Alencon CUBE: Installation,
Operation, and Maintenance Manual
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P a g e
6.2 CUBE-ES: Battery Energy Storage Systems
In a BESS the CUBE is used to control charge and discharge of the batteries to a common DC
bus. If BESS voltage is always lower or always higher than DC bus the N-series CUBE can be
used. Otherwise, I-series CUBE should be used.
The CUBE-ES
–
is a unique and cost-effective solution for
BESS, Fuel Cells, Hydrogen
Electrolyzers, or Fast EV charging
. The CUBE-ES is a bi-directional DCDC converter and can
provide upwards of 500A controlled current in both directions depending on system voltages
and configuration.
6.2.1 DC Coupled, Battery Centric Solar + Storage
The CUBE-ES
can be used for “battery centric” DC coupling applications where the CUBE is
installed between the battery and a DC bus.
In a DC Coupled Battery Centric Solar + Storage deployment, the PV may be connected to the
DC bus directly or by means of other DCDC converters. The role of the CUBE-ES is to control
the charge or discharge battery current according to the commands from the system
controller.
6.2.2 Standalone Battery Systems
The CUBE offers a unique solution for coupling lower voltage batteries to higher voltage
inverters. As battery energy storage technology evolves, many novel battery chemistries are
coming on the market that operate at voltages that may not be ideal for high voltage power
conversion systems (PCSs). Alternatively, there can be cases where higher voltage batteries
must be paired with lower voltage PCS.
6.3 Fuel Cell Integration (FC)
For Fuel Cell applications the CUBE is typically used to raise fuel cell voltage to a higher battery
or DC bus voltage. The CUBE controls the current rate from the fuel cell. Because the fuel cell
voltage is generally lower than the DC bus voltage, the N-series CUBE may be used.
The CUBE offers a unique solution for coupling lower voltage fuel cells into higher voltage
inverters. Fuel cells typically operate at lower voltages than most modern, grid connected
inverters. The CUBE can be an ideal solution for integrating fuel cells into grid scale applications
by stepping up their voltage.
6.4 Hydrogen Electrolyzing Installations (HEI)
In HEI the CUBE is used to supply the proper voltage to PEM electrolyzers. Modern and future
electrolyzers require tens of megawatts of regulated DC power. CUBE-ES may serve as
modules when paralleled together to control the needed level of DC power. The modular
structure will provide a higher reliability for the whole system.
