POWER CONVERTER DEVICE, INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD

Abstract

Power converter device (100), comprising a power device; a cooling assembly unit (190) configured to dissipate heat from the power device; an air blowing unit (180) configured to blow air to the cooling assembly unit (190); and a diagnostic unit (1406) which is designed to make a diagnosis of an anomaly in cooling performance caused by the cooling assembly unit (190) and the air blower unit, based on a tendency of the change in a temperature difference between a temperature of the cooling assembly unit (190) and a temperature of the air inside the power converter device (100) over time. wherein the diagnostic unit (1406) is designed to differentiate, on the basis of the rate of increase of the temperature difference, between an anomaly in cooling performance due to the presence of foreign matter and an anomaly in cooling performance due to a problem with the air blower unit.

Description

GENERAL STATE OF THE ART1. Field of the invention

[0001] This disclosure relates, for example, to a power converter device. 2. Description of the state of the art

[0002] For example, a method has been disclosed to detect cooling anomalies due to a blockage of a cooling assembly for dissipating heat from a power device, such as a fin, or due to a problem with an air blower unit that blows air to the cooling assembly, such as a blower in a power converter device (see, for example, JP 2010-136609 A).

[0003] Furthermore, a technique was also disclosed which, assuming that a cooling assembly is blocked (clogged) to dissipate heat from a heat-generating element such as a cooling fin, informs a user of an estimated time until the cooling performance is likely to deteriorate significantly (see, for example, JP 2009-295644 A).

[0004] JP 2013-172540 A discloses an electrical energy conversion system comprising a cooler with a heat sink mounted on the power module, a fan for blowing refrigerant onto the heat sink, a refrigerant temperature sensor for measuring the refrigerant temperature, a heat sink temperature sensor for measuring the heat sink temperature, and a controller. When a switching element is turned off, the controller calculates an initial temperature difference between the heat sink and the refrigerant at a first time point and a second temperature difference at a later time point. If the second temperature difference exceeds the first, the controller detects a malfunction of the cooler.

[0005] JP 2003-134839 A discloses an electrical power conversion device in which the junction temperature of a power converter built with a semiconductor element is estimated based on the load current delivered by the power converter to a load. Simultaneously, the operating time until the estimated junction temperature reaches a permissible limit is estimated. The rated power is determined based on the load current and the estimated permissible operating time.

[0006] However, although it is possible to assess whether a cooling performance anomaly exists, as described in patent literature example 1 and similar sources, it is still not possible to determine when such an anomaly occurs, whether it is due to the presence of foreign matter such as a blockage in the cooling assembly, or to a problem with the air blower unit. This could then lead to, for example, the replacement of the air blower unit even though it is perfectly functional, thereby increasing the operating costs of the power converter device.

[0007] Moreover, according to the patent literature example 2 above and similar examples, the operation of a power converter device comprising a power unit is forcibly stopped when the temperature of the cooling assembly, used to dissipate heat from the power unit (such as a cooling fin), reaches a predetermined level. Consequently, from the perspective of continuous operation of the power converter device and the planning of maintenance for the cooling assembly of the power converter device, it is desirable, for example, that the user be notified of the time at which the power converter device will be forcibly stopped. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present disclosure was made in light of the problems mentioned above, and a first objective of the present disclosure is to provide a technique that makes it possible to distinguish in a power converter device between an anomaly in cooling performance due to a problem with an air blower unit that blows air onto a cooling assembly unit and an anomaly in cooling performance due to the presence of foreign substances. A power converter device, an information processing device, and an information processing method according to the present invention are each defined in independent claims 1, 10, and 11. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Other tasks and further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the setup of a cooling anomaly diagnostic system; Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a cooling assembly unit in a power converter device; Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware setup of a control device; Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional structure of the control device; Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the procedure for estimating a reference value for uptime (the reference uptime) from the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit is completed until the power converter device is forcibly stopped; Fig. 6 is a flowchart that schematically shows an example of the processing of the estimation of the reference uptime; Fig. 7 is a flowchart that schematically shows an example of the processing of the notification of the remaining operational time until the power converter device is forcibly stopped; Fig. 8 is a diagram that shows an example of the relationship between the cumulative operating time from the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit is completed and the content of the remaining uptime message; Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing another example of the functional structure of the control device; Fig. 10 is a diagram showing examples of the change in the temperature difference between the fin temperature and the internal air temperature over time when a cooling anomaly occurs in the power converter device; Fig. 11 is a diagram that schematically shows an example of the procedure for diagnosing cooling anomalies in the power converter device; Fig. 12 is a flowchart that schematically shows an example of the processing of obtaining reference data for the temperature difference between the fin temperature and the indoor air temperature; Fig. 13 is a flowchart that schematically shows an example of the processing of the diagnosis of cooling anomalies in the power converter device; Fig. 14 is a flowchart that schematically shows another example of the processing of the diagnosis of cooling anomalies in the power converter device; Fig. 15 is a flowchart that schematically shows another example of the processing of the notification of the remaining operational time until the power converter device is forcibly stopped; and Fig. 16 is a diagram that shows another example of the relationship between the cumulative operating time from the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit is completed and the content of the remaining uptime message. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXECUTION FORMS

