Power converter junction temperature measurement using infra-red sensors

Abstract

Studies demonstrate that the power converter has one of the highest failure rates in a wind turbine, with a key failure driver being the power module junction temperature (T(j)). This paper details an experimental setup for simplified emulation of wind turbine conditions on a power converter with infra-red sensing of IGBT T(j). Results are compared to previous simulation work for a PMSG wind turbine, with the same trend of increasing mean T(j) with wind speed found, and the need to use an equivalent generator reactance in highlighted. A commercial-scale prototype for more accurate wind turbine converter emulation is also detailed.

Keywords

• wind turbines
• temperature measurement
• insulated gate bipolar transistors
• temperature sensors
• failure analysis
• synchronous generators
• permanent magnet generators
• power convertors
• infra-red sensing
• tj
• previous simulation work
• PMSG wind turbine
• wind speed
• accurate wind turbine converter emulation
• power converter junction temperature measurement
• infra-red sensors
• highest failure rates
• key failure driver
• power module junction temperature
• paper details
• experimental setup
• simplified emulation
• wind turbine conditions