Grid Codes/Standards; Standards For Germany, Italy, Usa - Siemens SINAMICS S120 System Manual

Standards and directives

4.4 Grid codes/standards

4.4 Grid codes/standards
Complying with the grid codes of a power utility company is a basic precondition for feeding
power into an electric grid. The details of these grid codes differ around the globe and
depend on the voltage class, country and power utility company. However, they are very
similar regarding requirements placed on the response when grid faults occur, for grid and
plant protection and for grid harmonics and/or EMC issues.
Complying with grid codes such as these requires a complete system with power source,
inverters, filters and protective devices and equipment. Certification to comply with a
directive is only possible for a complete power generating system (for instance, refer to the
graphics in Chapter "General"), and cannot be achieved for individual components.
SINAMICS Active Line Module inverters, with their options for riding through and identifying
line faults, reactive power control and measured value acquisition – as well as grid and
system protection – support all of the functions necessary to certify a complete system.
Complying with limit values for voltage and current harmonics requires grid and EMC filters,
which are adapted to address the specific requirements. Whether SINAMICS line filter Active
Interface Modules, possibly supplemented with additional reactors or filters, can be used,
must be checked on a case-for-case basis.
4.5

Standards for Germany, Italy, USA

Requirements/standards for connecting to the grid in Germany
Connecting to a public low-voltage grid
Directive VDE-AR-N 4105 applies when feeding power into the German low-voltage grid. It
involves the complete power generating system, which is why conformance of the system
must be clarified by the system manufacturer.
Sinamics Active Line Modules in the booksize format with the available supplementary
functions and the appropriate circuitry comply with all of the requirements of the directive,
which involve the grid converter. Siemens can provide the appropriate instructions, test
reports and partial declarations of conformity. Based on these, the system manufacturer can
prove the conformance of his power generating unit. A special certificate for the converter
feeding into the grid (infeed converter) is not required.
VDE application regulation VDE-AR-N 4105:2011-08: Power generating systems connected
to the low voltage grid, minimum technical requirements for connection and parallel
operation of power generating systems connected to the low voltage grid
Connecting to a public low-voltage grid
BDEW: Technical directive for power generation systems connected to the medium-voltage
grid, directive for connection and parallel operation of power generating systems connected
to medium-voltage grid, Edition June 2008, 4th Supplement: "Regulations and transition
periods for specific requirements as supplement to the technical directive", from January 1,
2013.
26
System Manual, 04/2015, A5E03347436A
Grid infeed