Noah's Ark in pencil. Noah's Ark. Since you are here...

Greetings, dear readers!

Do you use an uninterruptible power supply? Do you think you can do without it? Are you sure about this?

Why is UPS needed?

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS or UPS - Uninterruptible Power Supplies) is designed to supply electricity in the event of a power failure in the electrical network.

A sudden power outage is fraught with loss of data and physical damage to equipment.

The electrical network always has interference and voltage surges that arise when switching powerful consumers.

If the load on a particular electric line is high, the voltage on the load drops below normal. An uninterruptible power supply is needed in order to power computers (and other loads) with “clean” voltage.

In the event of a power failure, the source starts to work from the battery, generating an alternating voltage of 220 V for the computer.

How is the UPS arranged?

Depending on the capacity of the battery and the power of the load, the UPS provides AC voltage to its outputs for typically 5 to 20 minutes (except in special cases). This is enough time to close all applications (running programs) and turn off the computer.

All sources are divided into three large groups:

• passive (passive stand-by),
• linear-interactive (line interactive),
• with double conversion (double conversion).

Passive UPS

The filter protects the output of the device and its electronics from voltage surges, which are often found in the electrical network.

The alternating mains voltage is rectified by a rectifier and (through a charger, which is not shown in the diagram) recharges the battery.

In normal mode, when the mains voltage level is within normal limits, the filtered mains voltage passes through the key to the UPS output connectors and powers the load. As soon as it goes out of range or disappears, the inverter starts to work. He turns constant pressure from battery into a variable with the required amplitude, which is fed through the key to the load.

In this case, the battery can deliver a sufficiently large current, since the load - for example, a computer with a monitor - can consume 200 W or more. As soon as the input mains voltage is within the normal range, the controller turns off the inverter and supplies filtered mains voltage to the UPS outputs.

If it is absent for a long time, the controller turns off the device, protecting the battery from deep discharge.

Line Interactive UPS

Line-interactive sources differ from passive sources, in particular, in that they have in their composition autotransformer.

This allows you to work in a wider range of input mains voltage without switching to batteries. An autotransformer differs from a conventional transformer in that it does not contain two (or more) galvanically isolated windings, but, in fact, one winding with taps.

If the input mains voltage is reduced for a long time, the controller, by switching the autotransformer windings by means of keys, increases the voltage level at the UPS output connectors. If the voltage is increased for a long time (within known limits, of course), the controller, by switching the windings, lowers its level at the output connectors. This technology is called AVR(Automatic Voltage Regulation).

The signal generated by the inverter can be in the form of an approximate (stepped) sinusoid or in the form of almost rectangular pulses.

The latter is not as bad as one might expect.

Most modern power supplies, including computer ones, are pulsed, in which the mains voltage is first rectified anyway.

double conversion UPS

The most perfect sources with double conversion, which are used in the most critical cases (for powering servers and equipment that is sensitive to mains voltage parameters). In uninterruptible power supplies of the first two types, the frequency of the mains voltage at the output (in cases where the inverter is not working) is always equal to the mains frequency. There is no way to influence her.

In a double conversion UPS, the inverter is always running, regardless of whether there is mains voltage or not. If it is on the network, it is rectified, recharges the battery through the charger and goes to the inverter controlled by the device controller. The inverter generates a clean, "synthetic", stable voltage sine wave - without noise and emissions.

Its frequency may differ from the frequency of the input voltage and is determined solely by the controller (more precisely, by the preliminary settings). When the mains voltage disappears or goes out of range, the inverter switches to battery operation, maintaining the same high quality signal at the output connectors.

In this case, switching occurs faster than in the first two types of sources. Double conversion UPS has bypass(bypass, bypass line), which allows you to power the load directly from the mains. This is to ensure that the voltage supply to the load is not interrupted by an overload or failure of the inverter (which is always running).

If there are problems with the inverter, the controller switches the key, and the filtered mains voltage is supplied to the load through the bypass.

In conclusion, we note that for the convenience of work developed specialized software, which allows, in particular, to trace how the input mains voltage changed during operation.

Be sure to look here:

Victor Geronda was with you.

See you on the blog!

What is a UPS / UPS? UPS (UPS) - the Russian abbreviation UPS stands for UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLY, (English UPS - Uninterruptible Power Supply) - translates as SECONDARY POWER SUPPLY.

