Half a megawatt of clean energy in private hands - a domestic innovation in autonomous energy
Last year, I described my path in converting free sunlight to electrical energy. Having tried a lot of equipment for autonomous energy, I settled on the products of the Russian company MikroART. And this year, domestic developers were pleased with the release of a completely new device, which is the heart of any autonomous power system - the MOM DOMINATOR inverter. A lot of new functions are announced: increasing power by adding inverters, organizing a three-phase network, and an integrated microcomputer. In the end, it was promised that the system will generate more than half a megawatt of energy, and this is already an application!
Using the action on the site, which tells about the possibility of upgrading the inverter with a small surcharge, I decided to take this opportunity to evaluate the declared characteristics myself.
A little background: during the New Year holidays there was a fire in my village. The house was on fire, a short circuit occurred, and everything else interrupted three phases. I don’t know how much equipment was burned out that night, but only I remained intact all electrical appliances thanks to the installed stabilizer and inverter. A very interesting voltage chart turned out during this period. The voltage jumped from 100 to 280 V. Since then, I trust this manufacturer even more.
And now I’ll move on to the new inverter. To begin with, the declared possibility of increasing power with parallel connection. This means that if you bought an inverter, for example, for 6 kW, and a year later added a bathhouse to the house, and there was not enough energy, you don’t have to run for a new inverter of greater power. Just buy another one of the same inverter and the power will double. I had no need to buy two inverters and I asked the laboratory to show how this would work. They didn’t refuse me and even gave me a shot. In the frame, the first heat gun with a power of 4.5 kW, the second - 6 kW. The step of switching on the load is 1.5 kW. Further on the video it is clear how this works.
The frame had two inverters MAP 4.5 kW. The total load was 9 kW. I took one of the tested inverters to myself. Naturally, there was an autopsy.
I started by weighing. The new inverter was 2.4 kg heavier. This is most likely explained by the choice of another manufacturer of transformers, and a microcomputer and its power supply have also been added. That is, copper does not regret what is good. And then there was an episode in my life when an electric motor made by the Chinese had aluminum painted in yellow paint in the winding.
The second step was an external comparison. Changes touched the front and rear panels. Front USB ports and a new switch are immediately apparent. These are the interfaces of the Raspberry Pi embedded microcomputer - a device that has been tested by time and millions of users. Indeed, why reinvent the wheel? And the solution itself was already run-in, but in the form of a separate solution for previous versions of inverters, it was called PAC "Malina" (Software and Hardware Complex "Malina").
There is a noticeable change in the connection block: a separate input for connecting a generator has appeared, there are communication ports for connecting additional inverters, and managed relays have appeared, which I will return to later.
Now let's take a closer look at the microcomputer. One port immediately takes a flash drive with a database and software. The second port will be occupied by connecting the inverter itself. The question arises, why not make switching inside the case? Everything is very simple: the port to which Raspberry connects is also used to update firmware. To do this, turn off the raspberries. This solution eliminates the simultaneous connection to the port of raspberries and a computer. There are still a couple of free ports for connecting other inverters or solar controllers.
Turning to the network connection block, we see that in the first version of the inverter, a separate generator connection wire has not yet been output, although the block is designed for this and there is a corresponding signature. I suspect that this will be implemented in the near future.
Now back to the relay. The connection interface of other inverters MAP Dominator and BMS requires special cables, which, in principle, can be made independently. But when buying several inverters, they are issued in the kit. Under the cover are hidden the contacts of two flip relays, which are programmed directly from the inverter.
We open the case and inspect the insides. First of all, the overall plan. It can be seen that a toroidal transformer occupies almost half the volume - such a solution has better efficiency and smaller dimensions than transformers of another form factor.
We examine the microcomputer and its power.
A decent power adapter guarantees stable operation. I somehow had a sad experience with raspberries, which was powered by a regular adapter with a USB output. Frequent glitches and malfunctions were resolved only by replacing the power. In this case, the problem is excluded by default.
We pass to the power unit. It is in this part that the very pure sine is formed and all logical processing takes place. The size of the aluminum radiators installed in the MAP is pleasantly pleasing, and the electrolytic capacitors are also blown by a fan, which reduces their heating and contributes to long service life.
