Effect of Temperature Change on Acoustic Emission Signal in IGBT Transistors of Marine Propulsion System Converters

Abstract

The article presents the results of tests related to failure analysis and finding ways to diagnose used semiconductor elements, among others, in power electronics converter systems on vessels and offshore facilities (drilling and production rigs and wind turbines). Diagnostic relationships were found between the temperature change in the above systems and the signals generated in the form of elastic waves of acoustic emission. The authors confirmed the influence of the transistor’s working temperature on its amplitude-frequency spectrum of acoustic emission signals emitted. The range of ‘safe temperatures’ was considered which means temperatures that do not directly affect the damage of the component.

Keywords

• acoustic emission
• sensor
• transducer
• gate turn-off thyristor
• power electronics