swell | APC UPS Blog - ExcessUPS.com

Swells and overvoltages are basically the opposite of sags and undervoltages. A swell is an increase in voltage lasting up to one minute, and an overvoltage is the long-term effect of a swell. These situations happen when available voltage is higher than the demand. It normally starts when there is a huge demand for power. Due to this, utility companies normally increase voltage to meet the demand. When the demand goes down rapidly, there is the possibility that the voltage will remain high causing the swell or overvoltage.

These power problems normally affect rural areas since utility companies usually leave voltage at a high level over the weekend even after the demand has gone down. These situations also happen when the system voltage regulator is inefficient, or when the transformer settings are not set properly by the power company.

Even when overvoltages are brief, they can be damaging to equipment. These power problems can cause equipment to overheat and damage them. They may also cause lights and monitors to flicker. Data centers are susceptible to these situations since they may cause data errors in computer systems. Semiconductors may also be damaged by overvoltages and swells.

To prevent swells and overvoltages from affecting sensitive equipment, it is necessary to use an uninterruptible power supply or UPS system. While the most basic protection against this power problem is a standby UPS system, the best way to protect equipment from a swell or overvoltage is by using an online UPS. These devices protect equipment from sudden increases in voltage. They automatically adjust voltage in case these power problems occur to ensure electricity-powered equipment are protected.

Sources:

http://www.on365.co.uk/Power__and__Cooling/Most_Common_Power_Problems.aspx

http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/VAVR-5WKLPK/VAVR-5WKLPK_R1_EN.pdf?sdirect=true

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/6-common-power-problems-ted-ochieng-otieno-cem-?forceNoSplash=true

https://www.tripplite.com/support/articles/articleid/common-power-problems

http://www.acousticfrontiers.com/201348what-are-swells-and-overvoltages/

http://electricity2all.blogspot.com/2013/05/over-voltage-and-voltage-swell.html

Issues with power supply often lead to losses amounting to billions of dollars every year. The following are the seven main power problems identified by an international standards organization, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

Transients

Transients are the most damaging types of power problems. These are sudden changes in power and are referred to as power surges or power spikes. In this situation, power goes up beyond its normal range and causes an overload, which in turn causes damage to equipment connected to it.

Interruptions

An interruption is a total loss of power resulting from damage to the power supply grid. The damage may be caused by equipment failure or lightning strikes, among others. These interruptions may last from a few seconds to a couple of hours.

Sag or Undervoltage

A sag or undervoltage is basically a temporary drop in the power whenever heavy machinery is used. Power supply drops since these machines require a huge amount of power. The situation was once called a brownout before the term undervoltage was used.

Swell/Overvoltage

A swell or overvoltage is the opposite of a sag or undervoltage. It is a situation when the power supply is higher than the demand for it. Swells or overvoltages can cause equipment to overheat and lights to flicker.

Waveform distortion

Waveform distortions are changes in the frequency leading to data loss and equipment failure. The five main types of wave distortion problems are DC Offset, Notching, Noise, Harmonics, and Interharmonics.

Voltage Fluctuations

Voltage fluctuations are situations when voltage rises and falls erratically. Whenever machinery with high power needs is turned on, voltage fluctuations normally occur.

Frequency variations

Frequency variations normally happen in areas powered by a standby generator or areas with an unstable power supply. Equipment connected to these power sources will operate inefficiently.

These power problems can be remedied through the use of appropriate UPS systems available in the market today.

References:

http://www.on365.co.uk/Power__and__Cooling/Most_Common_Power_Problems.aspx

http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/VAVR-5WKLPK/VAVR-5WKLPK_R1_EN.pdf?sdirect=true

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/6-common-power-problems-ted-ochieng-otieno-cem-?forceNoSplash=true

What are Swells and Overvoltages?

Seven Main Types of Power Problems