[0010] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Structure of the cooling anomaly diagnostic system]

[0011] With reference to Fig. 1 The structure of a cooling anomaly diagnostic system 1 according to a present embodiment will be described below.

[0012] Fig. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the setup of the cooling anomaly diagnostic system 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0013] The cooling anomaly diagnostic system 1 according to the present embodiment provides a diagnosis with regard to an anomaly in the cooling performance in a power converter device 100.

[0014] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the cooling anomaly diagnostic system 1 comprises a power converter device 100, an arithmetic logic device 200 and a terminal device 300.

[0015] The power converter device 100 converts a three-phase alternating current power input from a mains power supply PS (for example with an R-phase, an S-phase and a T-phase) into a three-phase alternating current power (for example with a U-phase, a V-phase and a W-phase) with a predetermined voltage, a predetermined frequency and so on, and drives an electric motor M.

[0016] The electric motor M electrically drives a predetermined machine (for example, a winding machine installed in a spinning mill) based on the three-phase alternating current power output by the power converter device 100.

[0017] It should be noted that the power converter device 100 can generate three-phase AC power for driving the electric motor M based on three-phase AC power supplied by a power supply other than the mains power supply. Furthermore, the power converter device 100 can generate three-phase AC power for driving the electric motor M based on power supplied by a DC power supply. In this case, the DC power is fed into a DC link section (with a positive line PL and a negative line NL) between a rectifier circuit 110 and an inverter circuit 130, which will be described later.

[0018] The power converter device 100 includes a rectifier circuit 110, a smoothing circuit 120, an inverter circuit 130, a control device 140, a sensor 150, a display device 160, a communication device 170 and a cooling fan 180.

[0019] The rectifier circuit 110 is configured to rectify the three-phase AC power input from the mains power supply PS, rectifying the R-phase, S-phase, and T-phase and outputting DC power. In the rectifier circuit 110, the positive and negative output terminals are each connected to one end of the positive line PL and the negative line NL, respectively, so that DC power can be output to the smoothing circuit 120 via the positive line PL and the negative line NL. The rectifier circuit 110 is, for example, a full-wave rectifier circuit of the bridge type (see Fig. 2), in which six semiconductor diodes SDs (an example of the power device) are connected in parallel in three pairs, each pair consisting of two semiconductor SDs connected in series to form an upper and a lower arm.

[0020] The smoothing capacitor 120 suppresses and smooths the pulsing of the DC power output by the rectifier circuit 110 and the DC power regenerated by the inverter circuit 130.

[0021] The smoothing circuit 120, for example, has a smoothing capacitor.

[0022] The smoothing capacitor can be provided in a parallel circuit with the rectifier circuit 110 and the inverter circuit 130 on a path connecting the positive line PL and the negative line NL.

[0023] The smoothing capacitor smooths the DC power output by the rectifier circuit 110 and the (regenerated) DC power output by the inverter circuit 130, while repeating a charging and discharging cycle as appropriate.

[0024] A smoothing capacitor may be present. Likewise, a number of smoothing capacitors may be installed, or a number of smoothing capacitors may be connected in parallel or in series between the positive line PL and the negative line NL. Furthermore, a number of smoothing capacitors may be configured such that two or more smoothing capacitors are connected in series to form a unit, and a number of these units may be connected in parallel between the positive line PL and the negative line NL.

[0025] Furthermore, the smoothing circuit 120, for example, has a choke coil.

