Aixcon adds to PT model range and introduces central power inverter

The German inverter manufacturer Aixcon is expanding its PT model range with the PT 6000 and PT 9000 models. In terms of configuration, the devices are inverters without low-frequency transformers but with boost converters. 

© Martin Sachse for photon-pictures.com New inverter from Aixcon: Standing in front of the door is a unit from the new MTC model range; at right on the wall is the PT 6000. Many small inverter units are placed inside the central inverter.

The inverters achieve a European efficiency of 94 percent and are in this respect much better than the PS model range with low-frequency transformers from Aixcon – while also being lightweight. In saying that, however, the PT models do not reach the peak efficiency of pure transformerless units without boost converters. As is the case with the PS model range, the PT models come with different numbers of MPP trackers: one with the older units PT 3000 and PT 5000, two with the PT 6000, and three with the PT 9000. A single-phase supply is only seen in the older models, as both of the new models, PT 6000 and PT 9000, have a three-phase supply.

The differences in the construction are not apparent in the prices, which are rather dependent on the nominal power of the units. Thus, the PT 6000 costs around €3,670 ($4,720) before taxes and thereby 76 euro cents (98¢) per WAC. The top model, the PT 9000, costs €5,380 ($6,930) before taxes, which is 75 euro cents (97¢) per WAC. 

Whilst the units from the PS and PT model ranges are relatively classically

	© Aixcon Elektrotechnik GmbH Tranformerless: Aixcon's PT 6000 is a tranformerless inverter, but with a boost converter.

 constructed (if one puts aside the three-phase supply of the PT 6000 und PT 9000 models), the devices from the new MTC model range are designed much differently. There the focus is on modular design. The smallest model, MTC 4-12, has four modules, each with its own MPP tracker, resulting in a total power rating of 10.6 kW. In further stages of device expansion, four more modules are added for use at a time: the MTC 8-24 model includes eight modules resulting in 21.2 kW, while the 12 modules of the MTC 12-36 increase power to 31.8 kW. In all three sizes, the modules plug into a switchboard, which is around 2 m in height. The more modules installed, the more the weight increases. All units feed into the grid in three phases.

Additionally, the company Aixcon is planning to equip its inverter models with two new innovations, the first of which is the IV-curve measurement presented at the German PV Symposium in Staffelstein in March (see PI 4/2005, p. 24). Besides this, all units from the PT series will have an integrated DC isolator in order to conform to the new German VDE 0100-7-712 norm. 

datasheet

Aixcon Elektrotechnik GmbH
Steinfurt 26
52222 Stolberg, Germany
phone +49/2402/1221-0, fax -22
info@aixcon.de
www.aixcon.de

Philippe Welter
© PHOTON International, June 2005