Key Takeaways
Pacific Power Source has significantly enhanced its AGX, RGS, and RLS regenerative AC/DC test platform families, now scaling up to 1.296 MW. These advanced systems offer superior power density, extended scalability, and improved high-frequency load performance, catering to the rigorous demands of modern EV chargers, V2G equipment, energy storage systems, and solar inverters. By returning over 90% of absorbed energy to the grid, these platforms promise substantial operational cost savings, crucial for high-power EV testing. The expansion underscores a commitment to efficient and comprehensive electrical testing solutions for the rapidly evolving electrification sector.
Pacific Power Source, a prominent innovator in power electronics testing, has announced a significant expansion of its AGX, RGS, and RLS regenerative AC/DC test platform families. This strategic upgrade introduces higher power density modules, substantially extended scalability, and enhanced high-frequency load performance, positioning these systems as critical tools for the rapidly evolving electrification industry.
The updated regenerative test platforms are specifically engineered to address the stringent requirements for testing a diverse array of high-power electrification hardware. This includes the latest generations of EV chargers, Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) equipment, sophisticated energy storage systems, advanced solar inverters, and other critical components underpinning the global shift towards electric mobility and renewable energy integration.
Advancing Power Density and Scalability in EV Testing
A cornerstone of this expansion is the remarkable increase in power density. The upgraded platform now delivers 24 kW per compact 4U module, a considerable advancement that optimises laboratory space and efficiency. This modular design facilitates impressive scalability, allowing systems to reach 216 kW within a single cabinet configuration.
For more demanding applications, parallel cabinet configurations can achieve 432 kW. In robust three-phase setups, the systems can scale up to an extraordinary 1.296 MW, enabling comprehensive electrical testing solutions for even the largest and most complex power conversion devices. This substantial power output supports current capabilities of up to 48 Arms per phase, operational across a frequency range of 45 Hz to 200 Hz.
Crucially, the new load optimization options specifically target high-frequency testing requirements in load mode. This capability is vital for accurately simulating real-world operating conditions and stress-testing power electronics designed for high-speed switching and demanding electrical environments, particularly relevant for cutting-edge EV technology.
Tailored Solutions for Diverse Applications
Pacific Power Source offers three distinct product lines under this expanded platform, each meticulously designed to serve specific electrical testing needs within the electrification ecosystem:
AGX: The All-in-One Regenerative AC/DC Power Source
The AGX series stands out as a versatile, all-in-one regenerative AC/DC power source. Its comprehensive capabilities encompass sourcing, electronic loading, and current source operation. This flexibility allows for testing across various modes, including AC, DC, AC+DC, and DC+AC, making it an indispensable tool for engineers developing and validating complex power architectures found in modern electric vehicles and their charging infrastructure.
RGS: Grid Simulation for Compliance and Performance
The RGS line functions as a sophisticated grid simulator, playing a pivotal role in ensuring compliance and performance for a range of distributed energy resources. It supports critical industry standards such as IEEE 1547.1 and UL 1741, which are essential for the interoperability and safety of grid-tied devices. This makes the RGS ideal for rigorous compliance testing of solar inverters, EV chargers, energy storage systems, and other components that interact directly with the electrical grid.
RLS: Four-Quadrant Regenerative Load for Realistic Testing
The RLS series is engineered as a four-quadrant regenerative load, designed to facilitate realistic and dynamic testing of power conversion equipment. This includes comprehensive evaluation of battery systems and renewable energy systems. Its four-quadrant operation enables both sourcing and sinking of power, accurately replicating complex energy flows and conditions experienced in real-world scenarios, thereby enhancing the thoroughness of electrical testing.
Efficiency and Cost Savings: The Regenerative Advantage
A key attribute shared across all three product lines—AGX, RGS, and RLS—is their foundation on advanced Silicon Carbide (SiC) power stages. This choice of material is instrumental in achieving superior efficiency and power density. More notably, these systems are designed to return more than 90% of the absorbed energy back to the facility grid. This regenerative capability represents a significant operational cost reduction for testing facilities.
