Ensuring uninterrupted power in critical environments

To prevent this, it becomes essential to have an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Here, Andrew Keith, Division Director at load bank manufacturer, Power Prove, explains the importance of fixed load banks to ensuring power in critical applications.

In critical environments, a steady and reliable power supply is paramount. Therefore, organisations that rely on power within such an environment need to have some form of safeguarding to mitigate disruption to grid supply.

Safeguarding power supply

A UPS is a critical power system that provides backup power during electrical outages or disruptions. It acts as a reliable buffer between the mains power source and the connected equipment, ensuring seamless operations even in the face of a power failure. UPS systems are equipped with battery banks and a generator that provide energy when the main power supply is compromised.

During normal operation, the UPS continuously charges its battery bank while supplying power to the connected load. In the event of a power outage, the UPS instantly switches to battery power, preventing any interruption or damage to the critical equipment. When the battery capacity approaches its limits or if the power outage is expected to be prolonged, the generator UPS automatically starts the generator. The generator provides continuous power to the UPS, which, in turn, powers the connected load and simultaneously recharges the UPS batteries.

Critical environments

What sort of applications require a UPS? Essentially any application where a power outage would result in serious, negative consequences such as financial losses, compromised safety and disrupted operations needs a UPS. This could be a hospital, where uninterrupted power is literally a matter of life and death. In these circumstances, generator UPS systems ensure that life-saving medical equipment, patient monitoring systems and critical infrastructure continue to function seamlessly.

It could be an airport, where backup power is essential for runway lighting, navigation aids, communication systems and security equipment. If any of these systems fail, the whole airport cannot function. Or it could be telecoms, where uninterrupted connectivity is essential for the operation of a telecommunications network. If power is lost, it could result in dropped calls, loss of internet impaired emergency response capabilities.

In each of these applications a UPS is essential to ensuring power supply. But an additional piece of kit is essential to safeguarding power supply: load banks.

UPS power protection

Load banks enable rigorous testing and commissioning of power systems. By simulating different load conditions, load banks ensure that generators, UPS systems, and other power infrastructure operate at their intended capacities. This testing process identifies potential issues, verifies system performance, and validates the readiness of critical environments for emergencies.

Power Prove, the load bank division of Cressall Resistors, designs and manufactures a range of load bank solutions, making it simple to conduct generator testing in critical applications. Whether you require a fixed or portable load bank, Power Prove supplies a range of off-the-shelf and custom solutions to meet your individual needs.

UPS is a requirement for power in critical environments, but it cannot work alone. A fixed load bank is an essential component in a backup power system, and vital to ensuring seamless operations, data integrity, and public safety. By providing reliable and resilient power infrastructure, these systems mitigate the risks of power disruptions and support uninterrupted services. Investing in backup power solutions is essential to maintaining operations and meet the demands of our interconnected world.