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Photovoltaic power generation is a technology that utilizes the photovoltaic effect of semiconductor interfaces to directly convert solar energy into electrical energy. The photovoltaic industry chain mainly involves links such as silicon materials, photovoltaic modules, photovoltaic brackets, and photovoltaic power stations.
This article will discuss the importance of silicon steel - the raw material for inverters which is also a significant part in photovoltaic industry.
What’s silicon steel
Silicon steel, also known as electrical steel, is an extremely low-carbon silicon iron alloy material with a silicon content of 0.5% -4.5%. It is also an indispensable low-carbon silicon iron alloy for electronic equipment such as motors, power, transformers, and military industries. Silicon steel has high magnetic permeability, low coercivity, and high resistance coefficient, and is one of the most widely produced metal functional materials.
The application of silicon steel used in inverters
Inverters are the core equipment in photovoltaic power generation systems, and the inverter inductance and boost inductance will bring soft magnetic requirements.
The boost inductor and filter inductor in photovoltaic inverters require the use of soft magnetic materials. The market size of photovoltaic inverters continues to expand with the strong growth of the photovoltaic market. In photovoltaic inverters, the boost inductor is the key core magnetic component in the circuit that boosts the unstable DC power emitted by photovoltaic panels into a stable DC voltage. Afterwards, the stable DC voltage is converted into 50Hz sine wave AC power through the inverter circuit. When input into the power grid, important large AC output filtering inductors are required. If you are not familiar with the concept of inductor, Tycorun has written a blog called what is an inductor for your reference.
Traditional centralized inverters are used in low-frequency and high-power application scenarios, hence silicon steel materials are employed.
Alloy soft magnetic powder core is a standard configuration for string inverters. Compared to high-frequency and high-power application scenarios, string inverters are difficult to meet the frequency requirements with silicon steel sheets. Metal soft magnetic powder cores are a better choice, while micro inverters have lower power and are suitable for using ferrite soft magnetic materials with lower magnetic flux density.
Types of silicon steel used in inverters
The silicon steel used in inverters mainly refers to the silicon steel material used for transformers and magnetic cores. The selection of silicon steel mainly depends on factors such as the operating frequency, power requirements, and cost of the inverter. According to different magnetic properties and application requirements, silicon steel can be divided into several types.
Classified by grain orientation
Cold rolled silicon steel
Cold rolled silicon steel can be divided into oriented silicon steel and non oriented silicon steel according to grain orientation.
Grain Oriented Silicon Steel (GO)
Characteristic
Consistent grain orientation, high magnetic permeability, low hysteresis loss, suitable for low-frequency applications. The magnetization direction is consistent with the rolling direction and is mainly used in 50Hz or 60Hz power frequency transformers.
Application
Suitable for main transformers in low-frequency inverters, especially power frequency transformers in high-power inverters for industrial use.
Non Oriented Silicon Steel (NO)
Characteristic
The grain direction is randomly distributed, with magnetic isotropy, suitable for high-frequency applications. Has lower eddy current losses and performs better in high-frequency inverters.
Application
Mainly used for high-frequency transformers, power inductors, switching power supplies, inverters, etc. High frequency inverters (such as photovoltaic inverters and energy storage inverters) mostly use non oriented silicon steel as the magnetic core material.
Classified by thickness
The thickness of silicon steel sheets will affect their magnetic properties and eddy current losses. Different thicknesses of silicon steel sheets should be selected for different application scenarios.
Thick silicon steel sheet (0.50mm and above)
Characteristic Suitable for low-frequency applications, such as 50Hz/60Hz power transformers, with high mechanical strength.
Application
Mainly used for low-frequency transformers, power frequency transformers for inverters, etc.
Thin silicon steel sheets (0.35mm, 0.30mm, 0.27mm, etc.)
Characteristic
Suitable for high-frequency applications, reducing eddy current losses and improving transformer efficiency.
Application
High frequency transformers, switching power supplies, inverter cores, especially high-frequency energy storage inverters, photovoltaic inverters, etc.
Ultra thin silicon steel sheet (0.18mm, 0.15mm and below)
Characteristic
Extremely low loss, suitable for high-frequency and high-performance power conversion equipment.
Application
Mainly used as high-performance transformer cores in high-frequency inverters, such as electric vehicle inverters, power electronic devices, etc.
Influence of silicon steel price for inverters
The impact of silicon steel prices on inverters is mainly reflected in their production costs. Silicon steel is an important material in transformer manufacturing, and transformers are also an important component of inverters. Therefore, the fluctuation of silicon steel prices will directly affect the production cost of inverters.
The impact of rising prices of silicon steel
The increase in production costs and the rise in silicon steel prices will increase the production cost of transformers, thereby affecting the production cost of inverters. Inverter manufacturers may experience a compression in their profit margins as raw material costs rise.
In order to cope with the rise in silicon steel prices, inverter manufacturers may adjust their supply chains, seek alternative materials or optimize production processes to reduce costs.
The challenge for inverter manufacturers is that the fluctuation of silicon steel prices requires them to have flexible cost control capabilities and supply chain management strategies, which affect the purchasing decisions of end consumers and thus have an impact on the overall market demand.
Conclusion
Silicon steel is an essential key material in inverters, mainly used for transformers and magnetic cores. Its high magnetic conductivity and low eddy current loss characteristics make it widely used in photovoltaic inverters, especially in oriented and non oriented silicon steel in cold-rolled silicon steel.
The price fluctuation of silicon steel will directly affect the production cost of inverters, thereby affecting the inverter market. The rise in silicon steel prices may increase production costs, but inverter companies can address this challenge by adjusting their supply chain and production processes. If there is a need to purchase inverters, Tycorun’s pure sine wave inverters are always here for you to choose.
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