Inrush Current Elimination for a Three-Phase Off-Line UPS System

Many sensitive loads always rely on UPS systems to maintain continuous power during abnormal utility power conditions. As any disturbance occurs at the utility side, an off-line UPS system takes over the load within a quarter cycle to avoid a blackout. However, the starting of the inverter can root the momentous inrush current for the transformer installed before the load, due to its magnetic saturation. The consequences of this current can be a reduction of line voltage and tripping of protective devices of the UPS system. Furthermore, it can also damage the transformer and decrease its lifetime by increasing the mechanical stresses on its windings. To prevent the inrush current, and to avoid its disruptive effects, this paper proposes an off-line UPS system that eliminates the inrush current phenomenon while powering the transformer coupled loads, using a current regulated voltage source inverter (CRVSI) instead of a typical voltage source inverter (VSI). Simulations have been performed to validate the operation of proposed off-line UPS system