scholarly journals Lifetime Analysis of IGBT Power Modules in Passively Cooled Tidal Turbine Converters

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1875
Author(s):  
Faisal Wani ◽  
Udai Shipurkar ◽  
Jianning Dong ◽  
Henk Polinder ◽  
Antonio Jarquin-Laguna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Cycling ◽  
Surface Waves ◽  
Stream Velocity ◽  
Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor ◽  
Cost Of Energy ◽  
Igbt Modules ◽  
Lifetime Analysis ◽  
Tidal Turbine ◽  
Tidal Stream ◽  
The Impact

Thermal cycling is one of the major reasons for failure in power electronic converters. For submerged tidal turbine converters investigating this failure mode is critical in improving the reliability, and minimizing the cost of energy from tidal turbines. This paper considers a submerged tidal turbine converter which is passively cooled by seawater, and where the turbine has fixed-pitch blades. In this respect, this study is different from similar studies on wind turbine converters, which are mostly cooled by active methods, and where turbines are mostly pitch controlled. The main goal is to quantify the impact of surface waves and turbulence in tidal stream velocity on the lifetime of the converter IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) modules. The lifetime model of the IGBT modules is based on the accumulation of fatigue due to thermal cycling. Results indicate that turbulence and surface waves can have a significant impact on the lifetime of the IGBT modules. Furthermore, to accelerate the speed of the lifetime calculation, this paper uses a modified approach by dividing the thermal models into low and high frequency models. The final calculated lifetime values suggest that relying on passive cooling could be adequate for the tidal converters as far as thermal cycling is concerned.

scholarly journals Thermal Cycling in Converter IGBT Modules with Different Cooling Systems in Pitch- and Active Stall-Controlled Tidal Turbines

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (20) ◽  
pp. 6457
Author(s):  
Faisal Wani ◽  
Udai Shipurkar ◽  
Jianning Dong ◽  
Henk Polinder
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Cycling ◽  
Passive Cooling ◽  
Cooling Systems ◽  
Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor ◽  
Tidal Turbines ◽  
Igbt Modules ◽  
Lifetime Analysis ◽  
Tidal Turbine ◽  
Stall Control ◽  
Passive Cooling Systems

This paper compares active and passive cooling systems in tidal turbine power electronic converters. The comparison is based on the lifetime of the IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) power modules, calculated from the accumulated fatigue due to thermal cycling. The lifetime analysis accounts for the influence of site conditions, namely turbulence and surface waves. Results indicate that active cooling results in a significant improvement in IGBT lifetime over passive cooling. However, since passive cooling systems are inherently more reliable than active systems, passive systems can present a better solution overall, provided adequate lifetime values are achieved. On another note, the influence of pitch control and active speed stall control on the IGBT lifetime was also investigated. It is shown that the IGBT modules in pitch-controlled turbines are likely to have longer lifetimes than their counterparts in active stall-controlled turbines for the same power rating. Overall, it is demonstrated that passive cooling systems can provide adequate cooling in tidal turbine converters to last longer than the typical lifetime of tidal turbines (>25 years), both for pitch-controlled and active speed stall-controlled turbines.

scholarly journals A HOLISTIC METHOD TO SELECT TIDAL STREAM ENERGY HOTSPOTS

2017 ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Angela Vazquez ◽  
Gregorio Iglesias
Keyword(s):  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Tidal Energy ◽  
Energy Development ◽  
Potential Conflict ◽  
Cost Of Energy ◽  
Tidal Turbine ◽  
Tidal Stream ◽  
Tidal Stream Energy

