Generator, Power Generator, and UPS

The power supply to certain industrial and non-industrial loads must not be interrupted, and these loads, which are classified into two types—emergency and critical—must be continuously powered by electricity. The key issue between these two types of loads is the allowable interruption time caused by a power outage and the activation of the backup power source.

For emergency loads, a few seconds or even a few minutes of interruption does not affect the process, and these types of loads are generally powered by generators, or on a smaller scale, by power engines.

If an interruption in power supply is not acceptable and the load must be supplied without even the slightest noticeable delay, a UPS must be used. These systems draw their instant power from the battery bank connected to them to immediately go online.

Generator

Generators consist of two main components: a mechanical part and an electrical part. The mechanical part is an engine that runs on various types of fuel such as diesel, natural gas, liquefied gas, or gasoline. The electrical part is the generator itself, which receives mechanical power from the engine shaft and converts it into electrical power at the output. Generators, much like a car engine, are equipped with all necessary components for cooling the engine, regulating fuel and air intake, and more. Depending on the type of fuel and combustion method, the level of noise and the amount of harmful gas emissions produced by the generator vary.

Power Generator

A power generator is a smaller and usually portable version of industrial generators that can be used to supply limited electrical power. Unlike generators, power generators do not have a cooling system and are considered air-cooled. This means they cannot be used for long periods of time, typically no more than 6 hours. On the other hand, their speed control, fuel supply, and air intake systems are fixed, and finally, their output voltage is stabilized by an Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR), while the frequency may vary.

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) is used for consumers whose electrical power supply must not be interrupted. These power sources are available in two types: online and offline, and their difference lies in the quality of the output power and their load capacity. UPS uses batteries to provide emergency power, and the quantity and number of batteries vary depending on the type and level of consumption. A standard enclosure with access from several directions is designed for storing the batteries in the UPS system, which is called a battery bank.