Dynamic Peak Manager of Fronio Inverter: alternative to microwiler

This will not have escaped anyone: to be able to satisfactorily produce, solar panels need light. But what about when a fireplace, a tree or a near building can create shadow on sun installation for a few hours during the day?

Those who have conducted some research on the subject will therefore think of obtaining a satisfactory solar energy yield with a conventional chain inverter and will prefer to pass through the «micro wave» box, yet!

There is an intelligent solution to the management of the shadows that integrates directly into an inverter. It is this solution that we recommend without moderation in the event of a shadow for our customers on sun earth: the dynamic peak peak of Fronio. It has the advantage of making the installation less expensive for investments, while allowing similar or even greater efficiency than that of microwilers in the case of a photovoltaic installation in a single correct pan.

1. What is Dynamic Peak Manager?

The Dynamic Peak Manager is an integrated algorithm in a Fronio inverter.

It makes it possible to guarantee in real time the following point of maximum power of a current that is not linear, which is why it is also called «tracker of maximum power points». Its role is to define the overall average power of an installation taking into account the unitary power of each panel and define an average. In this way, the inverter intelligently transforms the continuous electric current generated individually by each solar panel into a global alternating current (the same as that used by our national devices).

So far, nothing essential since all inverters carry out this mission. But where the algorithm brings added value, it is when a partial shade appears on photovoltaic installation: the head of the dynamic peak simply allows you to «disappear» from the average calculation of the panels in question for the shade to concentrate on the panels that produce at full power. Technically, this is made possible thanks to the use of «derivation diodes» also called «bypass». When the panel is totally or partially in the shade, the diode becomes conductive and offers a new electricity route, allowing you to bypass the electrical circuit of the panel as if it did not exist. And this agile consideration of the panels adapts in real time depending on the return of brightness or shadow.

2. Micro inverter or Dynamic Peak Manager: Who wins?

A – Performance

Let’s start with the microphones not to be missed. These small «boxes» are miniature versions of the classic inverter and play the same role, to transform the continuous current into alternating current. They are fixed behind each panel and only manage a solar panel at a time.

Each panel therefore has its own inverter to produce electricity independently, without the risk of affecting the productivity of other modules connected in series. In this way, each panel produces at its optimal level and is no longer «retained» by others. The overall production average is optimized.

If it is true that this technical solution is effective, especially when a photovoltaic installation is full of multiple shades (outputs of multiple fireplaces, overlapping roofs, assistance dogs …) or if it is divided on different sides with different guidelines, it will also have a disadvantage of seeing its production of sun electricity to start later because it requires a minimum voltage to function. In other words, a solar installation with microccading will begin to produce an hour after dawn, where conventional inverters allow an almost immediate production from the first emerging rays.

On the Fronio side, the Dynamic Peak Manager allows an at least similar or even higher performance.

In Terre Solaire, we know that commercial promises on paper can sometimes be extrapolated and we prefer to test or even experience the equipment on the ground in order to confirm its effectiveness in practice.

Here, we wanted to check the performance of the Dynamic Peak Manager on a residential installation of 9 kWc (27 panels) divided into two independent fields, on two roof sections. The first sides (in blue) called «Field 1» are a first series of panels and the second (in green) a second series of panels. We have camouflaged one of the solar panels (80%) of «field 2» (in green) from 12 to 13:30, the time when the installation produced at full power.

The observation is definitive: We have lost 100% of the power of this panel while the remaining 8 on this same «Field 2» produced about 204 W each. At the same time, each of the 18 panels in the second field produced about 208 W on each of the 18 panels without shadow (in «Field 1») or just below the difference of 2%.

There is certainly a decrease in production, but it is not as important as what we could have believed according to the words of the microwave producers (2% observed with the head of the dynamic peak from 15 to 18% estimated with a conventional installation). The presence of the shadow on the panel is treated correctly: its absence does not really affect the average production of the panels connected to the same series. The Dynamic Peak Manager does the job and does it also very well!

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B – installation cost

Let’s talk little, let’s talk well: the often more expensive microWilers to investments, but also in the event of a replacement.

Small structures (up to 3kwc) will not see a big difference in the cost of investments. But from this power, microwilers swell the account. We don’t even talk about the installations of great powers for professionals: it is a madness to which we will favor optimizers.

Now regarding its cost over time: microwilers are delivered with material guarantees that exceed all expectations (from 15 to 30 years). These allow you to be replaced right now (we forget that they are constantly exposed to heat and humidity unlike the classic inverter). Except for the fact that this operation for the most of the time requires a more complex intervention for the technician who has to climb the roof to be replaced the panel completely or separated panel and inverter. In addition, further supplies of connectors are mostly essential to be able to adapt to the initial installation (the microwave models that evolve very regularly). Let’s move on to a replacement announced quickly as «free» to a much more expensive intervention than the replacement of a single inverter placed in a garage or entry. And this, many unscrupulous installers will be careful not to let you know!

On the dynamic side of peak of the manager, the profitability is superior. Well yes! Those who say that the only inverter affirms a unique replacement and a single intervention in the event of a failure or malfunction. Usually it takes place on the ground and in a few minutes because the diagnosis and assembly/disassembly are performed in a single intervention: it is not necessary to climb the roof to dismantle panels and connectors and only the inverter is replaced.

We try to be clear, however, the cost of an inverter is not even negligible. But this is the only electronic component that can satisfy a failure in the next ten years and its replacement will be less and less expensive than that of multiple microwiler. In addition, being solar soils «system partner» of Fronius, our technicians have the possibility to replace the electronic card or any other component of an inverter on the place, without replacing it completely and without breaking the guarantee. Save time, money and a guarantee that really lasts over time.

TRICK
The cost of a possible replacement of the inverter is automatically calculated as part of a personalized study on the sun ground. This decreases the earnings announced in over 25 years, yes, but it is a prudent and honest choice for our part to estimate a supply of real costs over time.

Conclusion

Faced with Micro-Blu, sometimes a little too easily recommended, the Dynamic Peak Manager, Fronio reaches such an effective rendering company with a single inverter for an entire residential installation, allowing future producers to fully exploit the sun potential of their roof. And this does not have an advantage: less expensive to buy and more profitable over time, an installation with Manger De Fronius Dinamica is undoubtedly more relevant if your goal is to achieve optimal profitability.