The role of the inverter is often overlooked in a photovoltaic system. Stored in the attic or a closet, is not the most visible part of a system, but plays a vital role and makes much of the cost of the material. The inverter converts the DC power hub for solar cells to alternating current for the United Kingdom.
In a typical residential photovoltaic solar systems are connected in a "string", ie,are in series so that it adds to the voltage of each module. The positive and negative ends of the cable for the inverter are not connected, then two things:
First, the inverter applies the optimum voltage for all solar panels in the string. For maximum energy from a solar panel you need to extract specific contact voltage to it. The easiest way to understand this is to remind the supply voltage corresponds to the present time. DCflow from the solar panel when there is tension, but it will not be able to provide energy. If the voltage is applied to the solar cell too, only to lose the power from the solar cell, the tension is a good middle ground. And 'the inverter is charged with solar panels to maintain optimal tension. This is quite complicated, since the optimum voltage changes with temperature of the solar panels. To overcome this there is a special algorithm built-in convertercalled "Maximum Power Point Tracking", which makes continuous adjustments to ensure the tension, have the most power out of the system.
The second main function of the inverter is to convert the direct current of solar cells generate direct current into alternating current electricity grid. In Britain, the frequency of 50 Hz, so that the inverter is to ensure that the electricity supplied is tuned to that frequency, so that it can be used by other devicesBe sold to the electricity company or at home.
The inverters are very common, for example, the portable charger to an inverter using the 50Hz mains current in direct current converter for the computer (which explains in part because laptop battery chargers are so expensive, even though I still think it's a rip-off) and there are some very good solar inverters already out there. The largest known manufacturer of solar inverters, SMA will enjoy a 30% market share worldwide (their line of residential solarInverter will have a "SunnyBoy '). Other important producers Kaco, Xantrex, Danfoss and Mastervolt, just to name a few. These drives work well, so what are the developments on the horizon, making the drive interesting?
One problem is efficiency. Most of the commercial converters are about 97% efficiency, which is pretty good, but it means that produces 3% of all energy that is converted from DC to AC loss. Increase the efficiency gains of 99% would return on investmentSolar system and a real competitive advantage. Several manufacturers claim to offer close to new high efficiency products.
The next problem is reliability. Most inverters are warranted for 10 years, while not bad, is only half of the guaranteed lifetime of solar modules. This means you have to allow consumers to exchange the drive at least once in the financing of a solar project. If the inverter could be guaranteed for 20 years, would mean consumers couldcomfortable knowing that the system to operate as security for a lifetime, until everything has to be replaced. Inverter manufacturers have tried to be to improve the reliability of their systems and products are guaranteed for 20 years will soon be on the market. As a side effect for 20 years demonstrate the reliability is very difficult to do without actually waiting for 20 years, and there's a whole field of study devoted to "accelerated stress tests" of these products.
Another set of newFunctions, how information is displayed. Many inverters with a WebBox option that meets the performance of your solar system allows online viewing. Some inverters now with iPhone applications to come, so you can see your solar power on-the-go, important to show to your friends to the pub. These types of innovations will keep coming back, so keep an eye if this is something that interests you.
Perhaps the most radical development for the inverter is the "micro-inverters". BasicallyThis means that an inverter large, but many smaller on each solar panel. This has several advantages. First, can significantly improve system performance. Returning to the maximum power point tracking function described above, has a normal inverter in trouble if not all solar modules are the same thing. Solar panels may be set different temperatures for performance or just different from disk errors. Using micro-inverters, you canensure that each module is run at its optimum voltage. Another problem has to do with nuance. If a solar panel in a string is in shadow or bad, seems like a very strong and reduces overall system performance. With micro-inverter isolates the power of solar cells, so that the power loss of shading is minimized. Enphase Energy, a leading manufacturer of micro-inverters in California, said that these functions can lead to aImproving energy efficiency by up to 25% more.
Other advantages of micro-inverters include reducing the elimination of dangerous high-voltage DC wiring on the roof, fire and shock hazard. (Another side show, not a micro-inverter products are really micro-inverters, but playing the maximum power point tracking with every solar panel and then the '. AC DC conversion in a central point)
Currently there is no single micro-inverter manufactured in Great Britain. This isbecause it is still a new technology and the United Kingdom is so small a market that is not of interest to producers rush to get their products on the market. That said, does the success of companies like Enphase in California and follow in their footsteps, the deluge of company that does not take much to become a real possibility, even in Great Britain.
