OKI Joins the Photovoltaic Power Conditioner Market
Introduces industry's first highly efficient insulated DSP-controlled power conditioner
OPT's photovoltaic power conditioner
TOKYO, February 23, 2009 -- OKI Electric Industry (TSE: 6703) and OKI Power Tech(OPT), an OKI Group company developing and manufacturing power supply units, today announced that OPT, together with JFE Electrical & Control Systems, has developed a photovoltaic (PV) power conditioner. This industry's first power conditioner applies a DSP (Digital Signal Processing) controller to an insulated DCDC converter, which offers high efficient power generation even in insulated applications where power conversion efficiency has been an issue. OPT will exhibit the product at the 2nd International Photovoltaic Power Generation Expo, which will be held in Tokyo from February 25. The power conditioner will be available through OKI, OPT and JFE Electrical & Control Systems' sales channel from October 2009.
"We are excited to enter the PV market with our power conditioners, leveraging our advanced DSP control technology. We will first offer a 10kW output product to Japan's industrial market and will sequentially expand our product lineup to include models with higher capacity," said Akira Ugawa, President of OKI Power Tech. "From October 2009, we plan to offer the product to companies offering systems for use in industrial and commercial applications. In addition, working together with solar battery manufacturers and trading companies, we aim to further expand our business by providing the products to overseas markets."
This newly developed 10kW PV power conditioner system is a compact high-frequency insulated power conditioner to be used outdoors with a focus on heat dissipation and maintainability. Using OPT's advanced DSP control technology, the power conditioner offers energy-saving by maintaining high efficiency over a wide range of input power. The power conditioner adopts the "multi-phase control method," in which a number of DCDC converters are controlled through a DSP control for best operation and conversion rates, enabling the power conditioner to flexibly control the input/output power voltage and current. Thus, compared to conventional DCDC converter control, it can maintain high power conversion efficiency even when electricity production from solar batteries is low and can maintain a conversion efficiency of over 90% at only 50% output. The power condition enables not only parallel operation with multiple units, but also includes a network connection function, in which OKI excels. In addition, it can easily increase output capacity that was difficult with previous power conditioners, and can enable monitoring functions.
The PV system market is expanding 30-40% yearly worldwide, and thus, PVs are expected to find increased use in various applications. In Japan, clean energy is an area that is carefully watched, and various frameworks are being organized to support the installation of PVs to reduce CO2. OPT is an expert in designing, developing, manufacturing and selling power supply units and electronic devices. Based on its long years of developing technologies, OPT will continue to develop and offer highly efficient power conditioners that respond to customer needs.
[Reference] The power conditioner characteristics
- High frequency isolated power conditioner: 10kW
- Outdoor-use, small size, focuses on heat dissipation and maintainability
- Maintains high efficiency over a wide range of input
- The power conditioner controls multiple converters through a DSP control (Multi-phase control method)
- Offers parallel operation and enables network connection functions
[Reference] Major specifications
- Input power voltage: DC200V - 450V
- Output power voltage: AC202V 3φ 50/60Hz(when connected to a power system)
- Output power: 10kW
- Electric mode: Three-phase three wire (V-grounding, delta connection)
- Insulation method: High frequency insulated
- Size: 600x600x280mm
- Weight: 65kg
About Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1881, Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. is Japan's first telecommunications manufacturer, with its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. OKI provides top-quality products, technologies and solutions to its customers through its info-telecom system business and printer business. All businesses function as a collective force to create exciting new products and technologies that satisfy a spectrum of customer needs in various markets. Visit OKI's global web site at http://www.oki.com/.
About Oki Power Tech Co., Ltd.
OKI Power Tech develops, designs, manufactures and sells communication and information processing products and related electronic devices as well as power supply units for such equipment. Headquartered in Fukushima, Japan, OKI Power Tech currently has approximately 300 employees in Japan, China and Thailand. For more information, please visit its website at: www.oki-powertech.co.jp/en/
About JFE Electrical & Control Systems Inc.
- Business
- Plans, designs, manufactures, constructs and offers maintenance for equipment and systems related to electric, instrumentation, control system, control computers, plant design and construction (photovoltaic, integral machine electric plants)
- Established
- April 2, 1973
- Capital
- 400 million yen
- Location
- 4-1-23 Shiba, Minatoku, Tokyo Japan
- President
- Yutaka Yamauchi
- Employees
- 1,473
- Website
- http://www.jfe-densei.co.jp/english/index.html
- Names of companies and products are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies and organizations.
- Press Contact:
- For Europe and Americas:
Public Relations Division
Phone: +1-408-731-6255 - For Asia and Other Areas:
Public Relations Division
Phone: +81-3-5403-1247
- * Information in the press releases is current on the date of the press announcement, but is subject to change without prior notice.