Working principle of UPS / UPS

If voltage drops occur, the UPS will continue to operate computers, computing / telecommunications devices, gas boilers, pumps, provide power for fire alarms or video surveillance. If there is a power failure (power failure), at best, all equipment will simply turn off, and you will lose unsaved information on the computer, at worst, this will lead to a breakdown of any devices.

The main distinguishing features of the UPS / UPS

Reserve or Off-line (back)- easy to use and cheap, but popular and often used in the home type of UPS. The UPS has an internal battery that charges itself when current is applied to it. The scheme of its operation is quite simple: if the current is not supplied, then the computer is powered from the internal battery. With such a UPS, you will have 5 to 15 minutes to safely shut down your computer.

Backup-type uninterruptibles work very well if there are no constant power surges. If there are frequent power failures, then the batteries will be quickly discharged and will soon become unusable. You need to pay attention to those UPS models in which batteries can be replaced, since a decrease in battery life affects the duration of work in general - only 3-5 years.

Line-interactive (line-interactive)- has the same qualities as Off-line, but at the same time it can maintain a uniform voltage in the system. In such cases, it will adjust the current fluctuations at the output of the UPS to the desired level. This is the best choice of the possible options, since such UPSs are the most stable in operation. Such UPSs are more suitable for long-term work at home, unlike Off-line models, but their cost will be much higher. After switching to self-powered, you will be able to finish the PC within 6-20 minutes.

Online - Double Transformation UPS, have a fairly high price and, unfortunately, are not suitable for home use, but provide the highest level of reliability to date. More often they are used for expensive network computers and workstations. The downside is that they are very noisy.

UPS/UPS power

The power of the UPS must be chosen wisely, as this is the most important parameter. To calculate it, you need to add up the power of all home electronics devices and multiply the resulting number by 20%. And in order to find out how much power a UPS consumes, just find information about it on the Internet. The power of the computer should not exceed the power of the UPS, otherwise it simply will not be able to power the computer in the absence of electricity.

UPS / UPS Dimensions

It is worth paying attention to the size of the source. It is worth considering in advance where it will be located, and whether this will limit its size.

UPS / UPS standby time (autonomy)

The UPS must keep all the devices connected to it running when there is a system outage, and the longer its battery life, the better. The greater the load, the less the UPS works offline. But you don’t need to put much emphasis on this, since just 5-10 minutes is enough to save the data and turn off the computer. After all, extra time is extra money.

Connectors and sockets UPS / UPS

The uninterruptible power supply should have the number of outlets you need to connect devices, so pay attention to this. But not only their quantity is important, but also their quality. They must be protected against voltage surges. If you are using a telephone or modem, make sure it has phone line protection.

UPS Manufacturers / UPS

Most of the time, the manufacturer doesn't matter. And therefore, manufacturers with the same level of quality and the price are approximately the same. Good UPS manufacturers are Ippon, Powerware, CyberPower, FSP Group. Most of them usually provide a 6-12 month warranty.

Requirements for the quality of electricity are legally prescribed by state standards and rather stringent standards. Power supply organizations make a lot of efforts to comply with them, but they are not always implemented.

In our apartments, and in production, periodically arise:

complete blackouts for an indefinite period;

aperiodic short-term (10÷100 ms) high-voltage (up to 6 kV) voltage pulses;

surges and voltage drops with different duration;

overlays of high-frequency noise;

frequency drifts.

All these problems adversely affect the operation of household and office consumers of electricity. Particularly affected by the quality of the power supply are microprocessor and computer devices, which not only fail, but can completely lose their performance.

Purpose and types of uninterruptible power supplies

To reduce the risks of power supply failures, backup devices are used, which are commonly called uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) or UPS (derived from the abbreviation of the English phrase "Uninterruptible Power Supply").

They are manufactured with different designs to meet the specific needs of the consumer. For example, powerful UPS with helium batteries are able to support the power supply of an entire cottage for several hours.

Their batteries are charged from a power line, wind turbine, or other energy carriers through an inverter rectifier. They also feed the electrical consumers of the cottage.

When the external source is turned off, the batteries are discharged to the load connected to their network. The larger the capacity of the battery and the lower the current of their discharge, the longer they work.

Medium power uninterruptible power supplies can back up indoor climate control systems and similar equipment.

At the same time, the simplest UPS models are only able to complete the computer emergency shutdown program. At the same time, the duration of the entire process of their work will not exceed 9÷15 minutes.

Computer uninterruptible power supplies are:

built into the body of the device;

external.

