System boxes guarantee communication and central inverter control

The Siemens Industry Automation Division has expanded their portfolio of central inverters with the system boxes Sinvert PVS ControlBox 300, Sinvert PVS ComBox 100 and ComBox 200 as well as the Sinvert PVS WeatherStation 200. The system boxes are designed as an accessory component for the new Siemens inverters of the Sinvert PVS800 series as well as for the Sinvert PVS500 and Sinvert PVS600 central inverters, which are already on the market.

“The central inverter is the core of a PV system. All the relevant data is collected here, and the entire array is controlled from here,” says Dr. Ralf Michael Wagner, Head of Systems Engineering at the Siemens Industry Automation Division. “With the new Sinvert PVS system boxes, central inverters can be equipped with additional functions according to customer requirements. Thus, we support operators in the professional monitoring and plant management of their photovoltaic systems.”

The Sinvert ControlBox 300 enables the control of active power and reactive power in large PV power plants with multiple inverter stations via digital ripple control signals. According to statutory regulations such as the Renewable Energy Act (EEG) or the medium-voltage directive issued by the German Association of Energy and Water (BDEW), grid operators must be able to control the performance of the infeeding plant remotely. The Siemens system box constantly records data relating to active power, voltage and frequency of the entire solar park. Based on this data, the device controls any number of inverter stations in a power plant. Depending on demand, the Sinvert ControlBox 300 either ensures a specified active and reactive power for the entire PV plant, or takes over the control according to various characteristics such as Q(U)-, Q(t)- or P(f).

The Sinvert PVS ComBox 100 and ComBox 200 enable quick connection of an inverter to a LAN network. The connection to the Ethernet LAN can be implemented with both devices by means of twisted pair copper cables or fiber optic cables in line or ring topologies. The Sinvert PVS ComBox 200 contains an industrial PC that records, saves and transfers the data of connected inverters to the Sinvert Webmonitor internet portal. The plant operator is then able to check the current status and yield of the PV array remotely via the software.

The Sinvert PVS WeatherStation 200 supplies environmental and meteorological data and thus improves plant monitoring. The weather station has sensors that record the ambient temperature, the insolation as well as the temperature of the solar cells and modules. Optionally, the system box can be expanded by additional sensors for measuring wind speed, wind direction and precipitation. The data acquired by the Sinvert PVS WeatherStation 200 provides information about whether the PV power plant is producing optimum yield and thus helps to optimize plant efficiency.

The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is the worldwide leading supplier of environmentally friendly production, transportation and building technologies. With integrated automation technologies and comprehensive industry-specific solutions, Siemens increases the productivity, efficiency and flexibility of its customers in the fields of industry and infrastructure. In fiscal 2010, which ended on September 30, 2010, revenue from continuing operations of the Industry Sector (excluding Osram) totaled around €30.2 billion. At the end of September 2010, Siemens Industry Sector had around 164,000 employees worldwide without consideration of Osram. Further information is available on the Internet at: http://www.siemens.com/industry

The Siemens Industry Automation Division (Nuremberg, Germany) is a worldwide leader in the fields of automation systems, industrial controls and industrial software. Its portfolio ranges from standard products for the manufacturing and process industries to solutions for whole industrial sectors that encompass the automation of entire automobile production facilities and chemical plants. As a leading software supplier, Industry Automation optimizes the entire value added chain of manufacturers – from product design and development to production, sales and a wide range of maintenance services. With around 33,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry Automation posted sales of €6.2 billion in fiscal year 2010. http://www.siemens.com/industryautomation

Reference Number: IIA2011072628e

ContactMr. Peter Jefimiec
Industry Automation Division
Siemens AG
Gleiwitzerstr. 555
90475 Nürnberg
Germany
Tel: +49 (911) 895-7975
peter.jefimiec​@siemens.com