Eaton Energy Saver UPS Option enables 99% Efficincy.

In October 2009 Eaton presented its Energy Saver System option for Eaton 9395 and 9390
systems, which enable large, three-phase Uninterruptible power systems (UPSs) to operate at 99
percent without sacrificing reliability. Same month Chloride presented its new Trinergy UPS
system designed for data centers with a claimed maximum efficiency of up to 98 percent.

Both Chloride and Eaton harness Eco-Mode principle to increase efficiency, suggesting new
solutions to overcome Eco Mode drawbacks.

Chloride's Trinergy uses the UPS inverter as an active filter to provide conditioned power.
Whereas Eaton's Energy Saver suggests a fast Turn - On Inverter, providing conditioned power
through the double conversion route.

According to Eaton, normal Eco Mode operation is associated with a hot standby inverter, which
consumes about 2% to 3% of rated UPS power. Energy Saver technology eliminates these
losses, achieving 99% UPS efficiency, by turning the Inverter off, during the Eco Mode regime.

Eaton's Energy Saver system offers the following operational regimes, with automatic selection
to optimize power conditioning for achieving both protection and low losses:

Normal Mode: when utility is within acceptable limits, the UPS operates on bypass, providing
99% UPS Efficiency and surge protection. The Inverter is turned off to save losses, while being
in "Charged" and synchronized condition.

High Alert Mode: UPS turns on its Inverter upon sensing a short term voltage or frequency
deviation problem and converts within 2 milliseconds to Double Conversion Mode for predefined
period, before returning to Normal Mode.

Storm Detection Mode: Sensing significant number of power disturbances during a short time,
UPS automatically switches to Double Conversion Mode for eight hours, before returning to
Normal Mode.

Double Conversion Mode: Can be selected by user providing On Line Protection and 94%
efficiency.

The technology is offered for new 400V and 480V, 9390 and 9395 UPS systems. Existing
systems can be field upgraded by Eaton's service. More information is presented on Eaton's
Website.

Eco Mode like any other Standby operation, powers the critical load from utility, transferring to
Inverter's output whenever mains voltage deviates from preset levels.
Standby UPS systems are generally used for low power low cost and less critical applications,
where the UPS serves mainly as short time battery backup, to enable power outage ride through
or graceful shut down if outage persists. Standby disadvantages stem from unconditioned output
during normal operation, inability to correct Mains or external Generator's frequency deviations,
uncorrected input Power Factor and limited autonomy time.

An Online UPS with Eco Mode mitigates said drawbacks effect. The ability to transfer to Double
Conversion Mode provides conditioned power in unstable grid environments, solving also
frequency deviations as well as extended power outages by additional battery backup or backup
generator.

Still, some users are reluctant in implementing the Eco Mode. Despite the fact that it is offered
by some producers for quite a few years, and although it can be easy implemented by
modification of UPS software, it is still not accepted as mainstream. Concern with working
continuously in an unconditioned environment, uncertainty about the health and ability of the
standby inverter to work with full load, and worry about the ability to transfer smoothly at mains
outage, as well as "low cost technology" preconception associated with standby operation,
may apprehend some IT manager or consultant from voting for Eco Mode

The full article is presented on UPSonNet November 2009 Newsletter.

Save costs with Eaton's Energy Saver