The growing awareness of environmental crises such as global warming has accelerated the use of renewable energy sources, including solar power generation. Relays are mainly used in equipment that requires a large current and voltage, such as power conditioners, which are one of the components of photovoltaic power generation systems, for turning circuit on and off and for safe shutdown in emergency situations.
Relays are used in power conditioners (PV inverters) that convert DC power generated by solar power into AC power that can be used in homes, buildings, and factories.
As the demand for higher efficiency in energy utilization continues to grow, so does the capacity of power generation equipment, and relays built into these devices are also required to have higher capacities.
Power conditioner (PV inverter)
A device installed on photovoltaic panels that converts DC power generated by sunlight into AC power for use in homes, buildings, and factories.
In recent years, there have been changes in solar power systems to meet demands. The trend is shifting from centralized systems to decentralized systems as a more stable power supply is required to counter disaster risks such as earthquakes and floods. By distributing power conversion across multiple power conditioner instead of using a single power conditioner, the risk of power generation being halted due to equipment failure can be reduced even in the event of a disaster. Furthermore, individual facilities and equipment are now required to operate efficiently by increasing power generation efficiency through higher capacity and higher current, and by suppressing capital investment through downsizing and weight reduction.
As downsizing and higher capacities continue to advance, the urgent issue is to reduce the heat generated by the equipment itself, which is a factor in energy loss and reduction of the equipment's service life.
A barrier to downsizing and higher capacity is the heat generated in the equipment.
If the current doubles due to higher capacity, the amount of heat generated will quadruple.
The heat generated by the equipment can cause malfunctions and shorten the life of the PCB. Therefore, relays that carry large currents in the 200-300A class require heat dissipation mechanisms such as fans and heat sinks, and the devices themselves tend to be large in size.
The G9KA high-capacity power relay was developed to solve this heat generation problem. G9KA's industry-leading* ultra-low contact resistance of 0.2 mΩ max suppresses heat generation, a major challenge in downsizing and high capacity.
* According to OMRON’s research in July 2021
It’s compact size is about 1/3 of the height compared to contactors of similar current capacity, contributes to downsizing and space saving of equipment.
High Capacity DC Power Relay Video
The lower the contact resistance, the less heat is generated. In contrast to conventional high-capacity relays with an initial contact resistance of 1 to 5 mΩ (actual value of about 0.4 mΩ), G9KA has reduced the standard value to 0.2 mΩ max, 1/5 of the standard value, by reducing the center value and variation.
As a result, the temperature rise can be reduced by about 30% compared to relays with comparable general performance. Furthermore, it maintains stable contact resistance (reference value) in switching durability evaluation, and contributes to heat generation issues with significantly lower contact resistance compared to conventional relays with equivalent performance.
Initial contact resistance is
industry-leading* 0.2 mΩ max
< Simulation conditions >
480 VAC/200A, ambient temperature 85°C, fans, ducts, and heat sinks used, one on board.
< Simulation conditions >
480 VAC/300A, ambient temperature 85°C, fans, ducts, and heat sinks used, one on board.
* According to OMRON’s research in July 2021
Contact resistance of 0.3 mΩ max maintained even after
electrical durability testing
G9KA can solve a variety of customer problems because it "generates less heat".
Its low heat generation allows for a high-capacity design of 800V/200A at a size of 51 x 51 x 47.2 mm, 1000V/300A at a size of 56.7×51×54.5mm without worrying about heat generation issues.
Its low heat generation reduces PCB damage and energy loss due to thermal stress.
Its low heat generation reduces the need for heat dissipation designs such as fans and heat sinks, thereby reducing design man-hours, equipment size, and costs.
OMRON has realized two contradictory performances, "high capacity 800V/200A, 1000V/300A" and "low heat generation", by combining OMRON's long-standing technical know-how.
To achieve the targeted low contact resistance, G9KA uses pure Ag-based contacts with Ag content of 99% or higher.
In general, the contact resistance is pure Ag contacts
< Ag contacts with additives, but the opposite is true for weld resistance. In conventional relays used for switching loads, contact welding due to arcing was prevented by selecting contact materials with additives, but the contact resistance increased to several tens of mΩ.
G9KA uses a plunger-type relay structure to prevent contact welding.
The impact force generated by the stopper being swung down like a hammer ensures that the weld can be pulled away, thus realizing reliable contact stripping even for contact materials that are prone to welding.
G9KA uses a bifurcated contact structure. By paralleling the current paths, the current can be shunted and the heat generation can be suppressed by reducing the current per path.
[Single contact]
【Heat generation】
Qsgl = CR1*(200A)2*t
= CR1*4*104 *t
[Bifurcated contact]
【Heat generation】
= Amount of heat generated 1/2
Qtwn = CR1*(100A)2 *t *2 contacts
= CR1*2*104*t
G9KA uses a double-break structure for its switching.
The cutoff performance of a contact is determined by the contact spacing. For high-capacity PV inverters, the standard requires a contact spacing of 3.6 mm or more. The greater the distance between contacts, the larger the coil that drives the relay. The double-break structure has two contact points, effectively doubling the contact spacing. Without increasing the size of the coil, it is now possible to energize and de-energize 800V/200A, 1000V/300A in a compact size.
【Single break structure】
【Double break structure】
Ensuring contact spacing of 4 mm in total
How about OMRON's G9KA for devices that require "high capacity but generate as little heat as possible"?
Power conditioners for industrial photovoltaic power generation
EV quick charger
Robot control equipment
Power storage system (ESS, UPS)
Industrial air conditioning
Video
G9KA Introduction video
