Ballard Debuts First-Generation Ecostar Converter
The Electric Drives and Power Conversion Division of Ballard Power Systems Inc. (Vancouver, BC) announced the first of its new Ecostar power converters (EPC). The EPC is rated at 110kVA and is designed to operate with, and convert power from, a microturbine power source.
The new EPC features full electrical grid compatibility, use of the generator as a motor to start the microturbine, ability to control microturbine auxiliary systems such as compressors, software configurability for complex tasks, and the ability to store and implement control algorithms developed by microturbine manufacturers.
The full EPC Series offers electrical grid compatibility, has advanced anti-islanding capabilities, can accept a wide range of input power in both dc and ac forms, provides multiple unit parallel operation, and comes with a variety of communication ports and protocols, including the Ethernet as part of the EPC advanced communications suite. The EPC Series is compliant with IEEE 1547 and UL 1741 ratings.
Subsequent units in the EPC Series will be targeted at internal combustion engine generators, photovoltaic systems, low- and high-temperature fuel cells, wind turbines, supercapacitors and flywheels.
