Uninterruptible power system

• US 5,602,462 A
• Filed: 02/21/1995
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Waukesha Electric Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Best Power Technology, Inc. (SPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Zahrte, Donald K., Hubert, Thomas G., Stich, Frederick A., Layden, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Time in patent office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 307/64-66, 307/86, 307/87, 307/85, 363/34, 363/101, 323/258, 323/259, 323/340, 323/344, 323/263, 320/48, 320/32, 320/2, 320/46, 364/483
• US Class Current: 323/258
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/027 four
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/147 with motor driven tap switch
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/10 Nonbattery load controls charging

Abstract

An uninterruptible power system has a transformer with a primary connected to input terminals, a secondary connected to output terminals, a static switch connected between the input terminals and the primary, and an auxiliary primary connected to an inverter which is supplied by a battery to provide output voltage to the output terminals when a main AC power system connected to the input terminals has failed. The primary has multiple taps at different voltage levels and a buck-boost winding. The taps of the transformer are switched and the buck-boost winding is controlled to provide either buck, boost, or pass-by to allow control of the output voltage from the transformer to within a few percent of a desired voltage level despite large changes in the input voltage. A battery charger coupled to the auxiliary primary operates as a boost converter to provide current to charge the battery at a current level which tracks the input voltage from the AC power system, thereby providing a substantially unity power factor to the AC power system. The voltage control of the output voltage also controls the voltage at the output of the auxiliary primary to which the battery charger is connected, whereby the voltage applied to the charger is substantially regulated and the output power of the charger itself is substantially regulated. The charger can be operated in programmable modes to provide a desired charge configuration for the battery. Detection of faults in the AC power system is enhanced by accurate detection of the zero crossings of the input voltage from the AC power system, and by comparison of the AC input power waveform with an adaptive reference.

Claims

1. An uninterruptible power system of the type having AC input terminals which may be connected to an AC power system, AC output terminals to which a load may be connected, a transformer with a primary connected to receive AC input power provided to the AC input terminals, a secondary connected to the output terminals, and an auxiliary primary, an inverter connected to the auxiliary primary, a battery supplying DC power to the inverter, the inverter adapted to switch to provide alternating polarity of the battery voltage across the auxiliary primary to provide AC output power at the secondary and at the output terminals to supply the load when power from the AC power system is not available, the improvement comprising:

(a) a plurality of primary tap switches connected between the input terminals and the primary and placed at different effective voltage levels along the primary;

(b) tap closing means for closing a selected one of the plurality of primary tap switches in response to a primary tap control signal;

(c) a buck-boost winding on the transformer;

(d) buck-boost winding switching means connected to the primary and the buck-boost winding for selectively responding to a buck-boost control signal to connect the buck-boost winding to act as a boost to effectively increase the secondary to primary turns ratio by passing an opposing current through the buck-boost winding so as to create a flux in the transformer in opposition to a flux in the primary, to act as a buck to effectively reduce the secondary to primary turns ratio by passing an aiding current running in a direction through the buck-boost winding so as to create a flux in the transformer aiding the flux in the primary, or to be bypassed altogether such that there is no current in the buck-boost winding to provide a normal turns ratio between the secondary and primary; and

(e) control means for providing the primary tap control signal to close a selected one of the primary tap switches and for providing the buck-boost winding control signal to connect the buck-boost winding so that the voltage level at the output terminals is maintained within a selected range of a preferred output voltage level despite changes in the voltage level at the input terminals.

2. The uninterruptible power system of claim 1 wherein the control means includes means for monitoring the voltage level at the output terminals and wherein the control means utilizes the monitored voltage level at the output terminals to change to a different combination of primary tap control and buck-boost winding control signals when the voltage level at the output terminals deviates from the preferred output voltage level by more than a selected voltage level and for more than a selected duration such that a different combination will be provided after a shorter duration for a larger voltage level deviation and after a longer duration for a smaller voltage level deviation.

3. The uninterruptible power system of claim 2 wherein the means for monitoring the voltage level at the output terminals determines the mean-square value of the output voltage at the output terminals which is compared by the control means with a mean-square preferred voltage level to determine the required combination of primary tap control signal and buck-boost winding control signal to maintain the output voltage at the preferred voltage level.