Potential areas for tidal stream energy development are conventionally selected on the basis of resource assessments. For all the importance of the resource, there are other elements (technological, economic, spatial, etc.) that must be taken into account in this selection. The objective of the present work is to develop a new methodology to select tidal stream hotspots accounting for all these relevant elements, and to apply it to a case study, showing in the process how the potential for tidal energy development can be fundamentally altered by technological, economic and spatial constraints. The case study is conducted in the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary (UK), one of the regions with the largest tidal resource in the world. First, the most energetic areas are identified by means of a hydrodynamics model, calibrated and validated with field data. Second, the method calculates the energy that can be harnessed in these areas by means of a geospatial Matlab-based program designed ad hoc, and on the basis of the power curve and dimensions of a specific tidal turbine. Third, the spatial distribution of the levelised cost of energy (LCOE) is calculated, and a number of locations are selected as potential tidal sites. The fourth element in the approach is the consideration of restrictions due to overlap with other marine uses, such as shipping. As a result, potential conflict-free areas for tidal stream energy exploitation at an economical cost are identified. Thus, the case study illustrates this holistic approach to selecting tidal stream sites and the importance of elements other than the resource, which – for all its relevance – is shown to not guarantee by itself the potential for tidal stream energy development.

Combined Wave-Current-Turbulent Flow Environments Generation for Tidal Turbine Design

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Li ◽  
Venugopal Vengatesan ◽  
Nigel Barltrop
Keyword(s):  
Turbulent Flow ◽  
Systematic Investigation ◽  
Current Configuration ◽  
Irregular Wave ◽  
Wave Kinematics ◽  
Tidal Turbine ◽  
Tidal Stream ◽  
Ambient Turbulence ◽  
Turbine Design ◽  
The Impact

Abstract In this paper, a methodology to generate combined wave, tidal current and turbulent flow environment for application to determining hydrodynamic loading on a horizontal axis Tidal Stream Turbine (TST) is proposed. A systematic investigation has been conducted within the framework of OpenFAST software suite. Necessary modifications in OpenFAST tool is made to simulate the hydrodynamics of the TST under combined wave-current-turbulence conditions. The modified software will be able to generate the inflow conditions for the TST accounting for the regular and irregular wave and current interactions, and, involve the impact of ambient turbulence on the loadings of TST. The modified algorithm is validated by comparing the numerical results with experimental test data and other numerical simulation results. Good agreements are achieved for both regular and irregular wave kinematics in time-domain and flow velocity/elevation spectra in the frequency domain. Also, each of the wave-current configuration has been tested with different turbulence intensities. The results suggests that the wave kinematics is greatly altered when waves propagating on currents and wave travelling on the following and opposing directions current shows remarkably different characteristics in relation to wave amplitude and frequency. It is also found that combined wave-current flow with different turbulence levels have strong correlations with the flow properties which is important for TST fatigue prediction. All the conclusions emphasis the fact that proper wave-current-turbulence interactions should be included in TST modelling.

scholarly journals Design and testing of a full-scale 2 MW tidal turbine blade

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Fagan ◽  
Finlay Wallace ◽  
Yadong Jiang ◽  
Afrooz Kazemi ◽  
Jamie Goggins
Keyword(s):  
Web Design ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Design Study ◽  
Composite Blade ◽  
Cost Of Energy ◽  
Access Programme ◽  
Tidal Turbine ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

The Large Structures Research Group of MaREI, Orbital Marine Power Ltd and ÉireComposites Teo. have designed a full-scale blade for a next-generation 2 MW tidal turbine as part of the H2020 FloTEC project. The 8.5 m long blade will be tested under static load conditions through the H2020 MaRINET2 transnational access programme and fatigue conditions through the OCEAN ERA-NET SEABLADE project. This paper provides an overview of the initial design study which analysed the impact of using a single shear web or two shear webs in the design. The result of this design study led to optimisation of the laminates throughout the blade to reduce the cost of manufacture and, hence, the levelized cost of energy of the device. The finite element analyses were performed using the MaREI@NUI Galway composite blade design software BladeComp. From the results of the analyses a single web design was chosen for the blade. The present work also describes the set-up for the structural tests and an overview of the data acquisition and instrumentation requirements for full-scale static and fatigue blade testing.

scholarly journals A 3D Thermal Network Model for Monitoring Imbalanced Thermal Distribution of Press-Pack IGBT Modules in MMC-HVDC Applications

