Transfer Time Suppressor (TTS) for Line-

Interactive Uninterruptible Power Supplies

M. Arias, M.M. Hernando, M. Rodrguez, D.G. Lamar, J. Sebastin, A. Rodrguez
rea de Tecnologa Electrnica
Edificio 3, Campus de Viesques s/n, 33204 Gijn, SPAIN
Ph: +34 985 182 577, Fax: +34 985 182 538
Email: ariasmanuel@uniovi.es

Abstract - Passive standby and line-interactive

Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs) have lower cost and
size than double conversion UPS and their efficiency is
higher. On the other hand, their voltage regulation is poor
(or non-existent) during the normal mode of operation.
Moreover, both UPSs have a transfer time (also defined as
switching time) from normal mode to stored energy mode
when the utility power fails. During this switching time (a
few milliseconds), the load is still connected to the grid and,
therefore, it is affected by the abnormal line conditions. In
previous papers, authors proposed different methods for
filling voltage notches in line-interactive UPSs. In this paper,
a method which eliminates not only notches, but also voltage
surges, is proposed. It is based on two capacitors charged one
with positive and the other with negative voltage. If any
abnormal line condition takes place in the, for example,
positive period, the positive capacitor is connected to the
load. This connection is then modulated in order to obtain a
sinusoidal waveform. This method can make line-interactive
UPS more competitive than the double conversion UPS in
many situations and cases.
, the static switches connect the load to the grid. When a
fault in the grid occurs, the static switches are opened and
the load is supplied by the inverter, which extracts the
energy from the batteries. As can be seen, during the
normal mode of operation no regulation of output voltage
is possible. Also, the static switches need some
milliseconds in order to be opened. Therefore, the load is
still connected to the grid during this switching time (also
known as transfer time) and, as a consequence, it is
affected by the grid fault.
The line-interactive UPS (fig. 1b) is similar to the
passive standby one [6] [7]. Nevertheless, it uses a
bidirectional converter. It also needs to open a static
switch in order to change to battery mode and, hence, it
I. I NTRODUCTION
Uninterruptible Power Supply systems (UPSs) [1]-[3]
protect critical loads against situations of power outage or
grid anomalies. Static UPSs are divided in three types:
passive standby, line-interactive and double conversion.
They all consist in a rectifier-charger, a set of batteries and
an inverter. The difference between them is the way in
which these elements are connected to the load and the
grid. The characteristics of each topology will be a direct
consequence of this connection [4]. Fig. 1 shows the
schemes of each topology.
The scheme of a double conversion UPS is shown in
fig. 1c [5]. As can be seen, the voltage supplied to the load
is constantly regulated by the UPS inverter. Therefore, it
is the UPS with the highest performance. On the other
hand, it has the highest cost and size and the lowest
efficiency, as the energy is processed twice.
The passive standby UPS is shown in fig. 1a. In normal
operation mode
also has a transfer time. On the other hand, its
performance is superior and its voltage regulation
capabilities are higher. In order to achieve these regulation
capabilities, a series inductor has to be implemented in its
scheme.
In previous papers [8][9], authors presented solutions to
eliminate voltage notches that affect the load during the
transfer time [10]-[13]. In this one, a general solution,
called Transfer Time Suppressor (TTS), is presented. With
this TTS, the voltage surges and the voltage notches
which affect the load during the transfer time are
eliminated, making line-interactive UPS more competitive
than the double conversion one in many cases.

a) Load
b) c)
Grid Series
Static Grid Inductor
Static Load
Switch Switch
Grid AC/DC DC/AC Load

AC/DC
AC/DC DC/AC Bidirect.

Fig. 1; Schemes of the (a) passive standby UPS topology; (b) line-interactive UPS topology; (c) double conversion UPS topology.

978-1-4244-1668-4/08/$25.00 2008 IEEE 3689

 Upper limit Negative Grid
Positive Positive
Lower limit Period
Capacitor Switch
Sensed load voltage Upper limit
Negative Switch
Gate
LOAD
Switching Sensed load
time voltage

UPS
Output Isolation Positive Switch
Switch Gate
Lower limit
Negative
Capacitor Negative Positive Grid
Switch Period

a) b) c)
Fig. 2; (a) Complete scheme of the TTS; (b) Principle of operation when a voltage notch takes place in the grid; (c) Control circuitry of the
positive and negative switches.

