The Uninterruptible Power Evolution: Are Our Problems Solved?

This paper will trace the evolution of uninterruptible power systems (UPS) from their beginning to the present time and will take a look at possible future systems and requirements. UPS have undergone tremendous changes in the past 20 years and have not yet reached anything resembling a static condition with regard to design and development. The need for UPS will continue to grow rapidly in the next decade and will require systems of even greater capacity and sophistication than those supplied in the past. The need will remain, however, for UPS that are 100-percent reliable and require little or no maintenance.