Stability Enhancement of Centralized UPS Data Center Systems Under Weak-Grid Conditions

Abstract

Data center power systems are increasingly exposed to weak-grid conditions due to the evolution of modern power systems and the integration of large and dynamic loads. In centralized uninterruptible power supply (UPS) architectures, the front-end rectifier plays a critical role in maintaining stable operation and ensuring reliable power delivery to information technology (IT) equipment. However, conventional phase-locked loop (PLL)-based proportional-integral (PI) control strategies may exhibit degraded performance or instability under low short-circuit ratio (SCR) conditions. This paper investigates the behavior of centralized UPS systems under weak-grid conditions and demonstrates, through electromagnetic transient simulations, that PI-controlled rectifiers can become unstable at SCR=2. To address this issue, a power-based control approach is applied to the three-phase rectifier, enabling direct regulation of active and reactive power without relying on PLL synchronization. Simulation results show that the proposed control strategy improves system damping and restores stable operation under weak-grid conditions. The findings highlight the importance of control design for maintaining reliable operation of data center power systems in emerging low-strength grid environments.