In recent years, renewable energy options have become much more efficient and feasible. Just like all other power generation methods, these applications require resistors, like high power resistors, high precison resistors. Renewable technologies are reaching a level of maturity where they are heavily impacting many nations’ energy mixes.
Although embracing renewables is great for the environment, it does face its own set of challenges. Each source of renewable energy is dependent on the environment around it, meaning that production can suddenly soar and require the system to be capable of dealing with a sudden influx of power.
For example, wind turbines are generally connected to the distribution network through step-up transformers. When these are energised, high inrush currents occur. Anti-surge resistor, like NBS series provided by Microhm Electronics is applicable in this situation. These currents cause overvoltages on the distribution network, likely damaging equipment upstream. On the other hand, issues like these can be remedied by using technologies such as pre-insertion resistor (PIR) in the circuits. PIRs are a three-phase resistor, insulated for the full system voltage, typically 33kV and fitted with isolating devices as required. PIRs have a high thermal mass allowing them to absorb energy from high inrushes while still being compact enough to fit efficiently in a transformer substation.
These problems also extend to solar power. For example, when installing new solar panels or disconnecting existing installations from the grid for maintenance, the panels continue generating electricity. As a result, discharging this excess energy must be prioritised to prevent damage occurring to the solar panel system. Resistors are crucial in safely dispersing this excess energy.
Dummy loads resistors transfer the excess energy into heat and release it into the environment to prevent the solar panel from overloading. Microhm Electronics offers a large range of different varieties of high-power dummy load banks that can be customised for diverse applications, such as low noise versions for urban locations.
Once in operation many solar farms equip panels with small electric motors to maintain the cells at the optimum angle compared to the sun for the longest amount time, in order to maximise energy generation. As such, they require braking systems to ensure they are at the correct angle. For this reason, Microhm Electronics also provides dynamic braking systems that not only ensure correct positioning but also that the braking energy is not wasted but is put back into the system.
Renewable energy is becoming an increasingly important part of our energy mix. The growth in the efficiency of these technologies means that adopting renewables becoming more achievable than ever. As these technologies develop, so too will the resistors that integrate into the current power network.