The first designs are common in laptops, netbooks, tablets and similar mobile devices powered by a built-in battery, which is equipped with a power and load switching circuit.

laptop battery with built-in controller is an uninterruptible power supply. Its circuit automatically protects operating equipment from power failures.

External structures of the UPS, designed for the normal completion of desktop computer programs, are made in a separate unit.

They are connected via a power adapter to an electrical outlet. Only those devices that are responsible for the operation of programs are powered from them:

system unit with a connected keyboard;

monitor that displays ongoing processes.

Other peripheral devices: scanners, printers, loudspeakers and other equipment from UPS are not powered. Otherwise, when programs crash, they will take on some of the energy stored in the batteries.

Options for constructing UPS working diagrams

Computer and industrial UPSs are manufactured according to three main options:

redundant power supply;

interactive scheme;

double conversion of electricity.

With the first method back-up scheme, denoted by the English terms "Standby" or "Off-Line", the voltage is supplied from the network to the computer through the UPS, in which electromagnetic interference is eliminated by built-in filters. It is also installed here, the capacity of which is supported by the charge current regulated by the controller.

When the external power supply disappears or goes beyond the established standards, the controller directs the energy of the battery to the power supply of consumers. To convert direct current to alternating current, a simple inverter is connected.

Benefits of UPS Standby

Off-Line uninterruptible power supplies are highly efficient when energized, operate quietly, emit little heat, and are relatively cheap.

Flaws

UPS Standby stand out:

long transition to battery power 4÷13 ms;

distorted form of the output signal produced by the inverter in the form of a meander, and not a harmonic sinusoid;

lack of voltage and frequency adjustment.

Such devices are most common on personal computers.

UPS interactive circuit

They are designated by the English term "Line-Interactive". They are performed according to the previous, but more complicated scheme by including a voltage stabilizer using an autotransformer with step regulation.

This provides an adjustment of the output voltage, but they are not able to control the frequency of the signal.

Noise filtering in normal mode and switching to inverter power in case of accidents occurs according to the UPS Standby algorithms.

By adding a voltage stabilizer of various models with control methods, it made it possible to create inverters with a waveform not only of a meander, but also of a sinusoid. However, a small number of control stages based on relay switching does not allow full stabilization functions to be realized.

This is especially true for cheap models, which, when switching to battery power, not only overestimate the frequency above the nominal value, but also distort the shape of the sinusoid. Interference is introduced by a built-in transformer, in the core of which hysteresis processes occur.

In expensive models, inverters on semiconductor switches work. Line-Interactive UPSs are faster when switching to battery power than Off-Line UPSs. It is provided by the operation of synchronization algorithms between the incoming voltage and the output signals. But at the same time there is some underestimation of efficiency.

The Line-Interactive UPS cannot be used to power asynchronous motors that are massively installed on all household appliances, including heating systems. They are used to operate devices with, where the power is filtered and rectified at the same time: computers and consumer electronics.

double conversion UPS

This UPS circuit is named after the English phrase On-line "and works on equipment that requires high quality power. It produces a double conversion of electricity, when the sinusoidal harmonics of the alternating current are constantly converted by the rectifier into a constant value, which is passed through the inverter to create a repeated sinusoid at the output.

Here, the battery is constantly connected to the circuit, which eliminates the need for its switching. This method practically eliminates the period of preparation of the uninterruptible power supply for switching.

The operation of the UPS On-line according to the state of the battery can be divided into three stages:

charge stage;

waiting state;

discharge to the computer.

Charge period

The input and output circuits of the sine wave are interrupted by the UPS internal switch.

The battery connected to the rectifier receives charge energy until its capacity is restored to optimal values.

Ready period

After the end of the battery charge, the automation of the uninterruptible power supply closes the internal switch.

The battery maintains a buffer ready state.

Discharge period

The battery is automatically switched to power the computer station.

Double conversion uninterruptible power supplies have a lower efficiency in line mode than other models due to the energy consumption for generating heat and noise. But in complex structures, techniques are used to increase efficiency.

UPS On-line is capable of correcting not only the magnitude of the voltage, but also its frequency of oscillation. This distinguishes them from previous models and allows them to be used to power various complex devices with asynchronous motors. However, the cost of such devices is much higher than previous models.

UPS Composition

Depending on the type of operating circuit, the uninterruptible power supply kit includes:

accumulators for accumulation of the electric power;

Maintaining battery performance;

sine wave inverter,

process control scheme;

software.