[0026] The choke coil can be provided on the positive line PL between the rectifier circuit 110 and the smoothing capacitor 120 (more precisely, at the branch point with the path where the smoothing capacitor is located).

[0027] The choke coil smooths the DC power output by the rectifier circuit 110 and the (regenerated) DC power output by the inverter circuit 1360, while appropriately generating a voltage to prevent changes in current.

[0028] The positive and negative input ends of inverter circuit 130 are connected to the other end of the positive line PL and the negative line NL. Inverter circuit 130 converts the DC power supplied by smoothing circuit 120 by switching the operation of the semiconductor switches SWs (an example of the power device) (see Fig. 2) converts the AC power (for example, with a U-phase, a V-phase, and a W-phase) at a predetermined frequency, voltage, and so on, and outputs the AC power to the electric motor M. For the semiconductor switches SWs, for example, an IGBT (insulated-gate bipolar transistor) made of silicon (Si), a MOSFET (metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor), and so on can be used. Alternatively, a semiconductor element using a wide-bandgap semiconductor such as silicon carbide (SiC), gallium nitride (GaN), and so on can be used for the semiconductor switches SWs.

[0029] The inverter circuit 130 is configured, for example, as a bridge circuit in which six semiconductor diodes SDs are connected in parallel in three pairs between the positive line PL and the negative line NL. Each pair consists of two semiconductor diodes SD (switching branches) connected in series, forming an upper and a lower arm. The inverter 130 can then output three-phase AC power via the U-phase line, the V-phase line, and the W-phase line, which originate from the connection points of the three pairs of upper and lower arms. Additionally, a freewheeling diode can be connected in parallel to each of the six semiconductor switches SWs.

[0030] The control device 140 (an example of the information processing device) performs control functions related to the power converter device 100. The functions of the control device 140 can be implemented using any hardware or any combination of hardware and software.

[0031] It should be noted that all functions of the control device 140, or part thereof, can be transferred outside the power converter device 100 and, for example, to the arithmetic logic device 200, the terminal device 300, and so on (both are examples of information processing devices).

[0032] The sensor 150 acquires measurement data regarding the operating state (running state) of the power converter device 100. The sensor 150 is connected to the control device 140, for example, by a direct communication link or the like, and signals corresponding to the measurement data are input into the control device 140. This allows the control device 140, based on the signals output by the sensor 150, to perform controls related to the power converter device 100 or, as will be described later in this application, to diagnose cooling anomalies of the power converter device 100, to calculate the operating time until the operation of the power converter device 100 is forcibly stopped, and so on.

[0033] The sensor 150, for example, features a variety of temperature sensors. These sensors can include, for example, a fin temperature sensor for measuring the temperature Tf of a cooling fin unit 194 (hereinafter referred to as "fin temperature"). Additionally, the sensors can include, for example, an internal air temperature sensor for measuring the temperature Ta of the air inside the housing of the power converter device 100 (hereinafter referred to as "internal air temperature").

[0034] Furthermore, the Sensor 150, for example, features a variety of current sensors, voltage sensors, and so on. The current sensors can, for instance, include a load current sensor for measuring the load current supplied to the electric motor M.

[0035] The display device 160 (an example of the signaling unit) is, for example, provided on the outer surface of the housing of the power converter device 100. Under the control of the control device 140, the display device 160 shows information regarding the operating status (running state) of the power converter device 100.

[0036] It should be noted that the display device 160 can be provided outside the housing of the power converter device 100, for example on a surface (an outer surface) of the housing of a predetermined machine which is electrically driven by the electric motor M.

[0037] The communication unit 170 (an example of the reporting unit) communicates via predetermined communication links with devices outside the power converter device 100, such as the arithmetic logic device 200 and the terminal device 300.

[0038] The predetermined communication links can include, for example, direct communication links. Furthermore, the predetermined communication links can include, for example, a local area network (LAN), such as a field network, set up within the facility (the factory) where the predetermined machine, electrically driven by the electric motor M, is installed. The local network can be established using cables or radio waves, or both. Additionally, the predetermined communication links can include, for example, a wide area network (WAN) outside the facility (the factory) where the predetermined machine, electrically driven by the electric motor M, is installed.The wide area network can include, for example, a mobile communications network terminating at a base station, a satellite communications network utilizing a communications satellite, an internet network, and so on. Furthermore, the predetermined communication links can include, for example, short-range communication links conforming to predetermined wireless communication standards such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi, and so on.

