Every year, many rooftop photovoltaic systems and photovoltaic power plants are built around the world and generate hundreds of megawatts of electricity. In order to ensure that these photovoltaic systems achieve a substantial return on investment, lightning and surge protection must be taken into account from the system design stage to ensure the stability and safety of the entire system. If these systems suffer from lightning strikes or network outages, in addition to being very expensive to r
Every year, many rooftop photovoltaic systems and photovoltaic power plants are built around the world and generate hundreds of megawatts of electricity. In order to ensure that these photovoltaic systems achieve a substantial return on investment, lightning and surge protection must be taken into account from the system design stage to ensure the stability and safety of the entire system. If these systems suffer from lightning strikes or network outages, in addition to being very expensive to repair, they can also lead to downtime. Therefore, effective protection against lightning and power surges is very important, not only to reduce investment risks, but also to ensure the continued availability of photovoltaic systems. Weidmuller is currently innovating and upgrading its surge protection product range in this field with the introduction of a new pentode, I+II combination for two maximum power point tracking systems (MPPT). The new pentode VARITECTOR PU PV I+II 5 1,500 surge protector provides reliable protection for your photovoltaic system with its advanced technology and compact design.
Photovoltaic systems are a sustainable and environmentally friendly mode of power generation and a popular choice in the field of renewable energy investment.
However, because photovoltaic systems are usually installed in open environments and are directly affected by environmental factors, the risk of surge voltages from direct or near lightning strikes is extremely high. Lightning strikes may even have a negative impact within a two-kilometer radius. Therefore, in order to ensure the reliability and long-term stability of photovoltaic systems, it is essential to select and install effective surge protection equipment.
The new pentode photovoltaic surge protector from Weidmuller neatly integrates Class I and Class II protection to provide comprehensive protection against both direct lightning strikes (Type I) and indirect surge voltages (Type II). As a result of this integrated design, system planning becomes simpler and more efficient.
This design reduces the use of independent components, thus saving installation costs, while also complying with the IEC/EN 61643-32 standard, which can be used internationally.
The pentode VPU PV is equipped with a pluggable protection module that can be quickly replaced without the help of any tools, which is cost-effective, even when replacing a single protection module. In addition, integrated status indicators on a single protection module greatly simplify the visual inspection and testing process of the product. By using a combined potential contact design, a single surge protector can simultaneously protect two trackers with a high Power Point Tracking system (MPP) with a width of just 90mm, saving time, cost and space. One of the main advantages of 1500V photovoltaic systems is to increase the operating voltage, which effectively improves the power transmission level and increases energy output.
The new VPU PV surge protection device has excellent short-circuit impedance, such as connecting multiple solar panels in series in a photovoltaic system, and it can withstand a maximum short-circuit current of up to 11kA, even if no additional protection products are configured.
Photovoltaic systems are often installed at high altitudes of up to 4000m. Weidmuller's surge protectors provide reliable protection for photovoltaic systems, even in such open-air environments. Typically, a derating risk assessment is required for PV systems installed at these high altitudes, and this additional assessment step is not required with Weidmuller's surge protectors.
It should be emphasized that the surge protection of the photovoltaic system cannot be ignored, which involves the two core links of the direct current (DC) side and the alternating current (AC) side, both of which need to be configured with special surge protection equipment to ensure the safe and stable operation of the entire system. With more than 20 years of surge protection experience, Weidmuller offers a comprehensive range of surge protection products for direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC). These highly effective lightning and surge protection products can effectively extend the service life of electronic products in photovoltaic systems and AC application installations, and are essential for achieving long-term stable energy production.