II. O PERATION CONCEPT
The Transfer Time Suppressor (TTS) bases its principle
of operation on providing energy to the load during the
transfer time (fig 2a). There are two main options for
storing this energy:
x batteries
x capacitors
Batteries have a larger energy density than capacitors,
but they would need a charger. This would also increase
the complexity and cost of the overall design. On the other
hand, capacitors can be charged directly from the grid
with a diode. Considering that the TTS will be supplying
energy only during the transfer time, which lasts for a few
milliseconds, the energy density is not a key issue.
Furthermore, the most common voltage value for batteries
is 12V (or 48V with 4 batteries connected in series). This
results in the need of boosting this voltage to the grid
nominal value.
It should be noted that if the cost and/or the complexity
of the TTS is high, a line-interactive UPS equiped with a
TTS would be more expensive and/or complex than a
double conversion UPS and, hence, less competitive.
Considering this and the low energy density needed,
capacitors are chosen to store the energy that the TTS will
supply to the load.
The control method is very simple. Load voltage is
sensed and constantly compared with two voltage limits
(fig 2b). Considering a positive period, if a voltage notch
takes place, the sensed load voltage will fall below the
lower limit and, as a consequence, the positive capacitor
will be connected to the load through the positive switch
(fig. 2c). Therefore, sensed load voltage is again higher
than the lower limit and the capacitor is disconnected.
This process is repeated until the UPS restores its output
voltage to a normal value. This results in the modulation
of the voltage capacitor and leads to a sinusoidal
waveform (with some ripple) applied to the load. As can
be seen, a typical bang-bang control is used. In the
negative period, the process is similar but using the
negative capacitor and negative switch. It should be noted
that during this negative period, if a notch takes place, the
exceeded limit will be the upper one (fig. 2b and 2c).
Initially, the voltage will become higher than this upper
limit and, hence, the negative capacitor will be connected
to the load through the negative switch. As in the positive
period, when the negative capacitor is connected, the
sensed load voltage becomes lower than the upper limit
and the negative switch is opened again. This results in a
sinusoidal voltage applied to the load, but with a certain
ripple. As it will be explained, due to the short duration of
the tranfer time, this ripple may be acceptable for some
aplications.
Voltages surges elimination will be explained later.
First, it should be noted that another switch, different from
the positive or the negative one, is needed in order to
isolate the TTS and the load from the UPS output when
the grid experiments an abnormal situation. If this
isolation switch is not implemented, energy from the TTS

a) b)
Fig. 3; (a) Control circuitry of the isolation switch; (b) Principle of operation when a voltage surge takes place in the
voltage grid.

