DC Microgrids

Direct current for the sustainable factory with DC infrastructure

DC Microgrids

Are you ready for new, climate-friendly technologies?

Climate change, CO2 neutrality and electromobility are topics that not only move us privately, but also as Weidmüller. That is why we are working intensively on new technologies that contribute to reducing energy consumption and, above all, for implementation in industrial applications.

In this context, DC technology is seen as having great potential for the future. This refers to the use of DC voltage to supply energy to industrial plants, for example to optimise energy efficiency in production, but also to ensure grid quality and security of supply - an important step towards climate-neutral production.

Potentials of industrial DC power distribution

Energy efficiency

Energy efficiency

Lower conversion and transport losses, use of recuperation, direct use of renewable energy sources as well as peak power reduction through suitable storage systems

Grid stability

Grid stability

Additional investments for grid filtering and compensation can be omitted and the existing grids are supported and production losses due to grid disturbances areprevented and reduced

Resource efficiency

Resource efficiency

Reduction of copper consumption for cables and lower equipment costs and space savings throughElimination of power electronics

Industrial smart DC grid

Industrial smart DC grid

Infrastructure for intelligent control of energy flows enables advantages in energy purchasing and supports modular machine concepts

Challenges from the production perspective

Climate change, CO2 neutrality and electromobility are topics that also pose particular challenges for production.

Challenges from the production perspective
  • Self-power integrated (no additional power supply needed)
  • Integration of volatile energy generation
  • Conversion losses - recovery of kinetic energy through recuperation
  • High demands on flexibility require a secure infrastructure
  • Load peak reduction, DC personal protection and selective DC protection
DC Microgrids for production are a crucial element for climate neutrality, energy efficiency and grid quality in industrial automation. That's why the question for us is not whether, but how quickly DC technology will be introduced here.

Dr. Jan Michels, Executive Vice President Cross Divisional Functions

Solution approaches

Switch on DC microgrids in segments, operate and monitor them safely

Our new Pre charge units enable controlled, sequential ramp-up of industrial DC Microgrids. Drives, motors, or complex load circuits can be started one after the other to avoid current peaks.

Infrastructure for DC grids

Safe connection technology for bidirectional energy flow through recuperation, protection of people and equipment, condition monitoring of the connectors and smart safety functions through interlocking.

Power distribution for efficiency in DC automation

Monitoring of the system voltage and energy flows in the DC sectors, management of the network status and protection of the nominal values.

Infrastructure solutions for DC architectures

Central pre-charge control of large capacitive network segments to protection units and decentralised pre-charge control for sub-segment maintenance.

Perfect complementation or DC-Ready

This might also interest you:

DC-INDUSTRY

Learn more about the joint work of over 40 partners in the DC-INDUSTRY and DC-INDUSTRY 2 projects, which are developing the basis for a direct current infrastructure in industry.

DKE - German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies

Find out more about the DKE's standardisation roadmap for direct current in the low-voltage range here.

Open Direct Current Alliance (ODCA)

Gleichstrom leistet wichtige Beiträge zum Gelingen der Energiewende, mit der ODCA bringen wir die Erkenntnisse und Lösungen der DC-Technologie in die internationale Verbreitung. The ZVEI and companies from industry, academia and research founded an Open Direct Current Alliance.

Contact us

Olaf Grünberg

Technology Development Electronics

Consulting & Support

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