[0039] It should be noted that the functions of the communication device 170 can be incorporated into the control device 140 (interface 144).

[0040] The cooling fan 180 (an example of the air blower unit) blows air to the cooling assembly unit 190 (more precisely, the cooling fin unit 194), which will be described later, to facilitate the dissipation of heat through the cooling assembly unit 190.

[0041] The housing of the power converter device 100 can be provided with an outside air intake opening (an intake opening) and an inside air discharge opening (an exhaust opening). The cooling fan 180 can be located upstream of the cooling assembly 190 along the airflow path from the intake opening to the exhaust opening. In this case, the cooling fan 180 draws in outside air from the intake opening and sends this air to the cooling assembly 190, blowing the outside air, which is at a relatively low temperature, over the cooling assembly 190. The air, warmed by heat exchange with the cooling assembly 190, is then discharged through the exhaust opening. Alternatively, the cooling fan 180 can be located downstream of the cooling assembly 190 along the airflow path from the intake opening to the exhaust opening.In this case, the cooling fan 180 draws air from around the cooling assembly unit 190 and generates an airflow from the intake opening on the upstream side to the cooling assembly unit 190, whereby the outside air at a relatively low temperature is blown over the cooling assembly unit 190.

[0042] The arithmetic logic device 200 is provided outside the power converter device 100 and performs various arithmetic processes.

[0043] For example, the arithmetic logic device 200 can be communicatively connected to the power converter device 100 via a predetermined communication link and, in response to commands from the control device 140, performs arithmetic processes related to the control of the power converter device 100. More precisely, in response to commands from the control device 140, the arithmetic logic device 200 can perform all or part of the arithmetic processes related to the detection of cooling anomalies described later.

[0044] The arithmetic logic device 200 can, for example, be a PLC (programmable logic controller) or an edge controller for controlling the predetermined machine, which is electrically driven by the electric motor M. Furthermore, the arithmetic logic device 200 can, for example, be a computer terminal such as a PC (personal computer).

[0045] Furthermore, the arithmetic logic device 200 can, for example, be a server device. The server device can be a cloud server or a local server located outside the facility (the factory) where the predetermined machine, electrically driven by the electric motor M, is installed. Alternatively, the server device can be, for example, an edge server located either within the facility (the factory) where the predetermined machine, electrically driven by the electric motor M, is installed, or in a communication device (for example, a base station or a switching station) near that facility.

[0046] The terminal device 300 is located outside the power converter device 100 and is used by the user of the power converter device 100 (the cooling anomaly diagnostic system 1). For example, the terminal device 300 provides the user with various information via a display device 310, receives various inputs from the user, and sends the various inputs to the power converter device 100.

[0047] The terminal device 300 can, for example, include a stationary terminal device such as a desktop computer terminal. Furthermore, the terminal device 300 can include a mobile (portable) terminal device (a mobile terminal) such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a laptop computer terminal, and so on. [The cooling setup of the power converter device]

[0048] Next, with reference to Fig. 2 the cooling assembly unit 190 of the power converter device 100 are described.

[0049] Fig. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the cooling assembly unit 190 of the power converter device 100.

[0050] The cooling assembly unit 190 serves, for example, as a heat sink and has a fin base 192 and a cooling fin unit 194.

[0051] The fin base 192 has a flat plate shape with a predetermined thickness. The cooling fin unit 194 is provided on one surface (the lower plane in the drawing) of the flat plate shape of the fin base 192. On the other surface (the upper plane in the drawing), printed circuit boards 110A and 130A, serving as the rectifier circuit 110 and the inverter circuit 130 respectively, are arranged.

[0052] The fin base 192 is made of a material with a relatively high thermal conductivity. This allows the heat energy generated by losses when the semiconductor diodes SDs or semiconductor switches SWs are energized to be easily transferred to the fin base 192. The material with high conductivity can, for example, contain a metal such as aluminum, iron, copper, and so on. The same applies to the cooling fin unit 194.

[0053] As previously described, the cooling fin unit 194 is provided on a surface of the flat plate shape of the fin base 192. The cooling fin unit 194 has a number of fins 194A which are provided such that they project in a direction away from the surface of the fin base 192 (in the negative direction on the Z-axis in the drawing).

