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Parker SSD manufactures a wide range of specialized
Grid Tie Inverters for the Solar Energy market. From 1 kW to 1.5
MW, and up to 690 VAC, the latest in cooling technology allows the
smallest footprint in the industry.
One of the most important processes in any
PV solar installation is the efficient conversion of energy generated
by the arrays to a form that is compatible with the power grid.
Parker offers competitive solutions for every phase of solar energy
– from a stand-alone grid tie inverter to a complete site-ready
central station with battery storage. The combination of a highly
efficient IGBT inverter design and MPP tracking makes for an energy
recovery system that helps you squeeze the most out of each hour
of sunlight.
Modular flexibility. Parker’s grid tie inverter
platform has a unique modular design. Within each inverter, phase
modules containing the IGBT devices are individually removable for
easy replacement in minutes, at the installation site, and without
requiring factory service. The modules weigh under 50 pounds, so
can be shipped anywhere in the world, quickly and economically.
The complete inverter is also a module of its own, and can be paralleled
into configurations to 1.5 megawatts.
Cool under pressure. The biggest enemy of power
electronics is heat. Parker has developed several innovative solutions
to avoid heat related issues while at the same time, keeping the
inverter size to a minimum. Air cooled ratings use an efficient
plenum configuration designed to maximize air flow while keeping
contaminants away from the electronics. Fans are designed to use
a minimum of power, adjusting their speed automatically based on
the ambient conditions. For the ultimate in power density in larger
installations, a unique refrigerant cooled inverter may be specified.
A simple but elegant 2-phase cooling loop uses a dielectric fluid
to minimize temperature excursions of the IGBT devices for maximum
life, and is self contained and maintenance free.
MPP Tracking. Over the course of an average day,
the amount of solar radiation received by a photovoltaic array is
anything but predictable, due to passing clouds and longer term
hazy or overcast conditions. Not only do these conditions reduce
the output of the solar array, but they potentially affect the efficiency
of the entire system if it is optimized for maximum array output.
To get the most out of PV cells, their output current must be dynamically
regulated by the inverter. Too much current flow can drop the voltage
across the array to the point where efficiency is compromised. Too
little current flow and the array’s potential output is not
realized. To maintain the operation of the solar array in its “sweet
spot” requires an algorithm referred to as Maximum Power Point
Tracking. Parker uses a two step approach, including a feed-forward
technique to quickly predict the current flow required to achieve
the best operating point, and a perturb and measure routine to reach
final optimization of power.
Complete solutions. While Parker offers grid tie
inverters as modular stand-alone units, some customers prefer a
system approach. Central station systems can include switchgear,
transformers, monitoring equipment and displays, and even battery
storage modules. Systems can be provided as cabinet line-ups
or even pre-wired and installed into a trailer or shipping container
for ease of transport and setup on site.
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