aeocon for Hydro­electric Power Plants

Maximum Energy Yield!

The SIEB & MEYER feed-in converter aeocon has been developed based on a concept for which we have applied a patent. aeocon combines the rectifier, the inverter and the ballast circuit in one compact housing. This concept allows triggering the ballast resistor directly. The rated power of the device designed for single-phase 230 V grid is specified with 4 or 5 kW.

The "brain" of aeocon is the control especially adapted to the requirements of speed variable systems for generating electricity. This allows excellent control of the different operating states under consideration of the characteristic curve of the system. This characteristic curve can be defined as performance over frequency curve P(f) or performance over voltage curve P(U). The control ensures smooth start-up of the small hydroelectric power plant at every time and selection of the optimum operating point for different flow speeds and water levels. The wide-range power input allows feeding in energy even when the hydroelectric power is low. This has positive effects on the energy yield and increases overall efficiency of the system. 

The Distinctive Features of aeocon

aeocon extracts maximum power of the small hydroelectric power plant. The control speed of aeocon meets the high demands of the system, as for example in case of peak performance caused by fluctuations in the flow speed or rate. Through the direct use of the rotor speed signal provided by the generator frequency and the nine interpolation points used for precise adjustment of P(f) or P(U) control curve, aeocon reaches excellent control performances. In periods when the small hydroelectric power plant can not supply power, aeocon switches off and does not consume energy from the public grid, i.e. no standby power. As soon as the plant supplies power again, aeocon switches on automatically and takes control of the system. Besides the intelligent management of the ballast circuit aeocon fulfills various protective functions during operation. If the generated power exceeds the maximum admissible feed-in power, the ballast circuit ensures continuous operation at the optimum operating point. Even in case of a power failure aeocon ensures operation at the optimum operating point of the small hydroelectric power plant. If the maximum admissible input voltage is exceeded in the above mentioned cases, the plant will automatically with the maximum available ballast power.

The integrated galvanic isolation allows parallel connection of the devices and thus three-phase systems with up to three times the individual device power are also an optimum field of application. The cross communication between the devices is established via the aeocon com-box. An external control and external safety components communicate with the devices via a digital input and two potential-free relay outputs. The integrated USB interface offers easy parameter setting of aeocon via the PC software aeocon control without using an additional power supply unit. In this way the plant manufacturer can set the appropriate country standard in the software just-in-time on delivery of the small hydroelectric power plant by means of the correct password. An RS232 / RS485 interface  for the PC connection is provided for diagnosis and data recording via aeocon control during operation. The convection ventilation of aeocon without the need for an external fan offers the highest possible device reliability, because no mechanically movable components are built in.

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