[0054] The ribs 194A each have a flat plate shape, which is very thin, and are arranged at substantially equal intervals along a predetermined direction (the X-axis direction in the drawing) on ​​a surface of the rib base 192.

[0055] The fins 194A each consist of an element with a relatively high thermal conductivity. This facilitates the transfer of heat energy generated by losses when the semiconductor diodes SDs or semiconductor switches SWs are energized from the fin base 192 to the fins 194A. Furthermore, the fins 194A have a relatively large surface area. This results in a relatively large contact area between the fins 194A and the air, allowing heat energy to be easily dissipated to the ambient air. Consequently, the heat energy generated by losses when the semiconductor diodes SDs or semiconductor switches SWs are energized can be easily dissipated to the air, thus improving the cooling efficiency of the power converter device 100.

[0056] Furthermore, the cooling air CA flows through the mechanism of the cooling fan 180 in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the fins 194A are arranged (the X-direction) (in the Y-axis direction in the drawing). This causes the cooling air CA to flow between the fins 194A, keeping the temperature of the air around the fins 194A relatively low. This results in a relatively large temperature difference between the fins 194A and the ambient air, allowing the heat energy from the fins 194A to be easily dissipated to the ambient air. Consequently, the heat energy generated by the losses when the semiconductor diodes SDs or the semiconductor switches SWs are energized can be easily dissipated to the air, further improving the cooling efficiency of the power converter device 100 and thus ensuring the cooling capacity required by the power converter device 100.

[0057] Depending on the environment in which the power converter device 100 is installed, the fins 194A can become clogged with foreign matter. Furthermore, depending on the size of the foreign matter, the intake opening of the power converter device 100's housing can also become blocked. For example, in a spinning mill, the air may contain not only dust but also cotton, and there is a possibility that cotton or similar material could become trapped between the fins 194A or in the intake opening of the power converter device 100's housing. In such a case, the cooling air CA may not reach the fins 194A in the area of ​​the blockage, or the amount of outside air drawn in through the intake opening may be reduced, thus increasing the temperature of the air supplied to the cooling fin unit 194.Consequently, the cooling capacity of the cooling assembly 190 and the cooling fan 180 for cooling the semiconductor diodes SDs and the semiconductor switches SWs will be inadequate. As a result, there is a possibility that the cooling assembly 190 and the cooling fan 180 will cause cooling performance anomalies (hereinafter referred to as "cooling anomalies") in the power converter device 100 (the semiconductor diodes SDs and the semiconductor switches SWs).

[0058] Furthermore, the temperature of the air around the cooling fin assembly 194 (the fins 194A) becomes relatively high if an anomaly occurs in the cooling fan 180 and its rotational speed decreases or the cooling fan 180 stops. Consequently, the cooling assembly 190 and the cooling fan 180's ability to cool the semiconductor diodes SDs and semiconductor switches SWs is impaired. As a result, the cooling assembly 190 and the cooling fan 180 may cause cooling performance anomalies (hereinafter referred to as "cooling anomalies") in the power converter device 100 (the semiconductor diodes SDs and the semiconductor switches SWs).

[0059] Then, depending on the degree of the cooling anomaly, the fin temperature Tf reaches an overheating temperature Tferr and the power converter device 100 must be forcibly stopped, which can affect the operation of the plant in which the predetermined machine, electrically driven by the electric motor M, is installed.

[0060] It should be noted that the cooling assembly 190 can assume any shape, as long as it facilitates the dissipation of the heat energy generated by the loss when the semiconductor diodes SDs or the semiconductor switches SWs are energized, to the ambient air. For example, instead of several fins 194A, only one fin 194A may be present. Furthermore, at the fin base 192, instead of the fins 194A, a beam-shaped or needle-shaped projection made of an element with a relatively high thermal conductivity, or a number thereof, may be provided. [Example of the control device setup]

[0061] Next, with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 An example of the construction of the control device 140 will be described.

[0062] Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 are diagrams, each showing an example of the setup of the control device 140 in the cooling anomaly diagnostic system 1 according to the present embodiment. To be more precise, Fig. Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware setup of the control device 140, and is Fig. 4 a block diagram showing an example of the functional structure of the control device 140.

