What Is A Solar Power Conditioning Unit? How Does It Work?

November 8, 2022 / Solar Inverters

What Is A Solar Power Conditioning Unit? How Does It Work?

A power conditioning unit is a device used to improve and maintain the quality of power delivered to any device or electrical load equipment. It protects devices and sensitive loads by smoothing out potential voltage fluctuations, electrical noise, and spikes while simultaneously providing them with power. It protects devices from power surges and helps correct voltage, smoothing out electrical noise and distortion in the waveform.

A PCU converts DC power from fuel cells into usable AC power. It consists of a DC-to-DC converter and an inverter that converts AC to DC. The former is used to increase a lower magnitude DC voltage to a higher one of at least 400 volts to produce at least 120 or 240 volts of AC power.

This article breaks down the workings of a solar power conditioning unit along with its components in easy words.

How Does A Solar Power Conditioning Unit Work?

As the name suggests, a solar PCU utilizes solar power to charge battery banks. It comprises an integrated solar charge controller, grid charger and inverter system. The PCU is designed to monitor solar power, battery voltage and output load continuously. If the battery level falls below a certain point, the PCU transfers the load to the grid power that takes over charging the batteries.

In essence, solar power conditioning units are similar to solar inverters that use solar energy to generate electricity. However, some key differences separate the two.

An inverter takes direct current stored in batteries and converts it into alternating current, which is the form that is usable to power electronics and devices. But a solar PCU is far more versatile. A solar PCU prioritizes solar power charging during the day, and there are options to select the energy mode among the solar charger, grid or inverter. In all, the PCU is set to optimize power charging and reduce costs.

What Are The Components Of A Solar PCU?

Solar PCUs are designed to utilize sunlight, meaning they have various intricate and interconnected segments that work in tandem to convert solar energy into usable power. The following are the major components of a solar PCU:

1. Solar Charger

A solar charger is generally identified as a device that converts solar energy into power and electricity to devices and batteries. A PCU contains a solar charger as one of its optimal means of power charging.

Solar PCU prioritizes charging through solar energy with the help of solar chargers during the day. It converts sunlight into DC or direct current, which is used to charge the battery. A solar regulator feeds this current to the battery, ensuring that the battery is not damaged due to overcharging.

2. Inverter

An inverter takes the (DC) or direct current stored in batteries and converts it to alternating current (AC) of at least 240 Volts. They regulate the flow of electrical power within the PCU. They convert the DC generated by solar power to usable AC by rapidly switching the direction of the flow of direct current.

In a PCU, the AC power made by the inverter is maintained in a clean, repeating sine wave that the grid system can use. The sine wave is the shape that electrical pressure or voltage forms. It is fed to the grid charger and does not damage electronic equipment as a compatible shape.

3. Grid charger

After the inverter converts DC to AC power, a grid charger charges the battery or the hybrid system. The purpose of a grid charger is to maintain balance within a hybrid battery. A battery should have the same voltage in each cell that it is made of. Since a battery cannot hold power indefinitely, it starts leaking the energy in self-discharge over time. Ideally, each battery cell should discharge the same amount of voltage.

However, over time, each cell or module of the battery may have a different voltage. When the battery has uneven charge, any device or vehicle it powers can malfunction or show an error code. A grid charger solves this problem by charging all the cells in the battery to maximum capacity and allowing laggard cells to catch up. As a result, it balances the voltage all across the battery's cells.

A solar PCU uses a grid charger to charge devices when solar power is unavailable.

4. Selector mechanism

A selector mechanism shifts the power source from solar mode to inverter to grid charger. In a solar CPU, the selector mechanism is set to solar mode. However, when solar mode or enough solar power is unavailable, the inverter or the grid can also power the appliances and devices.

5. Battery bank

The battery bank is where the solar charge is stored in the form of direct current to be utilized by the inverter. Solar energy is not always constant and is affected by varying factors like cloud formation, wind, weather, etc. Hence, it is important to have backup in case solar power is not viable. The battery bank can switch from solar charger to inverter to grid charger, which acts as an effective backup.

6. Control algorithm

The control algorithm distinguishes the PCU from a solar charger or regular inverter. The control algorithm is responsible for setting priority and optimally selecting the power source for charging through the solar charger, grid charger or both. It also sets the source of alternating current output to either be from the grid or the inverter.

Once the solar charger stops charging, the PC consumes the stored energy as DC power from the battery bank. The inverter then converts the DC charge to the AC charge. Once a certain energy level has been utilized, the inverter stops, and the appliance is connected to power through the grid charger through the selector mechanism.

How Is A Solar PCU More Efficient Than A Regular Inverter?

The main purpose of this entire system is to save money and optimize the solar power source. Once there is a shortage of solar energy, the solar PCU shifts to the inverter or the grid charger. This is especially useful in places prone to power outages, and people want to rely on the grid charger as long as possible. The battery bank, then, is used as a backup if the grid fails.

If the grid fails, uninterrupted solar energy becomes the primary source of power, which can significantly cut energy costs. However, how cost-effective a PCU ultimately proves to be depends on the efficiency of its inverter system.

For instance, transformer-based inverters have an efficiency rate of 70%. On the other hand, SMPS or Switched Mode Power Supply inverters have an efficiency rate of 90%.

That's why choosing a solar PCU with the most efficient and harmonious working components is important.

Summing Up

Access to electricity is integral to improving people's quality of life and opportunities. Modern human civilization is inseparable from its dependence on electricity to power its major institutions and activities.

EAPL India is one of the best in electronics and technology. With the most innovative and efficient electronics that live up to their claims, their PCUs recognize the difference having power can make in people's lives. Check out the solar PCUs for the best quality products that keep your world going even when the power stops.