4. The uninterruptible power system of claim 2 wherein the relationship between the voltage level deviation and the duration of the deviation allowed by the control means before a different combination of primary tap and buck-boost winding control signals is provided by the control means is defined by the curve of the Computer Business Equipment Manufacturer'"'"'s Association computer susceptibility time versus voltage guideline.

5. The uninterruptible power system of claim 1 wherein the control means, when providing the primary tap and buck-boost control signals while AC power is available at the input terminals determines which primary tap and buck-boost control signals to provide based upon the primary tap and buck-boost control signals which are currently provided, the output voltage level at the output terminals, and the preferred output voltage level.

6. The uninterruptible power system of claim 1 wherein the control means, when providing the primary tap and buck-boost control signals when the system transitions from providing power to the output terminals from the inverter to providing power to the output terminals from AC power available at the input terminals, determines which primary tap and buck-boost control signals to provide based upon the input voltage level from the AC power system at the input terminals, the output current supplied by the inverter to the output terminals, and the preferred output voltage level.

7. The uninterruptible power system of claim 1 including a static switch connected between the AC input terminals and the primary of the transformer, wherein the control means controls the static switch, the tap closing means, the buck-boost switching means and the inverter to provide switching of the tap switches and buck-boost winding switching means by opening the static switch and turning on the inverter during switching and turning off the inverter and closing the static switch after switching has been completed thereby to avoid substantial interruption of the output voltage waveform at the output terminals.

8. The uninterruptible power system of claim 7 wherein the control means controls the switching of the static switch, the primary tap closing means, and the buck-boost switching means to occur at zero voltage crosses of the AC input voltage waveform.

9. The uninterruptible power system of claim 1 including a static switch connected between the input terminals and the transformer primary and wherein the control means the static switch to disconnect the AC input power from the primary, switches on the inverter to provide AC power to the load through the auxiliary primary, and conducts diagnostic testing on the availability of primary tap switches and the buck-boost winding switching means before changing the primary tap and buck-boost control signals, such that an unavailable combination of primary taps and buck-boost switching means will not be chosen, and switches off the inverter and reconnects the AC input power to the primary after changing the primary tap and buck-boost control signals.

10. The uninterruptible power system of claim 1 wherein the primary tap switches and the buck-boost switching means include electrically driven relay switches.

11. The uninterruptible power system of claim 1 including a static switch connected between the input terminals and the transformer primary, the control means controlling the static switch to open during failure of power at the input terminals, and bypass mode switching means, including a controllable relay switch connected in parallel with the static switch, the control means switching the controllable relay switch and one primary tap switch such that power is provided to the secondary when one or more of the static switch, tap closing means, buck-boost switching means, or control means are disabled.

12. The uninterruptible power system of claim 11 wherein the bypass mode switching means uses one of two primary tap switches to connect the AC input power to the primary and where the tap switch used is selected as the last one of the two primary tap switch used to connect the AC power to the primary before the bypass mode switching means was activated.

13. The uninterruptible power system of claim 11 wherein the bypass mode switching means may be manually activated.

14. The uninterruptible power system of claim 11 further comprising means for monitoring one or more components of the uninterruptible power system and automatically activating the bypass mode switching means upon failure of one of the components.

15. The uninterruptible power system of claim 14 further comprising means for assuring that the bypass mode switching means is not activated prematurely by delaying operation of the bypass mode switching means when the uninterruptible power system is initially turned on.

16. The uninterruptible power system of claim 1 wherein the control means includes a microprocessor and a control program stored in memory.

17. A method for regulating AC output power in an uninterruptible power system of the type having AC input terminals which may be connected to an AC power system receive power therefrom, output terminals to which a load may be connected, a transformer with a primary connected to receive AC input power provided to the input terminals, a secondary connected to the output terminals, and an auxiliary primary, an inverter connected to the auxiliary primary, a battery supplying DC power to the inverter, the inverter adapted to switch to provide alternating polarity of the battery voltage across the auxiliary primary to provide AC output power at the secondary and the output terminals to supply the load when power from the AC power system is not available, comprising the steps of:

