first uninterruptible power supply 22 can supply a total output power of its output power plus the output powered delivered from the second UPS 23 to the first load 27 for powering the first load 27.
When one of the first UPS 22 and the second UPS 23 is malfunctioned, the first UPS 22 and the second UPS 23 do not possess the parallel redundant functionality under the capacity upgrade mode. Hence, the operative power required for powering the first load 27 is supplied from the power source 21 through a bypass route 229 located within the first UPS 22, and the operative power required for operating the second load 28 is supplied from the power source through a bypass route 239 located within the second UPS 23.
By connecting the first UPS 22 and the second UPS 23 with the power transmission line 29, the parallel UPS system 20 can provide a parallel redundant mode or capacity upgrade mode to improve the power distribution for the load. Also, the distribution box can be further removed from the parallel UPS system 20 so as to reduce the manufacturing cost of the UPS system 20 and avoid the inconvenience of assembling the distribution box.
In conclusion, the internal uninterruptible power supply of the inventive parallel uninterruptible power supply system can perform signal transmission directly by signal transmission lines, so that the control module of each uninterruptible power supply can receive data signal outputted from the power supply modules and battery modules of other uninterruptible power supplies. Therefore, the internal uninterruptible power supplies can communicate with each other without the need of an external communication port, and thus the manufacturing cost of the parallel uninterruptible power supply system can be reduced, so that the signal transmission rate of the parallel uninterruptible power supplies can be accelerated and the response time of the entire uninterruptible power supply system can be shortened.
While the present invention has been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the present invention need not be restricted to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. Therefore, the above description and illustration should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention which is defined by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 094140673 | Nov 2005 | TW | national |
