Block diagram
Battery Management System (BMS)
Bidirectional DC/AC conversion
DC/DC Conversion
HMI control
Auxiliary Power Supply
Relevant systems / sub-systems
Relevant evaluation boards
Design considerations
-
An AC-coupled system, which is a bidirectional AC-DC inverter, is a good addition to meet the energy storage demands of an existing solar inverter system.
-
A residential hybrid solar inverter is typically a DC-coupled system where the solar inverter and bidirectional battery charger are integrated into a compact package due to moderate voltage and current.
-
Topologies and products that can operate in both power flows should be considered, such as T-NPC and bidirectional Buck-Boost converters with 650 V or 1200 V IGBTs, GaN FETs or SiC MOSFETs.
-
Additionally, it’s impossible to achieve the same performance in both directions, so it is necessary to determine the core function before starting the design.
-
A BMS – containing elements like MCU, AFE (Analog Front End), fuel gauge, external switches, and passives – is always crucial to a battery-based system. In a residential BESS typical battery voltage ranges from less than 100 V to more than 400 V (dependent on use case and topology used).
- A BMS is always crucial to a battery-based system. It’s a complex system containing elements like MCU, AFE (Analog Front End), fuel gauge, external switches, and passives. The typical battery voltage in a residential BESS ranges from less than 100 V to more than 400 V. The actual solution will be eventually decided by different user cases.
MOSFET and GaN FET Handbook
Drawing on over 20 years’ of experience, the MOSFET and GaN FET Application Handbook: A Power Design Engineer’s Guide brings together a comprehensive set of learning and reference materials relating to the use of MOSFETs and GaN FETs in real world systems.
GaN pushing efficiency gains with Battery Energy Storage Systems
As we move to a digitalized, decentralized, and decarbonized energy infrastructure, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are clearly emerging as a sustainability and energy efficiency game-changer. One obvious use case is as a residential energy storage system, providing the capacity to store excess energy generated from intermittent sources like solar and wind power, and allow it to be used when needed.