closing one of a plurality of primary tap switches connected between the input terminals and the primary and placed at different effective voltage levels along the primary, and providing one of an additional flux in the transformer in opposition to a flux in the primary, an additional flux in the transformer aiding the flux in the primary, or no additional flux so that the voltage level at the output terminals is maintained near a preferred output voltage level as the voltage level at the input terminals changes.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the voltage level at the output terminals; and

providing a different combination of primary tap switch to be closed and additional or no additional flux to be provided when the voltage level at the output terminals deviates from the preferred output voltage level by more than a selected voltage level and for more than a selected duration such that a different combination is provided after a shorter duration for a larger voltage level deviation and after a longer duration for a smaller voltage level deviation.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of, while AC power is available at the input terminals, determining a combination of primary tap switch to be closed and additional flux or no additional flux to be provided based upon the primary tap which is currently closed, the additional flux or no additional flux which is currently provided, the output voltage level at the output terminals, and the preferred output voltage level.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of, when the system transitions from providing power to the output terminals from the inverter to providing power to the output terminals from AC power available at the input terminals, determining a combination of primary tap switch to be closed and additional flux or no additional flux to be created based upon an input voltage level at the input terminals, an output current at the output terminals, and the preferred output voltage level.

21. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

before providing a different combination of primary tap switch to be closed and additional flux or no additional flux to be created,

disconnecting the AC input terminals from the primary;

switching on the inverter to provide AC power to the load through the auxiliary primary;

conducting diagnostic testing on the availability of the primary taps and additional the availability of flux in and or opposition to the flux from the primary such that an unavailable combination of primary tap switches and additional flux or no additional flux will not be chosen; and

switching off the inverter and reconnecting the AC input to the primary after closing the one primary tap and creating the additional aiding or opposing flux or no additional flux.

22. A method for detecting AC power system undervoltage faults in uninterruptible power systems of the type comprising AC input terminals which may be connected to an AC power system, a battery supplying DC power to an inverter, and output terminals which are provided with AC power from the input terminals when the AC power system power is available and which are provided with power from the inverter when the AC power system fails, comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring the AC power system input voltage waveform provided at the input terminals;

(b) adding a tolerance voltage level to the system input voltage waveform to form an adjusted input voltage waveform;

(c) comparing the adjusted input voltage waveform with a reference voltage waveform;

(d) indicating a power system failure if the adjusted input voltage waveform is less than the reference voltage waveform;

(e) increasing the tolerance voltage level when the number of power system failure indications over a selected duration exceeds a selected number; and

(f) reducing the tolerance voltage level when there are no power system failure indications over a second selected duration.

23. A method for detecting AC power system overvoltage faults in uninterruptible power systems of the type comprising AC input terminals which may be connected to an AC power system, a battery supplying DC power to an inverter, and output terminals which are provided with AC power from the input terminals when the AC power system power is available and which are provided with power from the inverter when the AC power system fails, comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring an AC power system input voltage waveform provided at the input terminals;

(b) adding a tolerance voltage level to a reference voltage waveform to form an adjusted reference voltage waveform;

(c) comparing the adjusted reference voltage waveform with the input voltage waveform;

(d) indicating a power system failure if the input voltage waveform is greater than the adjusted reference voltage waveform;

(e) increasing the tolerance voltage level when the number of power system failure indications over a selected duration exceeds a selected number; and

(f) reducing the tolerance voltage level when there are no power system failure indications over a second selected duration.

24. A method for detecting AC power system faults in uninterruptible power systems of the type comprising AC input terminals which may be connected to an AC power system, a battery supplying DC power to an inverter, and output terminals which are provided with AC power from the input terminals when the AC power system power is available and which are provided with power from the inverter when the AC power system fails, comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring an AC power system input voltage waveform provided at the input terminals;

(b) adding a tolerance voltage level to a reference voltage waveform to form an adjusted reference voltage waveform;

(c) comparing the adjusted reference voltage waveform with the input voltage waveform;

(d) adding a tolerance voltage level to the input voltage waveform to form an adjusted input voltage waveform;

(e) comparing the adjusted input voltage waveform with the reference voltage waveform;

(f) indicating a power system failure if either the input voltage waveform is greater than the adjusted reference voltage waveform or the adjusted input voltage waveform is less than the reference voltage waveform;

(g) increasing the tolerance voltage levels when the number of power system failure indications over a selected duration exceeds a selected number; and

(h) reducing the tolerance voltage levels when there are no power system failure indications over a second selected duration.

