UPS Benefits
Lab Managers should only use online or isolated online UPS systems to protect their labs.
Why do my instruments need a UPS?
Lab Directors across America have learned the hard way how “Dirty” utility power can put their lab out of production. Even a one second power outage can result in hours of lost productivity on your instruments. The benefits of protecting your lab instruments with an online UPS include:
Increased Accuracy
Utility power is not of sufficient quality to maintain 100% accuracy in you mass specs results. Power anomalies like voltage and frequency variations along with switching transients and excessive ground noise can cause semiconductors to misinterpret signals which can cause errors.
Reduced Service Calls
Service calls create costly down-time and need to be avoided. Studies have shown that instruments protected by an online UPS will decrease service call by over 50%. Field Service Reps from companies like Agilent, PerkinElmer and Shimadzu know that facility power problems are the basis for many of their service calls and can only be address with power protection devices like a UPS.
Eliminated Down-Time
Don’t let a one second power outage take your mass spec out of production for hours. Sudden power outages, without doing appropriate shutdown measures, can cause a loss of vacuum or even damage your instrument.
Extended Instrument Life
Power anomalies and common mode noise (excess ground noise) can slowly damage you instruments circuitry and can result in premature failure. Electrical storms and lightning strikes can cause switching transients that can destroy circuit boards if not protected with an isolated online UPS.
Protected Investments
Investing in a good UPS for your mass spec just makes sense and is insurance against the 10 power problems that can reduce productivity and instrument life.
Online and Isolated Online UPS systems have superior voltage protection.
Protect your PerkinElmer QSight and NexION instruments with an Xtreme Power UPS
The TX91 UPS has supported all the major mass spectrometer manufacturers including Agilent, Sciex, Shimadzu, Thermo Scientific, Waters and PerkinElmer. Sciex and PerkinElmer have both run extensive testing on the TX91. Sciex has tested and approved the TX91 with their entire line of mass spec instruments. PerkinEmer’s concentrated on testing the QSight and NexION ICP instrument with the TX91-6K. In a side by side test with a competitor UPS, the TX91-6K exceeded or met every PerkinElmer requirement.
What Is Dirty Power?
The “10 Power Problems” chart provides a breakdown of the various utility power problems that can have a major impact on your lab. Some applications like, desktop computers, may only need protection against power outages and can perform just fine with voltage fluctuation. This is certainly not the case with analytical instruments which require a high level of power conditioning to operate at peak capacity. To meet the “Power Requirements” stated in most mass spec site preparation manuals, at least 9 of the 10 power problems need to be eliminated. Voltage regulation is a paramount issue for mass spec instruments so eliminating sags, surges, brown outs and over-voltage are key.
AC Blackout
Total loss of utility power occurring for more than 2 cycles.
Normal Mode Noise
High-frequency electrical waveform between line (L) and neutral (N) caused by RFI or EMI interference.
Power Sag
Short-term low voltage caused by large equipment starting inrush current, utility switching, or a temporary overload.
Frequency Variation
Frequency change from nominal 60Hz or 50Hz. Operation from engine generators can produce frequency variations.
Voltage Surge
Short-term high voltage above 110% of nominal for several cycles.
Switching Transient
Fast high voltage spike with a very short duration time.
Brownout
Long-term reduced line voltage for an extended period lasting a few minutes to a few days.
Harmonic Distortion
Distortion of the normal waveform is generally caused by nonlinear loads such as rectifiers, switch-mode power supplies, and variable frequency drives.
Over-voltage
Extended period of increased line voltage ranging from a few minutes to a few days.
Common Mode Noise
Electrical interference measured between ground and either neutral (N) or line (L) of a typical AC power line.
Comparison Study
UPS Topologies
There are 4 major UPS types and each offers a wide range of protection.
The chart below shows exactly which power problems each of the UPS types eliminates.
Standby UPS
A Standby UPS is basically a surge protector with a battery and has no voltage regulation. This type of UPS usually has a simulated sine wave and should not be used in laboratory applications.
Line Interactive UPS
The Line Interactive is a step up in so much that it does offer limited voltage regulation. Line Interactive systems use Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) that can regulate voltage to within +- 10% of nominal voltage. This means that the voltage can fluctuate between 108 and 144 volts which is excessive for analytical instruments and I would not recommend this type of UPS for mass specs. A line interactive UPS may be appropriate for more “mechanical loads” like chillers and gas generators where a high level of power conditioning is not required.
Online and Isolated online UPS
These two UPS types provide the highest level of power conditioning available and should always be used for analytical instrument applications. The main difference between an online UPS and the standby/line interactive is that the inverter is always engaged and creates a perfect sine regardless of the quality of the incoming utility power. The standby and line interactive only engage the inverter in the advent of a power outage. The load is basically operating on unregulated utility power.
The online UPS will protect your instrument from 9 of the 10 power problems while the isolated online UPS will protect against all 10. These UPS systems also have superior voltage protection and will regulate voltage to within +- 1% of nominal (110 – 121V).
Difference Between Online and Isolated Online UPS
As you can see in the isolated online UPS diagram, this type of UPS features an isolation transformer on the UPS output.
Galvanic isolation completely separates the input and output supplies to a device so that energy flows through a field rather than via electrical connections. It enables power transfer between two circuits that must not be connected. This allow multiple devices to be plugged into one UPS source and eliminates the need for separate circuits for each component of the LCMS system. Many mass spec site prep manuals specify the input power must not have excessive ground noise. ANSI/IEEE C62.41 is a standard that indicated that highly sensitive loads should reduce excessive ground noise, known as common mode noise to less than .05V.
In addition to ground protection the isolation transformer provides dual output voltages including 230/115V which is required for most US based LCMS systems.
The quality of your labs utility power is an important consideration in deciding what UPS protection you require. Not all facilities are going to need an isolated online solution. The age of the building and it’s location will have an impact on your labs utility power quality. Newer building are going to have a lot less grounding issues than older buildings. Especially older buildings in industrial areas.
Follow this link for more information on Isolation Transformers.
Lab Power Solutions offers both online and isolated online solutions for laboratory applications.
The chart below shows that the online UPS will eliminate all the power problems except common mode noise. To eliminated 10 of the 10 problems an isolated online UPS is required.
UPS Systems from 350VA to 140kVA
Single phase systems up to 60kVA and three phase systems from 10kVA to 140kVA.
Competitive Prices
Xtreme Power UPS systems allow for considerable savings over similar products from Powervar, Toshiba and Battery Backup Power.
Three Year Warranty
Xtreme Power UPS electronics and batteries are covered by a 3 year warranty with an upgrade option for 5 years. Lithium ion UPS systems have 6 year factory warranty.