Intelligent Power Modules Made For Residential PV Inverters

Mitsubishi Electric Corp. has launched its new PV Series intelligent power modules, which the company says are mainly for use in residential photovoltaic inverters.

miniature power module up next to a ruler

The six models, which can also be used in inverters for fuel-cell systems, each measure 90 mm by 50 mm, contributing to PV inverter miniaturization. Because inverters for residential PV systems are usually installed indoors, it is important that they be made as small as possible, the company says.

Mitsubishi Electric has prepared six models in the new PV series to suit the various types of circuits in PV inverters, such as single-output inverters, single-output inverters with one chopper and single-output inverters with two choppers. The line-up consists of four-chip, five-chip and six-chip modules, each with a choice of one of two types of current rating: 50 amperes (A) and 75A.

Shipments will begin in May through Mitsubishi Electric sales sites in the Americas, Europe, China and Korea.

global.mitsubishielectric.com

Mitsubishi Electric Develops New PV Inverter To Maximize Solar Output

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has developed a new maximum power-point tracking (MPPT) system in PV inverters to maximize output power in photovoltaic (PV) . The technology, which works with a single PV inverter, achieves the maximum power point even when part of a PV array is hidden by shadow or dust.

PV system characteristics such as output power are greatly influenced by the amount of sunlight and temperature. Conventional PV arrays, which are groups of PV modules connected either in series or parallel, use MPPT systems to help achieve their maximum output-power points. But if part of a PV array is hidden by shadow and the rest is still in sunlight, resulting in multiple peak points, a conventional MPPT system has difficulty tracking the maximum point. Especially in urban areas where PV systems are likely to be installed near buildings or other obstructions of sunlight, shadow can greatly decrease output power.

The technological breakthrough by Mitsubishi Electric allows the MPPT system to automatically measure the PV array’s output power characteristics and then control the array to operate at its maximum output-power point, thereby ensuring that the PV system receives maximum output power from the array. In some cases, this technology will be able to more than double the output power compared to a PV inverter equipped with a conventional MPPT system.

Mitsubishi Electric will continue its research and development with aims to incorporate this technology in its products in the near future.

www.mitsubishielectric.com