The construction of large-scale wind and solar power base projects in desert, Gobi, and arid regions is the top priority for new energy development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. In conjunction with the construction of these large-scale wind and solar power bases, the large-scale and high-intensity construction of energy storage supporting facilities can effectively mitigate or even eliminate the volatility of new energy and promote the local consumption of new energy. Shanghai Chint Power System Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Chint Power") has been committed to deeply exploring the innovation and upgrading of photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage products. In late August, Chint Power launched a PV inverter and energy storage PCS with dual modularization as the core, which can effectively achieve the integration of PV and energy storage, specifically tailored for ground-mounted power station energy storage applications. Subsequently, they developed a highly integrated, safe, efficient, and user-friendly POWER BLOCK energy storage system solution, actively promoting the green and low-carbon transformation of energy through innovative technology.
On September 7th, at the sub-forum of the "Special Session on Integrated Solutions for New Power Systems and Energy Storage Systems" at the 12th China International Energy Storage Conference 2022, Sun Chunsheng, Director of Energy Storage Products at CHINT Power, introduced the modular photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage products as well as the POWER BLOCK energy storage system solution. "The '1+2+N' photovoltaic and energy storage solution refers to a design on the same platform, applicable to both the photovoltaic and energy storage industries, with N configuration options," Sun Chunsheng explained.
Dual modular design enables efficient operation and maintenance
On August 25th, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released the "Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Development of the Energy Electronics Industry (Draft for Comments)", which proposes that the energy electronics industry should become a key force in achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality. This includes suggestions such as developing safe and economical new energy storage batteries and researching large-scale and high-capacity efficient energy storage. In the context of the "dual carbon" goals, the energy storage industry has also entered a new era of rapid development. Coupled with a series of favorable policies for energy storage in China, this has provided strong momentum for the accelerated development of the energy storage industry. CHINT Power actively responds to the national strategy for the development of new energy storage, accelerates the development of containerized (cabinet-type) energy storage products, and promotes the development of the energy storage industry towards large-scale, industrialization, and marketization.
Chint Power has launched a brand-new generation of photovoltaic inverters and energy storage PCS suitable for centralized power stations. This series of products is centered around dual modularization technology, enabling more flexible, reliable, and advanced operation and maintenance of photovoltaic and energy storage systems.
According to Sun Chunsheng, the system's components such as IGBTs, cooling fans, and blowers are all designed with modularity in mind, allowing for the replacement of any faulty component at any time, thus enhancing the maintainability and scalability of the devices. Besides component modularity, the entire machine is also designed with modularity, enabling flexible combination of individual units. Each unit operates independently, and in the event of a failure in one unit, the entire machine can be replaced without affecting other normal power generation, making operation and maintenance more efficient and convenient.
Under the premise of ensuring efficient operation and maintenance, enhancing the reliability of the system as much as possible from the outset of design is of paramount importance for photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage systems. In the context of the construction of new power systems, desert, gobi, and wilderness areas serve as the main battleground for new energy development. Large-scale projects are concentrated in regions such as Qinghai, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, and Xinjiang, where the natural environment is relatively complex and harsh, facing the impact of special conditions such as high altitude, low temperatures, and strong winds and sandstorms. This poses higher requirements on the environmental adaptability of photovoltaic and energy storage equipment. CHINT power inverters/PCS boast an IP65 protection level and C5 corrosion resistance, featuring a maintenance-free design suitable for various harsh environments. The cabinet-type outdoor integrated layout plan fully considers the impact of external factors such as dust and sand prevention, not only providing high-reliability operational guarantees but also significantly reducing the pressure on later operation and maintenance.
The POWER BLOCK energy storage battery box is highly integrated with energy storage battery modules, high-voltage boxes, temperature control systems, early warning and fire protection systems, power distribution systems, etc. This high level of integration makes the box lighter and more portable. It is shipped fully pre-assembled, reducing on-site workload by 90%. With a standard 20-foot container size, it is suitable for overall sea and land transportation, saving transportation costs.
Cost reduction and efficiency enhancement are the persistent goals pursued by the development of the new energy industry. Sun Chunsheng said, "The non-walk-in lithium iron phosphate battery module design has a capacity of 3.4 MWh in a 20-foot container, reducing the footprint by 46% and increasing the energy density by 36%." It is worth mentioning that in large-scale energy storage power stations with a capacity of over 100 MWh, the advantages of the CHINT POWER BLOCK energy storage system are even more pronounced, effectively saving floor space and helping customers achieve a better LCOS.
Integrated system solution, low cost and efficient integration
The safety of energy storage systems is of utmost importance. CHINT Power has developed the POWER BLOCK energy storage system solution, which is characterized by high integration, safety, efficiency, and user-friendliness, specifically tailored for ground-based power station energy storage applications. Sun Chunsheng said, "In the CHINT Power POWER BLOCK energy storage system, the battery cabin is isolated from the measurement and control cabin, power distribution cabin, fire protection cabin, and busbar cabin. Throughout the entire life cycle, the control cabin does not need to directly face the batteries 99.99% of the time. From the battery pack to the system, there are six levels of electrical linkage protection measures, providing rapid multi-dimensional fault protection and effectively isolating fire hazards.". ”
In addition, to enhance the safety of the energy storage system, each battery compartment is equipped with temperature and smoke sensors, combustible gas detectors, exhaust explosion-proof valves, and pressure relief valves. The fire protection system adheres to the authoritative NFPA855 standards for fire protection system specifications. Simultaneously, a fire control logic based on battery characteristics is adopted. In terms of safety warning, it is designed in full compliance with international standards, such as UL60730, IEC61508, and IEC60812 certifications, ensuring the safety of the warning link and the integrity of the warning logic. In terms of performance warning, potential performance failures are preemptively warned through big data and intelligent AI technology analysis.
In high-power charging and discharging scenarios, the temperature of the battery cells directly affects the performance and lifespan of the battery system. The CHINT POWER BLOCK energy storage system adopts a three-level independent air duct design, including Pack, Rack, and Container. It organically combines the three-level independent air ducts with the air conditioning system, and employs air conditioning cooling control logic with the battery cell temperature as the control point to ensure good consistency among battery cells. The fully enclosed temperature control system extends to every corner of the system, precisely controlling the temperature difference between any two Packs to not exceed 3 degrees Celsius, and the temperature difference within the container system to not exceed 5 degrees Celsius. The intelligent temperature control system makes charging and discharging safer and more efficient.
Sun Chunsheng stated that the integrated system solution of the POWER BLOCK energy storage system significantly reduces initial labor and equipment costs due to its efficient integration that eliminates the need for on-site installation and debugging. The non-walk-in lithium iron phosphate battery module design can achieve a cost reduction of at least 30% in auxiliary equipment amortization, and save as much as 50% in transportation and installation expenses.
In addition, the energy storage battery container, when used in conjunction with CHINT's modular power conversion system (PCS), can be flexibly adjusted according to project requirements. The battery capacity within the standard 20-foot container can be adjusted, and different options such as 2.5 MWh or 3.4 MWh can be selected for flexible expansion and combination.
Sun Chunsheng said, "The 'photovoltaic + energy storage' model of CHINT Power has achieved certain market-oriented operational results. With the gradual development of photovoltaic and energy storage technologies, as well as their increasing proportion in the energy structure, the deep integration of photovoltaic and energy storage is the inevitable path for market development." (Jian Yue)