Two coolers with a diameter of 120 mm are installed in the body of my inverter. They work with a variable speed, which depends on the load. With standard operation up to 1 kW, they do not even turn on - there is enough natural cooling of the radiators. It's nice when the equipment is quiet. In more powerful models, 3 or even 4 coolers are used, which also work depending on the load and temperature.
It's time to understand how the synchronization of two or more inverters MAP Dominator. In total, a chain can contain up to 9 devices connected in series. In this case, the phase and zero outputs are simply connected each to its bus, and the devices are connected according to the scheme below (you can return to the video and see how this happens). In the indicated scheme it is seen that the first Dominator is the leader, and the subsequent ones are the followers. It is on it that the basic network parameters are set. It should be noted that if any slave Dominator fails, the system will continue to function normally, the generated power will simply decrease.
If it is required to have a three-phase network, then the inverters can be synchronized taking into account the phase shift, which does not cancel the increase in power. The scheme of combining into a three-phase network is shown below.
As for relay control, there are many scenarios on how to activate them. Let me remind you that two relays are installed, designed for 10A 250V. I will give the response parameters, and take the screenshots into the spoiler: Start the Benz / Diesel generator, on the battery voltage, on the battery temperature, on time, on the disappearance of the external network, network broadcast, in charge mode.
So, a dry contact relay will allow you to switch to a different phase or other input when the external network disappears (for this it is better to add a contactor to the circuit) or start the generator when the batteries are low, turn on an alert throughout the house if there is no external network for a certain time or come up with any scenario.
It is noteworthy that on the screen you can display information about the temperature of transistors, transformer and batteries. For the latter, an external temperature sensor has been added to the MAP package.
And this is how the information from the built-in microcomputer of my inverter looks right in the process of writing this material.
Conclusion
So, the novelty has combined a lot of reliable and tested solutions, as well as demonstrated new ones. But where are the promised half megawatts? According tothe most powerful model of the MicroART company’s official website is the 20 kW Dominator inverter MAP (15 kW were allocated to my entire house). In parallel, they can be installed up to 9 pieces - this is 180 kW. In addition, inverters can be combined into a three-phase network, so we multiply 180 by 3 = 540 kW. So the statement is not baseless. It is difficult to imagine that a private house can consume such power - this is more likely for the whole metalworking workshop - there are corresponding capacities and three-phase motors. Well, taking into account the fact that the Dominator is able to use solar energy as a power source, it is quite easy to save on the farm with such an inverter. Moreover, sunny days are approaching, which always delight owners of solar panels with a good generation of clean energy.
Using the action on the site, which tells about the possibility of upgrading the inverter with a small surcharge, I decided to take this opportunity to evaluate the declared characteristics myself.
A little background: during the New Year holidays there was a fire in my village. The house was on fire, a short circuit occurred, and everything else interrupted three phases. I don’t know how much equipment was burned out that night, but only I remained intact all electrical appliances thanks to the installed stabilizer and inverter. A very interesting voltage chart turned out during this period. The voltage jumped from 100 to 280 V. Since then, I trust this manufacturer even more.
And now I’ll move on to the new inverter. To begin with, the declared possibility of increasing power with parallel connection. This means that if you bought an inverter, for example, for 6 kW, and a year later added a bathhouse to the house, and there was not enough energy, you don’t have to run for a new inverter of greater power. Just buy another one of the same inverter and the power will double. I had no need to buy two inverters and I asked the laboratory to show how this would work. They didn’t refuse me and even gave me a shot. In the frame, the first heat gun with a power of 4.5 kW, the second - 6 kW. The step of switching on the load is 1.5 kW. Further on the video it is clear how this works.
The frame had two inverters MAP 4.5 kW. The total load was 9 kW. I took one of the tested inverters to myself. Naturally, there was an autopsy.
I started by weighing. The new inverter was 2.4 kg heavier. This is most likely explained by the choice of another manufacturer of transformers, and a microcomputer and its power supply have also been added. That is, copper does not regret what is good. And then there was an episode in my life when an electric motor made by the Chinese had aluminum painted in yellow paint in the winding.
The second step was an external comparison. Changes touched the front and rear panels. Front USB ports and a new switch are immediately apparent. These are the interfaces of the Raspberry Pi embedded microcomputer - a device that has been tested by time and millions of users. Indeed, why reinvent the wheel? And the solution itself was already run-in, but in the form of a separate solution for previous versions of inverters, it was called PAC "Malina" (Software and Hardware Complex "Malina").