25. An uninterruptible power system comprising:

(a) an inverter, AC input terminals which may be connected to an AC power system, a battery supplying DC power to the inverter, output terminals, and switching means for providing AC power to the output terminals from the input terminals when the AC power system power is available and switching to provide power from the inverter to the output terminals when the AC power system fails;

(b) means for monitoring an AC power system input voltage waveform provided at the input terminals, and providing a measured value thereof;

(c) means for adding a tolerance voltage level to the measured value of the system input voltage waveform to form an adjusted input voltage waveform;

(d) means for comparing the adjusted input voltage waveform with a reference voltage waveform;

(e) means for indicating a power system failure if the adjusted input voltage waveform is less than the reference voltage waveform;

(f) means for increasing the tolerance voltage level when the number of power system failure indications over a selected duration exceeds a selected number; and

(g) means for reducing the tolerance voltage level when there are no power system failure indications over a second selected duration.

26. The uninterruptible power system of claim 25 wherein the means for comparing the adjusted input voltage waveform with the reference waveform includes a comparator circuit.

27. An uninterruptible power system comprising:

(a) an inverter, AC input terminals which may be connected to an AC power system, a battery supplying DC power to the inverter, output terminals, and switching means for providing AC power to the output terminals from the input terminals when the AC power system power is available and switching to provide power from the inverter to the output terminals when the AC power system fails;

(b) means for monitoring an AC power system input voltage waveform provided at the input terminals, and providing a measured value thereof;

(c) means for adding a tolerance voltage level to a reference voltage waveform to form an adjusted reference voltage waveform;

(d) means for comparing the adjusted reference voltage waveform with the measured input voltage waveform;

(e) means for indicating a power system failure if the adjusted reference voltage waveform is less than the measured input voltage waveform;

(f) means for increasing the tolerance voltage level when the number of power system failure indications over a selected duration exceeds a selected number; and

(g) means for reducing the tolerance voltage level when there are no power system failure indications over a second selected duration.

28. The apparatus for detecting AC power system faults of claim 27 wherein the means for comparing the measured input voltage waveform with the adjusted reference voltage waveform includes a comparator circuit.

29. An uninterruptible power system comprising:

(a) an inverter, AC input terminals which may be connected to an AC power system, a battery supplying DC power to the inverter, output terminals, and switching means for providing AC power to the output terminals from the input terminals when the AC power system power is available and switching to provide power from the inverter to the output terminals when the AC power system fails;

(b) means for monitoring an AC power system input voltage waveform provided at the input terminals, and providing a measured value thereof;

(c) means for adding a tolerance voltage level to the measured input voltage waveform to form an adjusted input voltage waveform;

(d) means for adding the tolerance voltage level to a reference voltage waveform to form an adjusted reference voltage waveform;

(e) means for comparing the adjusted reference voltage waveform with the measured input voltage waveform;

(f) means for comparing the adjusted input voltage waveform with the reference voltage waveform;

(g) means for indicating a power system failure if either the adjusted reference voltage waveform is less than the measured input voltage waveform or the adjusted input voltage waveform is less than the reference voltage waveform;

(h) means for increasing the tolerance voltage levels when the number of power system failure indications over a selected duration exceeds a selected number; and

(i) means for reducing the tolerance voltage level when there are no power system failure indications over a second selected duration.

30. The uninterruptible power system of claim 29 wherein the means for comparing the measured input voltage waveform with the adjusted reference voltage waveform and the means for comparing the adjusted input voltage waveform with the reference voltage waveform include a comparator circuit.

31. The uninterruptible power system of claim 29 wherein the reference voltage waveform is constructed of a moving average of current and previous input voltage waveforms.

32. A method for determining the zero voltage cross of an AC power system input signal at input terminals of an uninterruptible power system, comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring the AC input power voltage at the input terminals to provide an AC input signal and delaying the AC input signal by a selected time delay to form a delayed input signal;

(b) squaring the input signal to form a squared input signal, and squaring the delayed input signal to form a squared delayed input signal;

(c) inverting the squared delayed input signal to form an inverted squared delayed input signal;

(d) summing the squared input signal and the inverted squared delayed input signal and simultaneously integrating the resulting summation to form an integration result; and

(e) indicating a zero voltage cross indication when the integration result exceeds a selected value.