3690
will flow not only to the load, but also to the grid and the
measurement systems at the output of the UPS. This
isolation switch is opened when the sensed load voltage is
above the upper voltage limit or below the lower one,
regardless of wether the grid is in the positive period or
the negative one (fig 3a). It will be closed again when the
load voltage is restored to normal values by the UPS. It
should be noted that the control of this switch is slightly
different front the positive or negative switch control:
once a voltage notch or a voltage surge is detected, the
isolation switch is opened and remains in that state wether
the sensed load voltage is restored by the TTS. Only when
the load voltage is restored by the UPS, and not by the
capacitors of the TTS, the isolation switch will be closed
again. As will be exlained later, a low cost low size
microcontroller is implemented in the TTS control. While
the opening of the isolation switch is commanded by an
analog circuit (fig. 3a), the responsible for closing it will
be the microcontroller.
The way in which the isolation switch is controlled
allows the TTS to protect the load against not only voltage
notches, but also voltage surges. Considering a voltage
surge in the positive period, the sensed load voltage will
raise over the upper limit (fig 3b). This will not close
either the positive or the negative switch (fig 2c), but it
will open the isolation switch (fig 3a). As a consequence,
the load will not be longer affected by the voltage surge
but, in the same way, it will not be longer connected to the
grid (UPS output) and, hence, its voltage will decrease as
in a voltage notch. Therefore, the situation will now be
similar to the one in which a voltage notch is affecting the
load and the positive capacitor is being connected to it.
The only difference is that in the first case the UPS enters
in the stored energy mode as a consequence of a voltage
notch while, in this second case, the UPS enters in this
mode due to a voltage surge. If the voltage surge takes
place during the negative period, the exceeded limit will
be the lower one and, as in the positive period, the
isolation switch will be opened. The capacitor connected
will be the negative one and the limit used to modulate the
capacitor voltage will be the upper one.
As it has been said, this control strategy implies a
significant voltage ripple. Nevertheless, the TTS would
driver
LOAD
driver
control
driver
Control
Circuitry Mains
Ground Ground
Fig. 4; Complete scheme of the TTS including the control signals
and the grounds needed.
3691
only be providing energy during the few milliseconds of
the transfer time and, hence, the reduction of the ripple
generated by this bang-bang control is not a key issue. As
a consequence, no output filters are needed and the size
and cost of the whole system can be minimized. Another
important consequence is that the typical design
considerations cannot be applied. Later in the paper, the
design procedure employed will be explained.
As can be seen, the whole system is very simple (fig
2a). The pair of capacitors has a reasonably small size due
to the short duration of the transfer time. The positive and
the negative switches are implemented with MOSFETs.
Their parasitic diodes work as rectifiers for charging the
capacitors and, hence, no extra diodes are needed. The
isolation switch should have a very short reaction time and
it should also allow current flowing in both directions.
Hence, it has been implemented with a pair of MOSFETs
connected source to source. This gives the isolation
switch a very short reaction time and allows current
flowing in both directions. The sinusoidal upper and lower
limits are generated by a low-cost low-size
microcontroller, which is also responsible for some other
logic actuations (i.e.: closing the isolation swith when the
voltage is restored). The resulting system has low cost and
low size and, hence, the connection of a TTS to a line-
interactive UPS does not represent a significant increment
in the cost or size of the UPS. Nevertheless, its transfer
time would be eliminated.
III. I MPLEMENTATION OF THE SYSTEM
In fig. 2a the complete scheme of the TTS is shown.
The capacitors should be rated for more than 375 V. The
transfer time, the maximum critical load and the minimum
acceptable output voltage are the most important variables
in determining the capacitance needed. Two 470-PF bulk
capacitors are needed to supply 1500 W during 3 ms. The
calculation to determine its size is the following:
where Ecap and Vcap are the energy and the voltage of
the capacitor and C is its capacitance. The voltage
provided by the TTS should be within the same tolerances
as the UPS. Hence, considering (1):
Ecap = 0.5CVcap2 (1)
Fig. 5; Photograph of the prototype. The heaksink of the isolation
switch is not shown. The small transformer on the left side of the
PCB is used by the auxiliary circuitry.