There is a noticeable change in the connection block: a separate input for connecting a generator has appeared, there are communication ports for connecting additional inverters, and managed relays have appeared, which I will return to later.
Now let's take a closer look at the microcomputer. One port immediately takes a flash drive with a database and software. The second port will be occupied by connecting the inverter itself. The question arises, why not make switching inside the case? Everything is very simple: the port to which Raspberry connects is also used to update firmware. To do this, turn off the raspberries. This solution eliminates the simultaneous connection to the port of raspberries and a computer. There are still a couple of free ports for connecting other inverters or solar controllers.
Turning to the network connection block, we see that in the first version of the inverter, a separate generator connection wire has not yet been output, although the block is designed for this and there is a corresponding signature. I suspect that this will be implemented in the near future.
Now back to the relay. The connection interface of other inverters MAP Dominator and BMS requires special cables, which, in principle, can be made independently. But when buying several inverters, they are issued in the kit. Under the cover are hidden the contacts of two flip relays, which are programmed directly from the inverter.
We open the case and inspect the insides. First of all, the overall plan. It can be seen that a toroidal transformer occupies almost half the volume - such a solution has better efficiency and smaller dimensions than transformers of another form factor.
We examine the microcomputer and its power.
A decent power adapter guarantees stable operation. I somehow had a sad experience with raspberries, which was powered by a regular adapter with a USB output. Frequent glitches and malfunctions were resolved only by replacing the power. In this case, the problem is excluded by default.
We pass to the power unit. It is in this part that the very pure sine is formed and all logical processing takes place. The size of the aluminum radiators installed in the MAP is pleasantly pleasing, and the electrolytic capacitors are also blown by a fan, which reduces their heating and contributes to long service life.
Two coolers with a diameter of 120 mm are installed in the body of my inverter. They work with a variable speed, which depends on the load. With standard operation up to 1 kW, they do not even turn on - there is enough natural cooling of the radiators. It's nice when the equipment is quiet. In more powerful models, 3 or even 4 coolers are used, which also work depending on the load and temperature.
It's time to understand how the synchronization of two or more inverters MAP Dominator. In total, a chain can contain up to 9 devices connected in series. In this case, the phase and zero outputs are simply connected each to its bus, and the devices are connected according to the scheme below (you can return to the video and see how this happens). In the indicated scheme it is seen that the first Dominator is the leader, and the subsequent ones are the followers. It is on it that the basic network parameters are set. It should be noted that if any slave Dominator fails, the system will continue to function normally, the generated power will simply decrease.
If it is required to have a three-phase network, then the inverters can be synchronized taking into account the phase shift, which does not cancel the increase in power. The scheme of combining into a three-phase network is shown below.
As for relay control, there are many scenarios on how to activate them. Let me remind you that two relays are installed, designed for 10A 250V. I will give the response parameters, and take the screenshots into the spoiler: Start the Benz / Diesel generator, on the battery voltage, on the battery temperature, on time, on the disappearance of the external network, network broadcast, in charge mode.
Relay Control Menu
So, a dry contact relay will allow you to switch to a different phase or other input when the external network disappears (for this it is better to add a contactor to the circuit) or start the generator when the batteries are low, turn on an alert throughout the house if there is no external network for a certain time or come up with any scenario.
It is noteworthy that on the screen you can display information about the temperature of transistors, transformer and batteries. For the latter, an external temperature sensor has been added to the MAP package.
And this is how the information from the built-in microcomputer of my inverter looks right in the process of writing this material.
Conclusion
So, the novelty has combined a lot of reliable and tested solutions, as well as demonstrated new ones. But where are the promised half megawatts? According tothe most powerful model of the MicroART company’s official website is the 20 kW Dominator inverter MAP (15 kW were allocated to my entire house). In parallel, they can be installed up to 9 pieces - this is 180 kW. In addition, inverters can be combined into a three-phase network, so we multiply 180 by 3 = 540 kW. So the statement is not baseless. It is difficult to imagine that a private house can consume such power - this is more likely for the whole metalworking workshop - there are corresponding capacities and three-phase motors. Well, taking into account the fact that the Dominator is able to use solar energy as a power source, it is quite easy to save on the farm with such an inverter. Moreover, sunny days are approaching, which always delight owners of solar panels with a good generation of clean energy.