The Siemens Industry Automation Division is further expanding its product portfolio in the power plants segment by introducing the central inverters Sinvert PVS600, PVS1200, PVS1800 and PVS2400. These four new models cover the 600 to 2400 kilowatt (kW) output range and enable operators of photovoltaic (PV) power plants to tune their inverters precisely to the capacity of the modules employed in the plant.
In this way, the yield and efficiency of the entire PV plant can be optimized. The planning process is supported by Sinvert Select, the cost-free Siemens software application, which is capable of calculating suitable combinations of inverters and PV modules. Sinvert PVS inverters have a peak efficiency of well over 98 per cent, making them some of the most efficient inverters currently available on the market. Equipped with extensive monitoring capabilities, the inverters can also detect faults in the photovoltaic array and thus minimize downtimes.
Four new inverters developed by the Siemens Industry Automation Division with rated outputs from 600 to 2400 kW have now been added to the successful Sinvert PVS product range. With these new additions, Siemens now offers a total of six model series in the power range above 350 kW, thereby providing 24 different configurations of central inverter. With its extensive product portfolio, Siemens can supply inverters designed to optimize the yield of a very broad range of PV modules. The Sinvert Select software application makes module selection easier. As well as applying factors such as location, grid frequency, PV module type and rated output, it also takes account of installation criteria such as tilt angle and south orientation of the PV modules.
Sinvert PVS inverters are designed to make solar power plants very profitable. Their high peak efficiency of 98.6 per cent (eta EU) contributes significantly to their performance. The Siemens inverter models thus outperform the majority of inverters available on the market. Even a 0.2 per cent increase in efficiency significantly boosts the operating yield of a PV power plant. With rated outputs of 1200 kW and above, the master-slave technique guarantees an even load distribution on all components and extends the service life of the inverters substantially. The new Siemens inverters support grid frequencies of 50 and 60 Hz and are thus suitable for operation on any power grid in the world.
The inverters are controlled locally by touch screen. Furthermore, the operator can use standardized communication interfaces to integrate the Sinvert PVS models into a Scada system (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) in order to transfer the inverter data to a control center. Thanks to their extensive monitoring capabilities (symmetry monitoring, for example), the inverters can promptly detect faults in the photovoltaic array without the need for additional sensors on the modules. A frequent cause of module or cable failure, for example, are lightning strikes or other weather-related damage. The longer the defect remains undetected, the higher the loss in yield. Depending on its configuration, the Sinvert PVS inverter immediately notifies service personnel of any faults via Internet or SMS, thus minimizing failure times and loss of earnings.
Like all units in the Sinvert PVS range, the new models are optionally available as a turn-key product, installed in a photovoltaic container with all the necessary medium-voltage components. For installation at locations which are especially dry or close to the sea, these containers can be supplied equipped with special dust or salt filters. The new units also comply with the medium-voltage directive issued by the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) with all requirements including FRT (Fault Ride Through) and active power control.
