sensata 214 Circuit Breakers Solar Appnote User Guide
- June 12, 2024
- Sensata
Table of Contents
sensata 214 Circuit Breakers Solar Appnote
Product Information
The product is a circuit breaker system designed for electrical protection and switching in solar power/ESS applications. It is used to manage both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) electricity in solar power systems with supplemental battery or energy storage systems (ESS).
The solar panels mounted on the roof convert the sun’s energy into DC electricity, which flows into a hybrid inverter. The inverter can convert the DC current into AC for use within the home or transmission back to the electrical grid. It also charges the ESS on-site, allowing the stored energy to be utilized during periods when solar power is not available, power outages, or other occasions.
In order to ensure proper functioning and discharge of the system, an AC circuit breaker is required between the inverter and the rest of the household power system. Additionally, a DC circuit breaker is needed to protect the current flowing between the inverter and the ESS. The amperage ratings of both breakers are selected based on the capacity of the inverter.
Recommended Products
| Reference on Diagram | Product | Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CEL Circuit Breaker (214 Series) | Function: DC Circuit Breaker for Inverter |
(Inverter outlets toESS)
2| LEL Circuit Breaker (214 Series)| Function: AC Circuit Breaker for Inverter
(Inverter outlets toAC loads)
3| 108/109 PV Switch| Function: Switch off the circuit of solar panel
toinverter
4| DBR71210 Reed Relay| Function: High voltage switching within inverter
Note: Additional system-wide UL certification may be required for the installation.
SOLAR CELL SYSTEM DIAGRAM
ELECTRICAL PROTECTION AND SWITCHING IN SOLAR POWER/ESS APPLICATIONS
Challenge
From 2012 to 2022, solar power capacity has averaged an annual growth rate of
24 percent, accounting for more than 40 percent of new capacity added to the
U.S. energy grid each year from 2020-2022.
A greater percentage of installations now also feature a supplemental battery
or energy storage system (ESS), with the industry projecting that nearly 30
percent of new solar systems will feature a battery system by 2027.
Many of the constraints and demands of a solar power system are driven by the
need to manage both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC)
electricity.
The solar panels mounted on the roof convert the sun’s energy into DC
electricity. This flows into a hybrid inverter, which can convert the DC
current into AC for use within the home itself, or transmission back to the
electrical grid for use elsewhere.
At the same time, the inverter also leverages the energy which passes through
it to charge the ESS on-site. This energy can be utilized at night when solar
power is not available, during power outages, or other occasions.
A standard residential solar installation with an ESS might include a 3-10KW
inverter with a 48V DC low voltage battery, creating a need for both DC and AC
current circuit breakers in the overall system design. High-isolation
switching – generally leveraging a Reed Relay – is also needed within the
inverter itself to manage the flow of current.
Solution
Breakers selected for solar installations must be well suited for extreme
reliability – with components exposed to the elements for decades and a wide
variety of temperature extremes, and notable performance of trip accuracy
under overload condition, making hydraulic magnetic circuit breaker designs
more beneficial than a magnetic circuit breaker alone. This also allows for a
smaller size in what is often limited assembly space.
Within the installation itself, the AC circuit breaker must be designed to
function between the inverter and the rest of the household power system to
ensure it is discharging appropriately. In the U.S., the AC Breaker is often
used for the inverter integrated with distribution box.
On the DC current side, a second circuit breaker is needed to protect the
current flowing between the inverter and the ESS.
Both the DC Breaker and AC Breaker are selected based on inverter power, with
amperage ratings increasing as the capacity of the inverter increases.
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