New Feed-in Devices for Solar Power Plants

SolarMax 300 TS for the Low-voltage Grid

The new SolarMax 300 TS has a nominal power of 300 kW and works in the MPP range from 430 to 800 volts. With this device, Sputnik’s developers were able to increase the European efficiency from 94.8 to 95.5% in comparison to its predecessor SolarMax 300 C.

SolarMax Power Station: The Complete Solution for the Medium-voltage Grid

In the SolarMax 330 TS-SV, Sputnik has done without a low-voltage transformer, in contrast to the SolarMax TS. Through this, the European Efficiency increases to 97%. Up to four of the new 330 kW inverters, mounted together in a SolarMax Power Station, can directly feed their electricity into the medium-voltage grid over a medium-voltage transformer. The station can be easily operated with a central control unit. On its display, one can clearly read the energy yield, peak power and operating hours as well as all the device’s settings. A DC safety unit and the Internet-based data logger MaxWeb xp are also available if desired.

Together with its partners, Sputnik delivers a total solution which has a power of up to 1.32 MW, preassembled for a direct connection to the grid. Thanks to the modular design, installers can set up all the components--up to four inverters, an optional DC safety unit, a medium-voltage transformer and the controlling unit--in a concrete station as well as in an existing machine room.

Reliable and Durable

As with the other devices in the SolarMax TS series, a processor monitors the IGBT switches of both new central inverters on the power element. It increases their operational safety and reliability. In addition, Sputnik has increased the lifetime of the devices even further. To do this, the company replaced the electrolyte condensers on the power elements by foil condensers. With the earthing kit, available optionally, the inverters also work in combination with thin-film or modules connected on the rear side, without any problems.

Both of the new inverters have been prepared for all the requirements of the BDEW [the German Federal Association of Energy and Water Management] medium-voltage grid--even those that are valid first from 2011 onwards. In this way, the inverters are able to feed in idle power, remain on the grid during grid malfunctions and thus to support the grid actively.

The optional data logger MaxWeb xp monitors all the connected devices. If a plant, grid or inverter error is recognized, MaxWeb xp automatically sends malfunction reports to the central SolarMax web portal and--via e-mail or text message--to MaxControl customers. When MaxWeb xp is used, the inverters can receive remote control commands from the utilities company and reduce their power accordingly, which has been required by the regulations of the BDEW for solar plants in Germany since 2009

MPP Operation Optimizes Partial Load and Shadowing Behavior

When searching for the optimal working point (MPP), Sputnik’s customers have a choice: single MPP operation optimizes the plant yield in the partial load range via the power-dependent switching of individual power elements and creates, moreover, redundancy. The multi-MPP operation with three MPP trackers gives installers more flexibility when dimensioning the plant and also reduces the power losses, which occur during temporary shadowing, by selectively partitioning the solar generator. In this way, high yields can also be guaranteed with different directions, pitches and module types.

Sputnik Engineering has shown the new developments at the Intersolar trade fair for the first time (from 9 to 11 June in Munich, Germany). They are certified by the German TV [Technical Monitoring Association] and from the VDE Institute [the Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies]. The two-year standard guarantee can be extended to up to 20 years with the service contract MaxControl. All inverters of the TS series are equipped with the RS 485 and Ethernet interfaces as a standard. DC and AC circuit breakers are integrated and accessible from outside the device. This way, installers can safely separate the inverter from the solar generator and grid before they open it.

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