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yao Chang ◽  
Wuhua Li ◽  
Haoze Luo ◽  
Xiangning He ◽  
Francesco Iannuzzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Network Model ◽  
Coupling Effect ◽  
Junction Temperature ◽  
Thermal Impedance ◽  
High Voltage Direct Current ◽  
Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor ◽  
Thermal Network ◽  
Igbt Modules ◽  
The Press ◽  
The Impact

In this paper, the impact of a double-sided press-pack insulated-gate-bipolar-transistor (PP IGBT) cooling structure on its thermal impedance distribution is studied and explored. A matrix thermal impedance network model is built by considering the multi-chip thermal coupling effect for the collector side of the PP IGBT. Moreover, a verification has been made by comparing the proposed matrix thermal network model and the conventional lumped RC network model provided by the manufacturer. It is concluded that the collector side has lower thermal resistance and dissipates about 88% of the heat generated by the IGBT chips inside the module. Then, a modular-multilevel-converter high-voltage-direct-current (MMC-HVDC)-based type test setup composed of the press-pack IGBT stacks is established and the junction temperature is calculated with the proposed thermal model and verified by temperature measurements.

The impact of the seabed morphology on turbulence generation in a strong tidal stream

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 055125
Author(s):  
Philippe Mercier ◽  
Sylvain Guillou
Keyword(s):  
Tidal Stream ◽  
Turbulence Generation ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals In-Situ Measurement of Power Loss for Crystalline Silicon Modules Undergoing Thermal Cycling and Mechanical Loading Stress Testing

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
Sergiu Spataru ◽  
Peter Hacke ◽  
Dezso Sera
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Cycling ◽  
Power Loss ◽  
Stress Testing ◽  
Series Resistance ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
In Situ Measurement ◽  
Mechanical Degradation ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
The Impact

An in-situ method is proposed for monitoring and estimating the power degradation of mc-Si photovoltaic (PV) modules undergoing thermo-mechanical degradation tests that primarily manifest through cell cracking, such as mechanical load tests, thermal cycling and humidity freeze tests. The method is based on in-situ measurement of the module’s dark current-voltage (I-V) characteristic curve during the stress test, as well as initial and final module flash testing on a Sun simulator. The method uses superposition of the dark I-V curve with final flash test module short-circuit current to account for shunt and junction recombination losses, as well as series resistance estimation from the in-situ measured dark I-Vs and final flash test measurements. The method is developed based on mc-Si standard modules undergoing several stages of thermo-mechanical stress testing and degradation, for which we investigate the impact of the degradation on the modules light I-V curve parameters, and equivalent solar cell model parameters. Experimental validation of the method on the modules tested shows good agreement between the in-situ estimated power degradation and the flash test measured power loss of the modules, of up to 4.31 % error (RMSE), as the modules experience primarily junction defect recombination and increased series resistance losses. However, the application of the method will be limited for modules experiencing extensive photo-current degradation or delamination, which are not well reflected in the dark I-V characteristic of the PV module.

scholarly journals Thermal Assessment and In-Situ Monitoring of Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors in Power Electronic Modules

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erick Gutierrez ◽  
Kevin Lin ◽  
Douglas DeVoto ◽  
Patrick McCluskey
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Cycling ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
Rapid Determination ◽  
Degradation Process ◽  
In Situ Monitoring ◽  
Power Module ◽  
Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor ◽  
Die Attach ◽  
Power Modules

Abstract Insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) power modules are devices commonly used for high-power applications. Operation and environmental stresses can cause these power modules to progressively degrade over time, potentially leading to catastrophic failure of the device. This degradation process may cause some early performance symptoms related to the state of health of the power module, making it possible to detect reliability degradation of the IGBT module. Testing can be used to accelerate this process, permitting a rapid determination of whether specific declines in device reliability can be characterized. In this study, thermal cycling was conducted on multiple power modules simultaneously in order to assess the effect of thermal cycling on the degradation of the power module. In-situ monitoring of temperature was performed from inside each power module using high temperature thermocouples. Device imaging and characterization were performed along with temperature data analysis, to assess failure modes and mechanisms within the power modules. While the experiment aimed to assess the potential damage effects of thermal cycling on the die attach, results indicated that wire bond degradation was the life-limiting failure mechanism.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document