[0063] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the control device 140 comprises, for example, a CPU 141 (a central processing unit), a memory unit 142 such as RAM (a random-access memory), a secondary memory device 143 such as ROM (a read-only memory), and an interface 144, all interconnected by a bus B. The control device 140 performs various control operations by loading programs installed in the secondary memory device 143 into the memory device 142 and executing these programs via the CPU 141. Furthermore, the control device 140 receives signals from external sources and outputs signals externally via the interface 144.

[0064] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the control device 140 comprises, as functional units, a drive control unit 1401, a recording unit 1402, a storage unit 1403, a maintenance test unit 1404, and an operational time estimation unit 1405. The functions of the drive control unit 1401, the recording unit 1402, the maintenance test unit 1404, and the operational time estimation unit 1405 are implemented, for example, as programs installed in the secondary storage unit 143, loaded into the storage device 142, and executed in the CPU 141. Furthermore, the function of the storage unit 1403 is implemented, for example, by a memory area defined in the secondary storage device 143.

[0065] The drive control unit 1401 controls the drive of the electric motor M via the inverter circuit 130. More precisely, the drive control unit 1401 outputs drive signals to the inverter circuit 130 (more precisely, the gate of each semiconductor switch SW) and drives the electric motor M using the inverter circuit 130 in such a way that predetermined operating conditions are met. In other words, the drive control circuit 1401 generates control signals to drive the electric motor M according to predetermined operating conditions and outputs these control signals to the inverter circuit 130.

[0066] Furthermore, when the fin temperature Tf reaches the overheating temperature Tferr, indicating that the cooling fin unit 194 is in an overheating state, the drive control unit 1401 activates the protection function of the power converter device 100 and forcibly stops the operation of the power converter device 100.

[0067] The recording unit 1402 records predetermined measurement data, which are input by the sensor 150, in chronological order in the storage unit 1403. Details of the recording unit will be described later (see Fig. 6, Fig. 7 and Fig. 12).

[0068] The storage unit 1403 stores the predetermined measurement data, which is recorded by the recording unit 1402 in chronological order. For example, the storage unit 1403 can store predetermined measurement data along with recording data that includes timestamps to indicate when this measurement data was obtained.

[0069] The maintenance test unit 1404 checks whether or not maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 has been performed. "Maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190" means ensuring that the function of the cooling assembly unit 190, that is, its function of cooling the power converter device 100, is maintained in a normal condition. Maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 includes, for example, cleaning the cooling assembly unit 190 (the cooling fin unit 194), the intake opening of the housing of the power converter device 100, and so on.

[0070] The maintenance check unit 1404 can, for example, determine that maintenance has been performed on the cooling assembly unit 190 when it receives a predetermined input from the user indicating that maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 has been carried out. The predetermined user input is received, for example, via an input unit located in the power converter device 100 or in a predetermined machine to which the power converter device 100 is attached. Furthermore, the predetermined user input can be received, for example, when a signal representing a predetermined user input is sent by the arithmetic logic unit 200 or the terminal device 300 and received by the communication device 170.

[0071] Or, for example, the maintenance test unit 1404 checks whether maintenance has been performed on the cooling assembly unit 190 by comparing the data measured by sensor 150 during the previous and current operation of the power converter device 100. More precisely, the maintenance test unit 1404 can check whether maintenance has been performed on the cooling assembly unit 194 by comparing the temperature data of the cooling fin unit 194 (the fin temperature Tf) or its change over time, measured during the previous and current operation of the power converter device 100.This is because the heat dissipation efficiency in the cooling assembly 190 improves when maintenance (cleaning) of the cooling assembly 190 is performed, and a difference may occur in the fin temperature Tf or its change over time compared to the previous operation of the power converter device 100. Furthermore, the maintenance test unit 1404 can check whether maintenance of the cooling assembly 190 has been performed by comparing the data measured during the previous and current operation of the power converter device 100 regarding the air temperature inside the housing of the power converter device 100 (the internal air temperature Ta) or its change over time.This is because, as mentioned above, the heat dissipation efficiency in the cooling assembly 190 improves when maintenance is performed on the cooling assembly 190, and a difference may occur in the temperature of the air that is the target of the cooling assembly 190's thermal energy (the indoor air temperature Ta), or its change over time, compared to the previous operation of the power converter device 100. Furthermore, the maintenance test unit 1404 can determine whether maintenance has been performed on the cooling assembly 190 by comparing the temperature difference Y between the fin temperature TF and the indoor air temperature Ta, or its change over time, measured during the previous and current operation of the power converter device 100.This is because, as mentioned above, the heat dissipation efficiency in the cooling assembly unit 190 improves when maintenance of the cooling assembly unit 190 is performed, and a difference may occur in the temperature difference Y between the fin temperature TF and the internal air temperature Ta or its change over time compared to the previous operation of the power converter device 100.