33. The method of claim 32 comprising the additional step of determining the frequency of the input signal by measuring the duration between zero voltage cross indications.

34. An apparatus for determining the zero voltage cross of an AC power system input signal at input terminals of an uninterruptible power system comprising:

(a) means for monitoring the AC input power voltage at the input terminals to provide an AC input signal;

(b) means for delaying the AC input signal by a time delay to form a delayed input signal;

(c) means for squaring the input signal to form a squared input signal, and means for squaring the delayed input signal to form a squared delayed input signal;

(d) means for inverting the squared delayed input signal to form an inverted squared delayed input signal;

(e) means for summing the squared input signal and the inverted squared delayed input signal and simultaneously integrating the resulting summation to form an integration result; and

(f) means for indicating a zero voltage cross indication when the integration result exceeds a certain value.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 additionally comprising means for determining the frequency of the input signal by measuring the duration between zero voltage cross indications.

36. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the means for delaying the input signal, the means for squaring the input signal, the means for squaring the delayed input signal, the means for inverting the squared delayed input signal, the means for summing the squared input signal and the inverted squared delayed input signal and integrating the summation, and the means for indicating a zero voltage cross indication include analog circuits.

37. A method for charging a battery in an uninterruptible power system of the type having AC input terminals which may be connected to an AC power system, a transformer with a primary connected to receive AC input power provided at the input terminals, a secondary connected to output terminals connectable to a load, and an auxiliary primary, an inverter connected to the auxiliary primary, a battery supplying DC power to the inverter, the inverter adapted to switch to provide alternating polarity of the battery voltage across the auxiliary primary to provide AC output power at the secondary to supply the load when power from the AC power system is not available, and a battery charger connected to the auxiliary primary which acts as a secondary when power from the AC power system is available, comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring the voltage of the battery and providing a battery monitoring signal indicating the voltage level on the battery;

(b) storing battery charging characteristics in memory;

(c) selecting a battery charger mode depending on the battery monitoring signal and the stored battery charging characteristics; and

(d) controlling the battery charger to implement the charger mode selection.

38. A method for charging a battery in an uninterruptible power system of the type having AC input terminals which may be connected to an AC power system, a transformer with a primary connected to receive AC input power provided at the input terminals, a secondary connected to output terminals connectable to a load, and an auxiliary primary, an inverter connected to the auxiliary primary, a battery supplying DC power to the inverter, the inverter adapted to switch to provide alternating polarity of the battery voltage across the auxiliary primary to provide AC output power at the secondary to supply the load when power from the AC power system is not available, and a battery charger connected to the auxiliary primary which acts as a secondary when power from the AC power system is available, comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring the voltage of the battery and providing a battery monitoring signal indicating the voltage level on the battery;

(b) entering a constant power mode when input power from the AC power system becomes available after the inverter has been providing AC output power, and wherein the battery is charged by the charger at a normal charge voltage level until the battery monitoring signal indicates that the battery has been charged to the normal charge voltage level;

(c) entering a maintenance mode when the battery has been charged to the normal charge voltage level by the constant power mode in less than or equal time to a selected charging time duration, and wherein the battery is then charged by the charger at a maintenance voltage level which is less than the normal charge voltage level;

(d) entering a constant voltage mode when the battery has been charged to the normal charge voltage in the constant power mode in more time than a selected charging time duration, and wherein the battery is then charged by the charger at a normal charge voltage level for a selected constant voltage duration, and thereafter entering the maintenance mode when the constant voltage duration has expired;

(e) entering a periodic mode at a periodic interval wherein the battery is charged by the charger at a normal charge voltage level for a periodic charge duration, and entering the maintenance mode when the periodic charge duration has expired; and

(f) controlling the battery charger to implement the charger mode selection.

39. The method of claim 38 comprising the additional steps of:

(a) providing a battery temperature signal indicating the temperature of the battery; and

(b) increasing the normal charge voltage level when the battery temperature signal indicates that the battery temperature has fallen below a selected temperature.