The economic benefit is particularly pronounced when conducting sustained load tests on high-power devices such as 150 kW+ EV chargers or large-scale, MW-scale energy storage systems. Traditional test equipment often dissipates this absorbed energy as heat, leading to substantial electricity waste and higher cooling costs. The regenerative nature of these platforms transforms this potential waste into a valuable return, aligning with sustainability goals and enhancing financial viability for extensive EV testing operations.
SmartSource Suite: Intelligent Control and Automation
Underpinning the robust hardware is the SmartSource Suite control platform. This sophisticated software solution empowers engineers with comprehensive test automation capabilities, allowing for streamlined and repeatable testing procedures. It also facilitates custom waveform generation, enabling the simulation of highly specific and complex electrical conditions necessary for advanced development and fault analysis.
Beyond automation, the SmartSource Suite offers extensive compliance testing functionalities, ensuring products meet requisite industry standards. Its real-time measurement capabilities provide immediate, accurate data, crucial for diagnostics and performance validation. The entire platform is accessible through an intuitive, browser-based interface, simplifying operation and enhancing user experience across various test environments.
Meeting the Demands of a Rapidly Electrifying World
Herman Vaneijkelenburg, Product Director at Pacific Power Source, highlighted the strategic importance of this expansion. “With up to 24 kW in just 4U and systems scaling to 1.296 MW, customers can achieve higher power levels in a smaller footprint while preserving a common regenerative platform architecture,” Vaneijkelenburg stated, underscoring the company’s commitment to delivering scalable and efficient electrical testing solutions.
This expansion arrives at a critical juncture for the global EV market and renewable energy sector. As electric vehicles become more powerful and ubiquitous, and energy storage systems grow in capacity, the demand for sophisticated and efficient EV testing solutions that can handle increasingly higher power levels and complex waveforms is paramount. Pacific Power Source’s enhanced regenerative test platforms are poised to meet these evolving industry needs, providing manufacturers and researchers with the tools required to accelerate innovation and ensure the reliability of future electrification hardware. This commitment to advanced electrical testing solutions reinforces the critical infrastructure necessary for a sustainable energy future.
FAQ Section
What is the primary purpose of Pacific Power Source’s expanded platforms?
The expanded AGX, RGS, and RLS platforms are designed for comprehensive electrical testing of high-power electrification hardware, including EV chargers, V2G equipment, energy storage systems, and solar inverters. They offer advanced capabilities for source, load, and grid simulation to ensure performance and compliance in the rapidly growing electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors.
What are the key power specifications of the new systems?
The updated platforms feature 24 kW per 4U module and can scale significantly. Single cabinet configurations reach 216 kW, parallel setups can achieve 432 kW, and three-phase systems are capable of up to 1.296 MW. They support current up to 48 Arms per phase across a frequency range of 45 Hz to 200 Hz, with new options for high-frequency load testing.
How do these regenerative test platforms reduce operating costs?
Built on SiC power stages, these systems are highly efficient, returning more than 90% of absorbed energy back to the facility grid. This regenerative capability dramatically reduces electricity consumption and associated cooling costs compared to traditional dissipative load banks, offering significant long-term savings, especially during sustained high-power EV testing.
What specific applications do the AGX, RGS, and RLS product lines serve?
The AGX is an all-in-one regenerative AC/DC source for sourcing and loading in various AC/DC modes. The RGS is a grid simulator for compliance testing of grid-tied devices like solar inverters and EV chargers (IEEE 1547.1, UL 1741). The RLS is a four-quadrant regenerative load for realistic testing of power conversion equipment and battery systems.
What role does the SmartSource Suite play in these systems?
The SmartSource Suite is the control platform for these systems. It enables advanced test automation, custom waveform generation, and comprehensive compliance testing. With its real-time measurement capabilities and browser-based interface, it streamlines testing processes, enhances data acquisition, and improves overall usability for complex electrical testing scenarios.