[0072] The operational time estimation unit 1405 (an example of the estimation unit) estimates the time for which the power converter device 100 can operate until the temperature (the fin temperature Tf) of the cooling assembly unit 190 (the cooling fin unit 194) reaches the superheating temperature Tferr and the power converter device 100 is forcibly shut down. Details of the operational time estimation unit 1405 will be described later (see Fig. 5 and Fig. 7). [Overview of the procedure for estimating uptime]

[0073] Next, with reference to Fig. 5 An overview of the procedure by which the control device 140 estimates the time for which the power converter device 100 can operate until the fin temperature Tf reaches the superheat temperature Tferr is described.

[0074] Fig. Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of estimating a reference value OTcr for the uptime (hereinafter referred to as "reference uptime") from the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed until the power converter device 100 is forcibly stopped.

[0075] The reference operating time OTcr is a reference value for the operating time of the power converter device 100, starting from the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed, until the power converter device 100 is forcibly stopped due to an increase in the fin temperature Tf caused by the presence of foreign matter clogging the cooling fin unit 194, the intake opening of the housing, and so on.

[0076] The control device 140 (the recording unit 1402) records the fin temperature measurement data Tf in chronological order in the storage unit 1403, starting from the point when the power converter device 100 is first used after delivery from the factory. This covers a range in which the fin temperature Tf is slightly lower than the superheat temperature Tferr. For example, the recording unit 1403 records the fin temperature measurement data Tf in chronological order in the storage unit 1403 from the point when the power converter device 100 is first used after delivery from the factory until the fin temperature Tf reaches a predetermined temperature Tfover, which serves as the termination condition (hereinafter referred to as the "recording termination temperature").The recording termination temperature Tfover is set to a temperature that is slightly lower than the overheating temperature Tferr. In this way, the control device 140 can operate as described in . Fig. 5 shown reference data 501 (hereinafter referred to as “reference data for fin temperature Tf” for ease of explanation) which show the tendency of the change of the fin temperature Tf with the course of the cumulative operating time OT from the start of use of the power converter device 100 after factory delivery as the starting point.

[0077] The control device 140 (the operational time estimation unit 1405) then extrapolates, using the obtained reference data 501 for the fin temperature Tf, the time 502 at which the fin temperature Tf reaches the superheating temperature, provided that the fin temperature Tf changes according to the trend indicated by the reference data 501. More precisely, the recording unit 1402 estimates the reference operational time OTcr from the start of use of the power converter device 100 after factory delivery, which corresponds to the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed, until the forced shutdown of the power converter device 100, using extrapolation. For this purpose, extrapolation methods already known, such as linear extrapolation, polynomial extrapolation, the least squares method, and so on, can be applied as required.As a result, after obtaining the reference operating time OTcr, the operational time estimation unit 1405 can estimate the remaining operational time OTrem, until the power converter device 100 is forcibly stopped due to an increase in the fin temperature Tf, based on this reference operating time OTcr.

[0078] To be more precise, when the maintenance check unit 1404 determines that maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 has been performed, the operational time estimator 1405 measures the cumulative operating time OTa of the device 100 from the state in which the maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed. Then, the operational time estimator 1405 estimates the remaining operational time OTrem of the power converter device 100 by subtracting the cumulative operating time OTa of the power converter device 100 from the reference operational time OTcr (OTrem = OTcr - OTa).

[0079] It should be noted that the operational time estimator 1405 can estimate the remaining operational time OTrem of the power converter device 100 using a simpler procedure without obtaining the reference data for the fin temperature Tf. For example, the operational time estimator 1405 can estimate the remaining operational time OTrem using extrapolation based on the history of the fin temperature Tf measurement data, starting from the last time the maintenance check unit 1404 determined that maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 was performed. [The processing of the estimation of the reference uptime]

[0080] Next, with reference to Fig. 6 the processing whereby the control device 140 estimates the reference uptime OTcr is described.

