Major Semiconductor Wafer Manufacturer Protected from Power Disturbances

Manufacturing semiconductor wafers is an extremely delicate process, blending microelectronics with chemical and mechanical systems that require tolerances measured in microns. A single batch can take 30 to 50 days to complete. But a power disturbance of just a few milliseconds can ruin them . . .

The Challenge:

"Wafer-Thin" Tolerance for Power Disturbances Requires Expanded System

(PRWEB) September 18 2003--Manufacturing semiconductor wafers is an extremely delicate process, blending microelectronics with chemical and mechanical systems that require tolerances measured in microns. A single batch can take 30 to 50 days to complete. But a power disturbance of just a few milliseconds can ruin them . . . resulting in millions of dollars in scrapped product, lost production time, and start-up expenses.

STMicroelectronics, a major semiconductor wafer manufacturer, has factories in North America, Europe, and Asia, each with different power quality requirements. A detailed study of the power disturbances impacting their Phoenix, AZ facility culminated in the decision three years ago to install a 12.47-kV, 10,000-kW S&C PureWave UPS System.

By year-end 2001, STMicroelectronics realized significant growth and needed to expand the original PureWave UPS system. The project had to be implemented immediately, with no interruption to production.

The Solution:

The Worlds Largest Medium-Voltage UPS System

S&C quickly engineered an additional 2,000-kW energy storage container, increasing system capacity to 12,000 kW. The PureWave UPS System provides protection for the entire operation, not just the cleanroom production equipment. The off-line design of the PureWave UPS System is cost-effective and highly efficient.

Technical Considerations

S&Cs PureWave UPS System is comprised of energy storage containers, each of which can house up to eight 250-kW power modules. This modular construction technique greatly simplified expansion of the system at STMicroelectronics.

Results:

Cooperation Produces 100% Satisfaction

The Phoenix facility demonstrates how a large-scale uninterruptible power supply system can be a viable, cost-effective solution for a complex continuous-process application. Working with facility engineers and the local electric utility, S&Cs Power Quality Products and Power Systems Services Divisions produced and installed a system expansion which far exceeds expectations¾with no interruption to production. Since the initial system installation, STMicroelectronics has been protected from more than 60 utility power source disturbances.

S&C Electric Company, headquartered in Chicago, IL, specializes in the development and manufacture of innovative products and services for the electric power industry. S&C's family of PureWave® Power Quality Systems have been installed at critical-process facilities worldwide to deliver reliable protection from the power quality problems that can disrupt operation. Information about S&C is available at www.sandc.com/PQ/PR.

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