What are Voltage Stabilizers and how do they function?
Introduction to Voltage Stabilizers
The voltage stabilizers are basically used to condition the fluctuating AC power supply. They are also known as AC Power Conditioners. Though there are many kinds of voltage stabilizers exist in the market, there are only two major types that are commonly used. They are:
- Solid State Electronic Voltage Stabilizer
(also known as Static Voltage Stabilizer)
- Servo Controlled Voltage Stabilizer
(also known as Electro-Mechanical Voltage Stabilizer)
Static Voltage Stabilizers
Most of these voltage stabilizers have a transformer with various tappings and a control circuit that senses the input supply and accordingly the output is taken from one of the tappings of the transformer.
Usually static voltage stabilizers are used for domestic purposes (like refrigerators and air-conditioners) and for applications that are small and not very sensitive.
Advantages and Disadvantages
As the name suggests, solid state voltage stabilizers use electronic components and switches to correct the voltage. There are no moving parts in static voltage stablizers. Since there are no moving parts, the response time to correct the voltage is very low.
Static voltage stabilizers cannot handle huge variations of input voltage. When the variation is too high, the output voltage is also affected. Though the correction of voltage is almost instant, the variation on the output is as high as 5% to 15% - even when the input variation is nominal. Hence these voltage stabilizers are not recommended for the protection of sensitive equipments.
Servo Voltage Stabilizers
Servo Electronic based Voltage Stabilizers (also known as Electro-Mechanical Voltage Stabilizers) comprise of a buck-boost transformer, a motor driven variable transformer, and a control circuit.
When there is any variation in the input supply, the control circuit increases or decreases the voltage on the primary of buck-boost transformer, by controlling the variable transformer. The whole process is instantly done by constantly sensing the output voltage.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The standard models of servo controlled voltage stabilizers can handle a variation of more than 40% of the input voltage. It is also possible to design to accommodate a voltage swing as high as 80% on the input. Yet electronic servo stabilizers can deliver an accuracy of +/-1% on the output.
Servo voltage stabilsers do not use tapping on the transformers. The technology used in these voltage stabilizers ensure a continuous, smooth and very stable output voltage.
Expected life of a standard servo electro-mechanical stabilisers is usually more than 20 years. The life expectancy, compact size and low cost of ownership makes it economical for a wide variety of applications in industry, commerce, mining, aerospace, computing and telecommunications and is normally the recommended design solution for most applications.
Servo voltage stabilisers are extensively used in the most demanding power conditions for the past 25-30 years. This has proved the design to be a very reliable method of delivering voltage regulation. Though there are some moving parts used, only a low-level of ongoing maintenance is required for these voltage stabilizers and is deliverable by universally readily available skill sets.
|