Ecap_ini = 0.5CVinpk2 (2)
Ecap_fin = 0.5C(Vinpktol)2 (3)
where Ecap_ini and Ecap_fin are the energy level of the
bulk capacitor before and after the notch has been filled,
Vinpk is the peak value of the voltage and tol is the
tolerance of the UPS output voltage.
Considering that the notch only lasts for a few
milliseconds, it is possible to calculate the energy
demanded by the load as if its voltage were constant and
equal to Vinpk (which would be clearly the worst case):
Eload_max = Vinpk(Pload_max / Veff_load)2tnotch (4)
where Eload_max is the maximum energy demanded by
the load, Pload_max the rated power of the UPS and tnotch the
maximum duration of the UPS transfer time.
The energy demanded by the load is supplied by one of
the capacitors. Hence:
Ecap_ini = Ecap_fin + Eload_max (5)
With (2), (3), (4) and (5), considering the given
specifications and setting a tolerance of 70%, two 470-F
capacitors are needed (one for the positive period and one
for the negative one).
The positive switch is implemented with an n-channel
MOSFET while the negative switch is implemented with a
p-channel one. The reason is simplicity. With these types
of MOSFET, both gate control signals are referred to the
same ground (fig 4). This simplifies the auxiliary system
which supplies power to the control circuitry. As has been
said, the selection of these MOSFETs is not standard. The
TTS will be at full load only during the transfer time of
the UPS. Therefore, efficiency of the TTS is not a key
issue and the Rdson is not as important as in other designs.
Also, the average current (ID) is not a key characteristic
due to the same reason. The most important characteristic
is the maximum peak current (IDM), which should be
higher than the maximum current peak value the load may
demand. The maximum voltage any of the MOSFET will
have to support is the double of the peak grid voltage.
The MOSFETs of the isolation switch will be normally
driving the current given by the UPS. Therefore, the
conventional criteria should be attended. The maximum
voltage they will have to support, as in the other
MOSFETs, is the double of the grid voltage (during the
transfer time, in which this switch is opened).
No heat sinks are needed either in the positive or in the
negative switch. They will only be driving current during
the transfer time and, as its duration is quite short, their
temperature will not be increased. The isolation switch
may need heat sink depending on the Rdson of the
MOSFETs and the power the UPS is supplying to the
load.
As mentioned above, eliminating the voltage ripple is
not a key issue and, as a consequence, no filters or
inductors are needed. This considerably reduces the size
and the cost of the overall system. It should be considered
that this ripple may be acceptable for certain loads
connected the UPS. Nevertheless, this ripple can be
reduced by adding a filter capacitor to the TTS output.
Finally, it should be noted that a low-cost low-size
microcontroller is responsible for generating both the
upper and the lower levels. As a consequence, it needs to
be synchronized with the load voltage. This is achieved in
a very simple way: two diodes clamp the load voltage and
a resistor limits the current though them. This allows the
microcontroller to perfectly detect when the load voltage
is changing from the positive to the negative period and
synchronizes both limits with the load voltage. Another
function of the microcontroller is closing the isolation
switch when the voltage is restored by the UPS, as this
does not need a very short reaction time. Nevertheless,
opening the isolation switch should be done in a very
short period of time. Hence, an analog circuit (two
comparators), and not the microcontroller, is responsible
for this actuation. For the same reason, the control of the
positive and the negative switches is also done by an
analog circuit.
IV. E XPERIMENTAL RESULTS
A prototype of the proposed system has been built and
tested (fig. 5). It is designed for 230 V, 3 ms of transfer
time and 1500 W load. As has been explained, with these
specifications two 470 F capacitors are enough to protect
the load from any grid fault during the 3-milliseconds
transfer time. A BUK456 (n-channel MOSFET) is chosen
for the positive switch and a STB9NK70Z (p-channel
MOSFET) is chosen for the negative one. Two IRFBE20
have been selected for the isolating switch; due to the
maximum load which can be connected, heat sink is
needed for this switch. The experimental results for a
voltage notch are presented in fig 6a-6c. Fig. 6a shows the
load voltage when the TTS is not connected to the UPS.
Fig. 6b shows the load voltage when the TTS is used and
fig. 6c shows the sensed load voltage and the lower limit
with a higher time scale. The test done for voltage surge is
presented in fig. 6d-6f. Fig. 6d shows the load voltage
without the TTS connected to the UPS output. Fig 6e
shows the load voltage when the TTS is used. In Fig 6f
sensed load voltage and upper limit detail are presented.
As can be seen, this limit clamps the maximum the load
voltage can reach, but the modulation is done comparing
with the lower limit (not represented).
V. C ONCLUSIONS
Passive standby and line-interactive UPSs have a
transfer time from normal mode to stored energy mode.
During this transfer time, any voltage disturbance in the
grid may affect the critical load connected to the UPS. In
this paper, a solution to this problem is presented. In the
Transfer Time Supressor (TTS), the load voltage is sensed
and continuosly compared with an upper and a lower
limit. If any fault is detected (the sensed load voltage is
out of the area defined by the lower and the upper limit),
the isolating switch is opened. The load is then connected
to a capacitor and this connection is modulated in order to
obtain a sinusoidal voltage applied to the load. This is
achieved by means of a bang-bang control. As a
consequence, during the transfer time the load voltage is
sinusoidal but with some ripple. Considering the short
duration of the transfer time, this may be acceptable for
many pieces of equipment. Hence, the TTS make line-
interactive UPS more competitive than double conversion
UPS in many situations.
3692
 a) d)

b) e)

c) f)
Fig. 6. (a) Load voltage (125 V/div) without STS during voltage sag; (b) Load voltage (125 V/div) with a STS connected to the UPS; (c) Sensed
load voltage (5 V/div) and lower limit (5 V/div); (d) Load voltage (125 V/div) without a STS during a voltage surge; (e) Load voltage (125 V/div)
with a STS connected to the UPS; (f) Sensed load voltage (5 V/div) and upper limit (5 V/div). Modulation is done comparing with the lower limit.