40. An uninterruptible power system of the type having AC input terminals which may be connected to an AC power system, a transformer with a primary connected to receive AC input power provided at the input terminals, a secondary connected to output terminals connectable to a load, and an auxiliary primary, an inverter connected to the auxiliary primary, a battery supplying DC power to the inverter, the inverter adapted to switch to provide alternating polarity of the battery voltage across the auxiliary primary to provide AC output power at the secondary to supply the load when power from the AC power system is not available, and a battery charger connected to the auxiliary primary which acts as a secondary when power from the AC power system is available, the improvement comprising:

(a) means for monitoring the voltage of the battery and providing a battery monitoring signal indicating the voltage level on the battery;

(b) means for storing battery charging characteristics in memory;

(c) means for selecting a battery charger mode depending on the battery monitoring signal and the stored battery charging characteristics; and

(d) means for controlling the battery charger to implement the charger mode selection made by the means for selecting.

41. An uninterruptible power system of the type having AC input terminals which may be connected to an AC power system, a transformer with a primary connected to receive AC input power provided at the input terminals, a secondary connected to output terminals connectable to a load, and an auxiliary primary, an inverter connected to the auxiliary primary, a battery supplying DC power to the inverter, the inverter adapted to switch to provide alternating polarity of the battery voltage across the auxiliary primary to provide AC output power at the secondary to supply the load when power from the AC power system is not available, and a battery charger connected to the auxiliary primary which acts as a secondary when power from the AC power system is available, the improvement comprising:

(a) means for monitoring the voltage of the battery and providing a battery monitoring signal indicating the voltage level on the battery;

(b) means for controlling the battery charger to enter a constant power mode when input power from the AC power system becomes available after the inverter has been providing AC output power, and wherein the battery is charged by the charger at a normal charge voltage level until the battery monitoring signal indicates that the battery has been charged to the normal charge voltage level;

(c) means for controlling the battery charger to enter a maintenance mode when the battery has been charged to the normal charge voltage level in the constant power mode in less than or equal time to a selected charging time duration, and wherein the battery is then charged by the charger at a maintenance voltage level which is less than the normal charge voltage level;

(d) means for controlling the battery charger to enter a constant voltage mode when the battery has been charged to the normal charge voltage in the constant power mode in more time than the selected charging time duration, and wherein the battery is then charged by the charger at a normal charge voltage level for a selected constant voltage duration, and thereafter for controlling the charger to enter the maintenance mode when the constant voltage duration has expired; and

(e) means for controlling the battery charger to enter a periodic mode at a periodic interval, and wherein the battery is charged at a normal charge voltage level by the charger for a selected periodic charge duration, and to enter the maintenance mode when the periodic charge duration has expired.

42. The uninterruptible power system of claim 41 comprising additionally:

(a) means for providing a battery temperature signal indicating the temperature of the battery; and

(b) means for controlling the battery charger to increase the normal charge voltage level when the battery temperature signal indicates that the battery temperature has fallen below a selected temperature.

43. The uninterruptible power system of claim 41 wherein the means for controlling the battery charger includes a signal with a duty cycle which switches the battery charger output voltage ON and OFF and wherein the battery charger is controlled by varying the duty cycle.

44. A battery charger for an uninterruptible power system of the type having AC input terminals which may be connected to an AC power system and AC output terminals to which a load may be connected, with a power path between the AC input and output terminals, and a battery connected to an inverter to supply AC output power to the output terminals when the AC power system connected to the input terminals has failed, comprising:

(a) a boost converter connected to receive power from the AC power system connected to the input terminals and to provide DC power to the battery to charge the battery, the boost converter having a rectifier connected to the power path to receive AC input power and providing a rectified DC output voltage and an inductor and a controllable switch connected in series to provide a current path from the DC output of the rectifier through the inductor and the controllable switch back to the rectifier when the switch is closed, a node connecting the controllable switch and the inductor connected through a diode to the battery so that current from the inductor flows to the battery when the controllable switch is opened;

(b) a timer having an output connected to the controllable switch to provide an on and off signal to open and close the controllable switch at a high frequency, the times responsive to control signals to control at least the on-time of the timer output control signal during which the controllable switch is closed; and

(c) current control means for monitoring the current flowing through the controllable switch when it is closed and for comparing the value of the current to the output voltage of the rectifier and connected to control the timer to turn off the output signal of the timer to the controllable switch to open the controllable switch when the current through the controllable switch reaches a level proportional to the DC output voltage of the rectifier, whereby the maximum input current to the charger tracks the AC input voltage so as to present a substantially unity power factor to the AC power system which is providing power to the charger.

