Low voltage switching is important for alternative energy sources like wind and solar farms. Reactive devices, inertial storage, and battery banks can provide low voltage autonomy during power outages. Cross-over faults can cause voltage drops, but switching power supplies can maintain output voltage. UPS systems can also generate AC in sync with utility power.
A low voltage switch is the ability to respond to a large decrease in energy input for alternative energy sources such as wind and solar farms. It is predefined so that loads can be disconnected or powered by alternative sources such as uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). A low voltage ride through design is also being considered in many critical applications such as satellites and spacecraft.
An electrical device relies on a relatively stable supply voltage; most electronic equipment may be capable of operating between approximately 60 and 130 volts of alternating current (VAC). The electrical power that is discharged is about the same even though the voltage has dropped due to flexible power circuits. The switching power supply has the ability to alter the “on” time on its primary switching device to produce the same average direct current (DC) voltage at its load. Electronic circuits implement low-voltage switching to some extent as permitted by the size of the capacitor storage components. The practical design can provide a low voltage run of up to about half a second.
Crossing over fault is a more general characteristic which includes low voltage crossing over and other faults such as excessive crossing speed of wind turbines. It is the ability of a power generating device to maintain its output voltage in the event of short-term power dips. A park of wind generators can experience a reduction in wind speed which leads to a voltage drop. Meanwhile, the electrical grid may require as much power as can be momentarily supplied by the backup mechanism on the generating device.
Reactive devices are capable of withstanding low-voltage transition for short-term power losses. The capacitor or capacitor is capable of supplying electrical energy drawn from the electric field generated between conducting plates, while the inductor is capable of producing current on its winding drawn from the collapse of a magnetic field in its core. The magnetic core is capable of storing a strong magnetic field.
Another resource for low voltage switching is inertial storage. In this form, mechanical energy can be stored as the momentum of a rotating flywheel. For example, using magnetic bearings, a heavy flywheel weighing at least 220.5 kg (100 lbs) can be suspended in a vacuum, and once suspended, the flywheel has a motor drive that uses extra electrical energy to increase its rotational speed . Without any resistance, the flywheel continues to rotate. During power outages, a generator engages the flywheel and converts rotational energy into electrical energy.
The battery bank is capable of providing low voltage autonomy of up to several hours. There are systems that use direct current directly, so there is no need to convert electricity during a power outage. In some systems, an online UPS generates alternating current (AC) in sync with utility power. If the power is not available for some reason, the UPS pilots the load as if the utility power had not disappeared. When utility power is restored, the UPS electronics detect this and revert to monitoring only.
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