[0081] Fig. Figure 6 is a flowchart that schematically illustrates an example of the processing by which the control device 140 estimates the reference operational capability time OTcr. This flowchart is repeated, for example, at predetermined time intervals during the operation of the power converter device 100, from switch-on to switch-off.

[0082] In this example, a marker F1 will be used to indicate whether the reference operational time OTcr has been reached or not. For example, the marker F1 is stored in secondary storage device 143 and is set to the initial value "0" when the power converter device 100 is delivered from the factory, indicating that the reference operational time OTcr has not yet been reached. Then, when the power converter device 100 is switched on, the marker F1 is read from secondary storage device 143 to storage device 142 for use, updating, and so on, and is stored in its current form in secondary storage device 143 when the power converter device 100 is switched off.

[0083] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 6, in step S102, recording unit 1402 checks whether marker F1 is "0" or not, that is, whether marker F1 is in the state indicating that the reference operational time OTcr has not been reached. If marker F1 is "0", recording unit 1402 proceeds to step S104. If marker F1 is not "0", that is, if marker F1 is "1" and indicates that the reference operational time OTcr has been reached, recording unit 1402 terminates the current processing of the flowchart.

[0084] In step S104, the recording unit 14023 checks whether the latest measured data of the fin temperature Tf are higher than a maximum fin temperature Tfmax or not.

[0085] The maximum fin temperature Tfmax is the highest value among the fin temperature Tf measurements recorded in storage unit 1403. The maximum fin temperature Tfmax is set to a predetermined initial value at the factory.

[0086] The recording unit 1402 proceeds to step S106 if the latest measured fin temperature Tf is higher than the maximum fin temperature Tfmax, or otherwise terminates the current processing of the flowchart.

[0087] In step S106, the recording unit 1402 combines the latest fin temperature measurement data Tf with the cumulative operating time OT of the power converter device 100 from the start of use after factory delivery until the time this measurement data is obtained and records it in the storage unit 1403. To be more precise, the recording unit 1402 generates recording data that includes the latest fin temperature measurement data Tf and the cumulative operating time OT up to the time this measurement data was obtained, and stores this recording data in the storage unit 1403.

[0088] When the processing of step S106 is complete, the control device 140 moves on to step S108.

[0089] In step S108, the recording unit 1402 checks whether the condition for ending the recording of the fin temperature Tf measurement data in a chronological order, which serve as reference data for the fin temperature Tf, is met or not.

[0090] The condition for termination can be met, for example, when the fin temperature Tf reaches a recording termination temperature Tfover, which serves as the condition for termination. Or the condition for termination can be met, for example, when the number of recorded measurement data reaches a predetermined count.

[0091] The recording unit 1402 moves to step S110 if the condition for ending the recording of the reference data for the fin temperature Tf is met, or ends the current processing of the flowchart if the condition for ending is not met.

[0092] In step S110, the recording unit 1402 sets the marker F1 to "1".

[0093] When the processing of step S110 is complete, the control device 140 moves on to step S112.

[0094] In step S112, the operational time estimation unit 1405 estimates the reference operational time OTcr using an extrapolation based on the reference data for the fin temperature Tf, which are stored in the storage unit 1403.

[0095] When the processing of step S112 is complete, the control device 140 terminates the current processing of the flowchart.

[0096] As described above, the control device 140 obtains reference data for the fin temperature Tf, which shows the trend of the change in fin temperature Tf over time, starting from the state in which the power converter device 100 was first used after factory delivery, which corresponds to the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed. In this way, using the reference data for fin temperature Tf, the control device 140 can obtain an operating time that serves as the basis for the operating time from the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 140 is completed until the power converter device 100 is forcibly shut down due to an increase in fin temperature Tf (the reference operating time OTcr). [Example of processing the remaining uptime notification]

[0097] Next, with reference to Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 An example of the processing of the notification of the remaining operational time until the control device 140 forcibly stops the power converter device 100 is described.

[0098] Fig. Figure 7 is a flowchart that schematically shows an example of the processing of the remaining operational time OTrem notification until the control device 140 forcibly stops the power converter device 100. Fig. Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the cumulative operating time OTa from the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed and the content of the remaining operational time message OTrem.

[0099] The flowchart of Fig. For example, step 7 is repeated at predetermined time intervals during the operation of the power converter device 100, from switching on to switching off. