A test centre for large-scale UPS systems
Advanced testing of high-power ups systems in a safe and modern facility
There is a clear trend in the critical power industry for large-scale UPS system installations. These large sites need a bigger power protection infrastructure – and bigger uninterruptible power supplies to match. KOHLER Uninterruptible Power’s access to the comprehensive UPS test facility at ABB’s power protection factory in Switzerland enables safe and robust testing of the largest uninterruptible power supplies around.
A comprehensive UPS testing facility
To make the integration of uninterruptible power supplies into the customer’s power supply infrastructure a smooth and simple operation, the entire uninterruptible power systems configuration – including ancillary system components such as switchgear and static transfer switches – is tested as one integrated unit before it leaves the power protection factory.
KUP customers are purchasing large-scale UPS systems that are far bigger than before. The advanced uninterruptible power supply facility ensures that these, and future, even larger, UPS power systems can be completely tested before delivery.
The most important function of the UPS testing facility is the customer factory acceptance test (FAT) and the layout has been designed with this in mind. Not only that, but the facility also provides a unique tool for new product development, special product testing and type tests.
A full suite of UPS test tools
The UPS test facility is located in ABB’s power protection factory in Switzerland. The centre boasts five test stations, each with an AC capability of 800 kW (4 MW total) and a DC capability that can simulate 480 kW of battery power (2.4 MW total).
Real uninterruptible power supply batteries can be used too: the test facility has 200 UPS batteries of 90 Ah each, which provides 10 minutes of autonomy at 500 kW. The UPS batteries can be set up in a one- to four-string configuration, with 40 to 50 batteries per string.
The test bay is designed for the UPS power supplies IEC 400VAC phase-phase or 480VAC for the US.
The nominal voltage of the UPS test bay is from 400 to 480V phase-phase and any set point in between can be applied for continuous operation, with the input frequency at 50 or 60 Hz, (again if required this can be varied between 35-70 Hz).
If required with specific conditions we can also operate at 400V -30% OR at 480V +10% (conditions can be: not at Full load, OR for a limited time.)
The output power factor (load) is normally tested at unity, however, this can be adjusted to ±0.5.
In addition to accommodating testing at 400 VAC, and standard voltages for Europe and other IEC markets, the UPS testing facility can be adapted to perform tests at 208 VAC and 480 V, typical for the North America area and other UL markets.
This full spectrum of power availability enables even the largest and most varied uninterruptible power systems to be fully tested.
Flexible layout
The test area is laid out so as to make it easy to test extended UPS power systems – including, for example, uninterruptible power supplies, input and output switchgear, power distribution units (PDUs) and static transfer switches (STSs). The facility also features dual input feed for large UPS power systems; up to 10 uninterruptible power supply units in one parallel system, and static system bypass module tests up to 5000 A.
There is ample capacity to accommodate future, larger uninterruptible power supply sizes, which enhances KUP’s ability to address data centre infrastructure and industry trends to large-scale UPS systems installations.
UPS testing regimes
Naturally, uninterruptible power supply requirements differ from customer to customer. To cover all possible customer test requests, a fully comprehensive suite of UPS test procedures is catered for in the test centre:
- Visual inspection (quality, safety, labels and markings, etc.)
- Insulation resistance and ground continuity
- Steady-state tests (input/output stability, harmonics, efficiency, standard nonlinear load, variable cos phi, etc.)
- Dynamic tests (changes of operating mode, step load, overload, fuse clearing, etc.)
- Transformer heat run
- Failure simulations (e.g., over-temperature tripping, battery failure, etc.)
- System tests (load sharing, faulty module isolation, etc.)
- Burn-in test
- Connectivity test
- AC load short-circuit test: individual phases or all together (phase to phase, phase to neutral, etc.)
- AC mains failure test: low-impedance and high-impedance mains failure capability
- AC UPS power supply without a neutral test: up to 2 x 800 kVA
Witness test experience in comfort and modern ambience
KOHLER Uninterruptible Power places great value on customer participation at every step of the product delivery process, from initial design to final commissioning, and beyond. This is why the UPS test facility includes a fully equipped conference room. In this comfortable location, which has large windows that overlook the test bays, customers, KUP and ABB engineers have a safe environment in which they can closely monitor the entire test process. As well as direct visual access, measurements from the test bays are displayed in the conference room.
The UPS test centre is right beside the FAT area – where customers participate in the final testing of their UPS products before they are shipped. In case travel is not convenient or the customer wants to share the FAT event with others, the facility is fully equipped with teleconference and video services to allow customer participation in FATs, or any part thereof, from anywhere on the planet. FATs are recorded for future forensic analysis, record keeping and traceability.
Electronic load saves energy
By their very nature, large power set-ups consume a lot of energy. Great emphasis however has been placed on reducing the environmental footprint at the facility and that is why the UPS test equipment has been designed to recycle the energy used during testing. The test power is circulated around electronic loads, which means only 10 per cent of the actual power used in the test is taken from the public mains power supply.
Keeping an eye on the future
Large-scale UPS systems power specifications are increasing year-by-year, as applications grow ever more power-hungry and complex. As one of the few major UPS suppliers in the power protection market, KUP has, with this UPS test facility, a tool to reinforce the ability of the company to successfully design, build and test high-quality UPS power supplies systems for applications involving the highest power applications.
If you are interested in using the UPS test facility or would like more information regarding any of our large-scale UPS systems please get in touch: [email protected] or 01256 386700