Wind Turbine Inverters

[WoodrowJWeen]

I'm working on a project that will have over 70 wind turbines mounted on a building. Each turbine will have a generator with a max output of 10kW, (120VDC @ 80A). I'm looking for some inverters that could be used to produce 480VAC, 3 phase output. These would synchronize with the grid and offset some of the building power demand. Does anybody know of such an inverter? We would like these to be rack mounted, possibly in a setup like a motor control center, where each unit had an output breaker. We often specify VFDs in an MCC, this seems like a similar arrangement. I just haven't found this offered from the usual MCC manufacturers.

Yes, the building main switchgear will have reverse power relays to prevent backfeeding the utility.

 

[dpc]

Check photovoltaic system suppliers- they have to do the same thing to export power.

 

[ghostbuster7]

Try looking at these types of groups

http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/11/p/1/pt/23/product.asp

Hope this helps

GB

 

[electricuwe]

Check also

http://www.sma-america.com

 

[LionelHutz]

There's the Windboy inverter but I believe the largest size is about 6kW.

Are you planning on just a direct connection from turbine to inverter?
What about a turbine load when the inverter is off?

You need about 680VDC for an inverter to produce 480VAC. Or, the inverter will produce a lower voltage and need to feed a step-up transformer.

The largest commercial grid-tied inverter available is about 4kW to 5kW. You'll have to go with an industrial supplier for this. Try ABB or maybe GE? It probably won't be off-the-shelf product in any case.

It would be much cheaper to use 480VAC induction generators on the turbines rather than grid tied inverters.

 

[hw123]

I think you should use a DC/DC converter at each windturbine and then use 680VDC for transmission to one single 3ph inverter.


Large 3PH inverters like this, are used in modern multimegawatt windturbines. so its kind of a off-the-shelf product today.

ABB and converteam are wellknown converter manufactures for windturbines.

I think a DC/DC converter for 680VDC would be difficult to find.

 

[LionelHutz]

I like that idea hw123.

Generators of that size are probably permanent magnet with "wild" 3-phase outputs and the DC voltage quoted is probably after a rectifier as opposed to the output of a DC generator. So, step up the generator voltage and then rectify to a common buss.