For remote access to the device, a local network can be used, and the reliability of the circuit can be increased due to its redundancy.

Some uninterruptible power supplies use the "Bypass" mode, when the load is powered by a filtered mains voltage without the operation of the main circuit of the device.

Part of the UPS has a step voltage regulator "Booster", controlled by automation.

Depending on the need to perform complex technical solutions, uninterruptible power supplies can be equipped with additional special functions.

Let's continue the theme of biblical stories in the visual arts. This part is dedicated to one of the most important plots of the Book of Genesis - the Great Flood and its characters - Patriarch Noah and his sons: Shem, Ham and Afet.
Noah was a descendant of Adam and Eve through one of their sons, Seth. By the way, to the question of whether all of humanity is the descendants of the murderer of Cain. As you can see, no. This is evident primarily from the history of the Flood.
Usually Noah was depicted as a white-bearded old man. Being the first after Adam among the Old Testament patriarchs, Noah, according to theological constructions, is one of the patriarchal "types" of Christ. And the Flood was likened by the early Church Fathers and apologists to the sacrament of Christian baptism. Noah's Ark has been a frequent subject in Christian art since the earliest times. Thus, in the Roman catacombs, he personified the new Christian concept of the Resurrection, since the converts were probably already familiar - through Greek and Egyptian mythology - with its idea of ​​\u200b\u200btraveling the dead on a ship to another world. And soon the ship as such became a generally accepted symbol of the Christian Church itself. For example, a part of a Christian church intended for parishioners is called "nave", i.e., "ship".

In the story of Noah and the Flood, one can distinguish four main storylines:
- Construction of the Ark;
- Great Flood;
- Sacrifice But I;
- Noah's drunkenness.

Construction of the Ark (Gen. 6:14-22)

Seeing the immorality of the human race, God decided to destroy it and save only the righteous man Noah and his family, ordering him to build the Ark and take on board "each creature in pairs." As a rule, the artists ignored the technical details of the construction of the Ark, which are given in the Book of Genesis. In early Christian painting in the Roman catacombs, the Ark is simply a coffin-like box. In the art of the Middle Ages, the Ark is a kind of floating house, and in the art of the Renaissance it becomes a real ship, and the sons of Noah are depicted building it under the supervision of the patriarch. And when the Ark is depicted as ready, Noah drives a couple of animals on board.

Great Flood (Gen. 7:8-19)

According to the Bible, at the beginning of the Flood it rained continuously for forty days and forty nights until even the mountains were covered with water. The Flood itself lasted 150 days. When the water began to subside, the Ark landed on Mount Ararat. To find out if the land was habitable, Noah released a raven that did not return. He then sent out a dove twice, which returned the second time with an olive leaf in its beak. Sent a third time, the dove did not return. After that, Noah brought out his family and animals to "be fruitful and multiply on the earth."
In this story, wicked people, doomed by God to destruction, are depicted by artists running from rising water, trying to escape from inevitable death on trees and hills. The Ark - floating among the endless waters.

Noah's Sacrifice (Gen. 8:20-22; 9:1-17)

As a token of gratitude to God for salvation, Noah built an altar and offered a sacrifice. This sacrifice was accepted by God, and He said: "And there will be a rainbow in the cloud, and I will see it, and I will remember the eternal covenant between God and between every living soul in all flesh that is on earth."
In this plot, as a rule, a rainbow is depicted, meaning a sign of God's promise not to make more floods.

Noah's drunkenness (Gen. 9:20-27)

On the newly acquired land, Noah cultivated the land and took up viticulture. One day, after drinking too much wine, he fell asleep in his tent naked and drunk. This is how Ham saw him, laughed at his father and informed his brothers, Sim and Afet, about this. These two sons of Noah came with clothes, approached their father in such a way as not to see him naked and covered his nakedness.
"Noah woke up from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him; and he said, Cursed is Canaan; he will be a servant of servants to his brothers."
Sometimes Noah is depicted planting his grapes, but the most common version shows him lying in a state of intoxication next to a cup of wine. Next to him are his sons: Ham, mocking his father, and his two brothers, covering Noah with a cloak.

A number of Christian theologians saw Noah's mockery as a prototype of mockery of the crucified Christ. And Jewish commentators claim that Ham not only laughed at his naked father, but also castrated him. They argue that this point was deliberately omitted from Genesis.

To be continued.

Thank you for attention.

Sergei Vorobyov.