Off-Grid Applications
Vento360 V-1’s work seamlessly in off-grid applications, generating renewable energy for storage in batteries or to pump or heat water. Hybrid systems may harness solar and diesel or propane gas generators energy together with wind energy from Vento360 V-1’s. Wind turbines operate at night, during rainy seasons, and in the winter, supplementing available solar energy. More renewable energy, less fuel and less energy cycled through the battery. For batteries that benefit from equalization, a wind system provides a reliable source of high energy output.
The most common system architecture is the “Advanced DC-Bus Hybrid System”, where the wind turbine produces direct current (DC) for serving loads and charging batteries (typically 48 VDC). Wind and solar systems connect to a DC-bus, a DC Source Center, through separate charge regulators. Batteries, up to three parallel strings, connect to the DC-Bus, as do the DC loads and the advanced inverter/charger. Multiple wind turbines, solar arrays, battery strings, DC load centers, and inverter/chargers can be connected to the DC- Bus. These systems can be configured with or without a centralized control system.
In operation, the wind and solar systems keep the batteries charged, supporting the DC and, through the inverter(s), AC loads. If the batteries are drained to a 20% state-of-charge (SOC) the advanced inverter starts the back-up diesel generator, transfer the AC loads to the diesel generator, and switch from inverter (DC to AC) to battery – charging (AC to DC) mode. The generator is run at its best efficiency point (typically 80% of nameplate) and any excess AC power available after satisfying the site AC loads is converted to DC to recharge the batteries. Thus the batteries are recharged with available wind and solar power and “excess” generator power. Once the batteries reach 90% SOC, the inverter returns to inverter mode, the AC loads are transferred back to the inverter, and the back-up generator is switched off.
Off-grid applications are virtually unlimited and represent a rapidly growing area as customers either are unable to access utility supplied energy or the cost of utility supplied energy is high, especially as the cost of battery energy storage systems decline.