Backup Power Module design

The Backup Power Module provides generator and Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) monitoring and reporting. It reports on generator and UPS performance and battery health.

The Generator Test EPSS Report can be configured to conform to the requirements for an Emergency Power Supply System (EPSS) test, including automatic transfer switches (ATS). For example, the report shows the transfer time of the lead ATS and indicates whether the transfer time passes or does not pass the test requirements. See Emergency Power Supply Systems for more information on EPSS.

Components

The following applications and features are part of this module:

Reports:

Generator Activity Report
Generator Battery Health Report
Generator Battery Health Export
Generator Test EPSS Report
Generator Load Summary Report
UPS Auto Test Report
UPS Battery Health Report

Tools:

Generator Performance Configuration Tool with EPSS Test Module (includes a generator run history)
UPS Configuration Tool

Diagrams:

EPSS Vista Diagrams
UPS Auto Test Diagrams

Prerequisites

The different reports have different input requirements. See Supported measurements and devices for more information.
The measurement data for the reports must be available as historical data logs in the database.
The generators, UPSs, and other equipment must be configured in the configuration tools before running the reports.
This module requires a separate license. See Licensing for more information.

Design Considerations

This module contains reports for different applications. Only some of these applications might apply to your system.
Some of the reports only work with certain device types.
The generator test report is complex. Configuring this report takes time and expertise.

Design considerations for EPSS reporting

The Generator Test EPSS report and diagrams require specific generator and ATS data. Depending on the EPSS configuration and type of equipment used, one or more monitoring devices, and the ATS itself, can provide this data.

The following tables shows the required and optional data, for each ATS and generator:

Data

Measurements

Importance

Comments

ATS Status Indicators

Normal

Test

Emergency

Power Outage

Required

Optional(*)

This data is typically available through digital output signals from the ATS.(**)

NOTE: All statuses for a specific ATS must be recorded by the same monitoring device.

ATS Load Data

kW or kVA

Optional(*)

This data needs to be provided by a power monitoring device connected to the ATS load-side feeder.(**)

Generator Status Indicators

Stopped

Running

Starting

Emergency Power Source Available (EPA)

Required

Optional(*)

This data is typically available through digital output signals from the generator.

NOTE: All statuses for a specific generator must be recorded by the same monitoring device.

Generator Electrical Data

Vln a,b,c,avg; Vll ab, bc,ca,avg

I a,b,c,avg; kW tot; kVA tot; PF sign tot; Frequency

Required

This data needs to be provided by a power monitoring device connected to the generator feeder.

Generator Engine Data

Engine Temperature

Exhaust Gas (single or dual)

Engine Oil Pressure and other engine parameters

Required (see Comments)

Optional(*)

This data is typically available through analog output signals from the generator.

NOTE: Generator Engine data is only required for certain EPSS test evaluation methods. See Editing the generator Evaluation Method for details.

(*) This data can be included in the report, but it is not required to configure and run the report.
(**) The ASCO 4000 and ASCO 7000 ATS can provide logging of ATS status and load measurements. These ATS types are natively supported in PME. Depending on the ATS configuration, no external ATS status and load measurements might be required if these ATS types are used.

The digital and analog output data from the ATS and generator can be recorded by the power monitoring devices used to measure the ATS load data and generator electrical data. See Supported measurements and devices for monitoring device recommendations.

NOTE: Do not use software logging for the ATS and generator status data. Software logging introduces unpredictable time delays which result in low timestamp accuracy for the logged data. Always use device on-board logging for this data.

For more information on EPSS testing, see EPSS test.

NOTE: The Generator Test EPSS Report supports both Open Transition Transfer (OTT) and Closed Transition Transfer (CTT) power transfers. By default, the Power Monitoring Expert system is set for OTT. To run a CTT test, visit the PME Exchange Community and download the necessary scripts, from the Install and Maintain section.