Beside the motor, the contract includes the delivery of a 40 MW Sinamics GL150 starting frequency converter. This LCI-converter (load commutated inverter) is designed for single-motor applications with variable and constant torque characteristics. As a result of the low switching losses and the low loss thyristor technology, the efficiency of the LCI converter is extremely high, and lies at 99%.
The drive system will be part of an energy storage project. Energy storage technologies have been viewed as a supporting key technology for the energy revolution and a national strategic emerging technology in China. This kind of technology holds decisive advantages such as high capacity, low costs, high efficiency, and environmental friendliness.
The plants operate by using motors to drive compressors, whose energy will be stored in suitable storage vessels. The stored energy can be released to drive an expander, which in turn drives a generator to produce electricity. Compared with other energy storage technologies, the plants have a very large power rating and storage capacity, low self-discharge, and a long lifetime.
The motor will be manufactured at the Siemens Dynamowerk Berlin, Germany, which is the oldest manufacturing plant of Siemens and has existed for 115 years.
“Once completed, this project will be the largest and most efficient energy storage station in the world,” says Hermann Kleinod, CEO of Siemens Large Drives Applications (LDA).