[3] J.M. Guerrero, L.G. Vicua, J. Uceda Uninterruptible Power

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This study has been supported by the FICYT and
Chloride Power Protection, under project PC-04-72
R EFERENCES
[1] S.B. Bekiarov and A. Emadi Uninterruptible Power Supplies:
Classification, operation, dynamics and control APEC2002,
Volume 1, March 10-14 2002. Pag(s): 567-604.
[2] S.Karve Three of a Kind IEE Review Volume 46, Issue 2,
March 2000. Pag(s): 27-31.
Supply systems Provide ProtectionIEEE Industrial Electronic
Magazine, Spring 2007. Pag(s): 28-38
[4] W. Solter A New Internacional UPS Classification by IEC
62040-3 INTELEC 2002, 29 Sept.-3 Oct. 2002. Pag(s):541-545.
[5] S.B. Bekiarov, A. Nasiri, A. Emadi A New Reduced Parts On-
Line Single-Phase UPS System IECON03, Volume 1, 2-6 Nov
2003, Pag(s): 688-693.
[6] S.A.O. Da Silva, P.F. Donoso-Garca, P.C. Cortizo, P.F. Seixas A
Three-Phase Line-Interactive UPS System Implementation with
series-Parallel Active Power-Line Conditioning Capabilities
IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, Volume 38, Issue 6,
Nov-Dec 2002. Pag(s): 1581-1590.

3693
[7] Jun-Keun Ji, Jan-Hwan Kim, Seung-Ki Sui, Hyo-Sung Kim A
Novel Three-Phase Line-Interactive UPS System with Parallel-
Series Active Power-Line Conditioning Capabilities Using AC
Line Reactor IECON 2004, Volume 2, 2-6 Nov 2004. Pag(s):
1861-1866.
[8] A. Fernandez, M. Arias, V. de Prado, M. M. Hernando and J.
Sebastian, A Switch-Mode Converter to Fill Voltage Sags in
Interactive Uninterruptible Power Supplies, APEC06, 19-23
March 2006. Page(s): 7 pp.
[9] M. Arias, A. Fernndez, D. G. Lamar, M. Rodrguez, M.M.
Hernando Simplified Voltage Notch Filler for Interactive
Uninterruptible Power Supplies, APEC06, February 2007.
Page(s):1373-1378.
[10] Dong-Jun Won, Seon-Ju Ahn, Il-Yop Cheng, Joong-Moon Kim,
Seung-Il Moon A New Definition of Voltage Sag Duration
Considering The Voltage Tolerante Curve Power Tech
3694
Conference Proceedings 2003, Volume 3, 23-26 June 2003. Pag(s)
5 pp.
[11] Radhakrishna, C., Eshwardas, M., Chebiyam, G. Impact of
Voltage Sags in Practical Power System Networks Transmission
and Distribution Conference and Exposition 2001. Volume 1 28-
Oct, 2-Nov 2001. Pag(s):567-572.
[12] Dong-Myung Lee, Habetler, T.G., Harley, R.G., Keister, T.L.,
Rostron, J.R. A Voltage Sag Supporter Utilizing a PWM-
Switched Autotransformer Transactions on Power Electronics,
Volume 22, Issue 2, March 2007 Page(s):626 635.
[13] Po-Tai Cheng, Chian-Chung Huang, Chun-Chiang Pan,
Bhattacharya, S. Design and implementation of a series voltage
sag compensator under practical utility conditions Transactions
on Industrial Applications, Volume 39, Issue 3, May-June 2003
Page(s):844 853.