To keep solar power competitive with other power generation methods, power conversion performance and efficiency are critical. Small increases in power output can significantly impact the profitability of solar power generation. Engineers need to ensure their solar inverters can extract the maximum power from the connected solar panels. However, developing and verifying the performance of maximum power point search (MPPT) circuits and algorithms is complex, while testing is difficult, expensive, and time-consuming.
Using multiple MPPT inverters provides flexibility across large numbers of commercial panels, but presents a significant measurement challenge because current solutions can only test one MPPT at a time. Keysight's PV8900 Series, along with the advanced DG9000A PV inverter measurement software, goes beyond existing standards, enabling simultaneous measurements on up to 12 MPPT channels.
Keysight's new generation of PV8900 photovoltaic array simulators offers the following features and benefits to customers:
• Highest power density, with 20 kW in a 3U footprint, configurable in parallel to achieve up to 200 kW and enabling measurements on stringed inverters at full power, reducing the required space.
• Output up to 2000 V, 30 A, ready to perform measurements on future generations of photovoltaic inverters, protecting your investment for the future.
• Advanced DG9000A inverter measurement software simplifies curve creation and download to the device, allowing you to quickly obtain information from a single MPPT or up to 12 MPPTs.
• Versatility with a 20 kW auto-ranging power supply featuring output list functionality, data logging, and arbitrary waveform generation, optimizing your investment performance.
“The next generation of string inverters that our customers develop and manufacture will require higher voltage, greater power density, and exceptional control capabilities in design qualification and manufacturing testing,” said Christopher Cain, vice president and general manager of Keysight’s Industrial Electronics Products business. “Keysight’s PV8900 series of photovoltaic panel simulators enables automated measurements that accelerate time to market and reduce operating costs. Higher power density and superior conversion efficiency provide significant operational savings by reducing system footprint and cooling requirements.”