45. The battery charger for an uninterruptible power system of claim 44 wherein the means for monitoring the current through the controllable switch includes a transformer having a primary connected in series with the controllable switch and a secondary, the secondary of the transformer connected to provide its voltage across a voltage divider, a comparator having one input which receives the voltage from the voltage divider, and another voltage divider connected to the output of the rectifier and providing its voltage to the other input of the comparator, such that the comparator compares the instantaneous voltage provided across the voltage divider connected to the transformer to the voltage across the voltage divider connected to the output of the rectifier, and wherein the comparator changes state when the voltage across the voltage divider connected to the transformer reaches the voltage across the voltage divider connected to the output of the rectifier, the output of the comparator connected to the timer to turn off the timer output when the comparator changes state so that the control signal to the controllable switch is turned off to open the controllable switch.

46. The battery charger for an uninterruptible power system of claim 44 wherein the controllable switch comprises a power MOSFET.

47. The battery charger for an uninterruptible power system of claim 44 further including an overvoltage protection circuit comprising a voltage divider connected between the battery and a ground return to the battery, the output of the voltage divider connected to a controllable voltage comparison device which switches when the voltage across the voltage divider exceeds the trigger level of the controllable switching device, the output of the controllable switching device connected to the timer to turn off the output of the timer and open the controllable switch when the controllable switching device switches states.

48. The battery charger for an uninterruptible power system of claim 44 further including control means connected to the timer and connected to the battery to monitor the battery voltage, the control means controlling the on-time of the timer and the time that the controllable switch is closed to control the voltage applied by the battery charger to the battery.

49. The battery charger for an uninterruptible power system of claim 48 wherein the control means includes a microprocessor connected to the battery to monitor the battery voltage, the microprocessor providing a high frequency switched pulse output to the timer to control the on and off time of the timer, the microprocessor varying the duty cycle of the on time of its output signal to the timer to control the on time of the controllable switch during which it is closed and to thereby control the output voltage of the charger across the battery.

50. The battery charger for an uninterruptible power system of claim 44 further including a transformer with a primary connected to the power path to receive AC input power provided to the AC input terminals of the uninterruptible power system, a secondary connected to the output terminals, and an auxiliary primary, the inverter and the battery charger connected to the auxiliary primary, and including a plurality of primary tap switches connected between the input terminals and the primary and placed at different effective voltage levels along the primary;

tap closing means for closing a selected one of the plurality of primary tap switches in response to a primary tap control signal;

a buck-boost winding on the transformer;

buck-boost winding switching means connected to the primary and the buck-boost winding for selectively responding to a buck-boost control signal to connect the buck-boost winding to act as a boost to effectively increase the secondary to primary turns ratio by passing an opposing current through the buck-boost winding so as to create a flux in the transformer in opposition to a flux in the primary, to act as a buck to effectively reduce the secondary to primary turns ratio by passing an aiding current running in a direction through the buck-boost winding so as to create a flux in the transformer aiding the flux in the primary, or to be bypassed altogether such that there is no current in the buck-boost winding to provide a normal turns ratio between the secondary and primary; and

control means for providing the primary tap control signal to control a selected one of the primary tap switches and for providing the buck-boost winding control signal to connect the buck-boost winding so that the voltage level at the output terminals and at the output of the auxiliary primary is maintained within a selected range of preferred output voltage level despite changes in the voltage level at the input terminals, the auxiliary primary connected to the rectifier of the charger whereby the output voltage of the rectifier is substantially regulated and the output power of the battery charger provided to the battery is substantially regulated.

51. The battery charger for an uninterruptible power system of claim 50 wherein the control means includes means for monitoring the voltage level at the output terminals and wherein the control means utilizes the monitored voltage level at the output terminals to change to a different combination of primary tap control and buck-boost winding control signals when the voltage level at the output terminals deviates from the preferred output voltage level by more than a selected voltage level and for more than a selected duration such that a different combination will be provided after a shorter duration for a larger voltage level deviation and after a longer duration for a small voltage level deviation.