What Is a PCS Storage Inverter? A Comprehensive Guide by HuiJue Solar

Publish: December 12,2024   Last Upadate: December 12,2024   Tag:  
What Is a PCS Storage Inverter? A Comprehensive Guide by HuiJue Solar

Are you looking for advanced energy solutions for reliable power storage? Power Conversion Systems are a major pillar of modern energy storage systems. At Huijue Solar, we provide advanced PCS technology that makes the integration of renewable energy into the grid seamless. Learn how energy storage solutions using pcs energy can optimize your power system and make energy management efficient and sustainable. Click here to explore Huijue's products and solutions tailored for energy storage systems.

Features of the PCS storage inverters:

The Power Conversion System, or PCS, is the heart of any energy storage system, as it provides a two-way flow of power between the battery and the grid. It converts DC power from the battery into AC power usable for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. At the same time, it reverses the process of storing grid power as DC power in the battery.

Energy storage converters (PCSs) are complex electronic apparatuses equipped with power supplies, control units, protection and control systems. They may use single-phase and three-phase forms; a general architecture would normally contain one bidirectional DC-DC regulator cascaded by one DC-AC inverter. Single-phase PCSs have a standard voltage of 48 Vdc for DC input and 220 Vac for AC output. The three-phase PCSs are available with two configurations: the small three-phase PCSs include one bi-directional DCDC converter and a two-stage DC/AC converter while a large three-phase PCS includes only a one-stage DC/AC converter.

Accordingly, based on isolation, the energy storage converters can be categorized into three types: high-frequency isolated, industrial-frequency isolated, and non-isolated. Usually, for single-phase and three-phase PCSs of low power below 20kW, high-frequency isolation is applied. Systems from 50kW to 250kW tend to use industrial frequency isolation, while systems of 500kW and above tend to use non-isolated solutions.

The performance difference of PCS energy storage converters in different application scenarios mainly exists in the following aspects.

Apart from the basic function of power output regulation, PCS energy storage converters used in new energy and grid systems often have a number of other supplementary functions required, such as system inertia support, primary frequency regulation to stabilize power, and reactive power regulation for maintaining grid voltage stability.

These features are the key construction of new power systems. On the customer side, the PCS storage converters are used in combining solar power generation and energy storage for distributed energy management. Some customer-side storage systems also can switch to stand-alone modes when a grid outage occurs, which provides emergency power support for crucial equipment. In other words, PCS energy storage converters play a different role in various power systems to satisfy various energy management and stability requirements.

Advanced functionalities for various applications

  1. Grid side:

The PCS system is an integral part of grid stability maintenance through

Inertia support: It enhances the reliability of the system during fluctuations.

Active power regulation: Power regulation according to demand.

Reactive power balancing: Stabilizes the grid voltage level.

  1. at the customer's end:

PCS enhances energy independence and flexibility through

Photovoltaic integration: In integrating solar energy with storage,

Off-grid functionality: in emergency backup during grid failure,

Seamless switching: automatic switching between grid-connected and off-grid modes.

  1. Role in Emerging Power Systems

The PCS solar energy systems form one of the most important components related to grid-forming energy storage in smart grids.

This provides renewable energy integration, hence resilience and adaptability for the smart grid.

Basically, all three energy storage technologies work in much the same way. At the outset, they all rely on PCS system and battery pack technology, where the AC voltage is set at 400 volts AC and the DC voltage is set at no more than 1,000 volts DC, and the thermal management relies heavily on air-cooling technology.

How to choose the right PCS system for your energy storage needs

Determining the appropriate model of energy storage converter-PCS starts with identifying the maximum output power and capacity needed. It is usually based on the actual power demand in your microgrid and the generation capacity of your distributed energy sources. You will need to choose whether to use a low-voltage, medium-voltage, or high-voltage converter based on the size and purpose of the energy storage system and the voltage level required.

These can be divided into critical electrical loads, such as data centers, offices, monitoring systems, and non-critical loads, which include air conditioning and lighting. The usual practice to get data on these loads is on-site measurements, including data for different time periods on weekdays and days off, and selecting data from typical seasons of the year for analysis.

At general dispatch in energy storage capacity, usually give consideration at 1.2 times of load ability. For example, in case the critical load is 200kW, the suggestion could be to connect a 250kW energy storage converter. These loads that should be independently operated need energy storage power, according to their increase.

The transformer ratio of the PCS energy storage converter needs to be determined based on the DC voltage range of the battery. The formula for calculating the transformer ratio is Ratio = Ul (minimum battery voltage) / 1.414. For example, in the case of lithium iron phosphate batteries, the ratio can be set to 254 if the voltage range is from 360V to 480V, meaning a 200kVA transformer is selected. If a configuration without a transformer is chosen, then the minimum voltage of the battery needs to exceed 540V in order to connect to a 400V grid.

In the selection of the model, the reliability and efficiency of the energy storage converter should be considered and chosen to be efficient and reliable. Confirm at the same time whether the converter needs to communicate with other equipment and whether remote monitoring and control functions are required. Lastly, from the perspective of cost, consider the price and maintenance cost according to the project budget and economics.

Advantages of PCS Energy Storage Solutions

  1. Efficiency and Reliability:

With the latest conversion technology, PCS systems ensure maximum energy efficiency and uninterruptable power supply.

  1. Cost-Effectiveness:

By optimizing energy storage and usage patterns, PCS systems reduce dependence on the grid, thus reducing electricity bills.

  1. Sustainability:

PCS solutions support the adoption of clean energy sources and help achieve decarbonization goals.

Huijue Solar offers a range of advanced PCS energy storage systems that stand out for their innovative design and superior performance. If you have any related concerns, why not consult our online customer service?