Technical note

MTBF calculations
MTBF figures for diesel UPS systems
Input data The MTBF of the diesel UPS system can be determined on the basis of the reliability figures of its components. The following table lists the main components and the corresponding MTBFvalue. Reliability of the diesel UPS power supply The MTBF of the diesel UPS system can also be expressed in terms of availability of UPS output voltage. This includes the bypass operating mode. Hence the reliability of the utility supply and the average UPS repair time must be considered. Following table shows the results for single and multiple UPS configurations.
Number of units parallel 1 2 3 4 5 6 none redundant 42.2 32.7 27.2 23.3 20.4 18.1 years years years years years years one redundant n.a. 53.1 51.3 49.7 48.1 46.6

Component input circuit breaker output circuit breaker bypass circuitry choke coil diesel engine freewheel clutch induction coupling generator control system

MTBF 1,000,000 1,000,000 500,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 500,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 500,000

hours hours hours hours hours hours hours hours hours

years years years years years

The utility supply is assumed to show an average failure rate of 1 interruption per 100 hours (i.e. 88 interruptions or disturbances per year). The mean time to repair (MTTR) of the diesel UPS system is 8 hours on average. Reliability of the diesel UPS system The MTBF of the diesel UPS system can be determined depending on the system configuration. Following table shows the results for single and multiple UPS configurations. Note that these figures refer to the proper functioning of the UPS system rather than the presence of output voltage.

Glossary of terms and definitions Failure: Any interruption or degradation of the UPS output power which results in a complete loss of power on load side or a switch to bypass mode. Reliability (Rt): The probability that an item operating under specified conditions shall perform satisfactorily for a given period of time. Failure rate (): The probability that an item becomes defective over a unit of time

Number of units parallel 1 2 3 4 5 6

none redundant 12.0 5.7 3.9 2.9 2.4 2.0 years years years years years years

one redundant n.a. 57.0 38.0 28.5 22.8 19.0

MTBF:
years years years years years

Mean Time Between Failure, The average time between two consecutive failures, which equals the average time between the moment that the UPS system is commissioned and the first occasion on which the system fails.

MTBF calculations
MTTR (): The average time needed to perform repair work Availability: The time fraction during which a system is performing satisfactorily for the required time.

Reliability (Rt):

R t = e t
1 MTBF

Failure rate (): =

The failure rate (tot) of an assembly of n components:

tot = 1 + 2 +...+ n
The failure rate (system ) of a UPS system, including bypass and mains failure rate:

system =

UPS . mains + bypass UPS + mains +

The failure rate (red) of n units parallel, of which 1 unit is redundant (Q3 is the output circuit breaker):

red =

n(n 1)2 UPS + n Q3 (2n 1) UPS +

Availability (As): As =

MTBF MTBF + MTTR

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