Specifications provide the values of operating parameters for a given inverter. Common specifications are discussed below. Some or all of the specifications usually appear on the inverter data sheet. Maximum AC output power This is the maximum power the inverter can supply to a load on a steady basis at a specified output voltage.
It’s important to note what this means: In order for an inverter to put out the rated amount of power, it will need to have a power input that exceeds the output. For example, an inverter with a rated output power of 5,000 W and a peak efficiency of 95% requires an input power of 5,263 W to operate at full power.
Aside from the operating voltage range, another main parameter is the start-up voltage. It is the lowest acceptable voltage that is needed for the inverter to kick on. Each inverter has a minimum input voltage value that cannot trigger the inverter to operate if the PV voltage is lower than what is listed in the specification sheet.
Using the CEC efficiency, the input power to the inverter must be PIN=POUT/CEC Efficiency=3,300 W/0.945=3,492 W Inverters can be classed according to their power output. The following information is not set in stone, but it gives you an idea of the classifications and general power ranges associated with them.
As power is processed and converted from one shape to another, the solar inverters are expected to perform these tasks with the highest possible efficiency. This is because we wish to deliver maximum PV generated power to the load or the grid. Typical efficiencies are in the range of more than 95% at rated conditions specified in the datasheet.
Inverter efficiency is discussed in EME 812 (11.5. Efficiency of Inverters). Depending on the topology, most modern inverters have built-in MPP trackers to insure maximum power is extracted from the PV array. Each inverter comes with a voltage range that allows it to track the maximum power of the PV array.
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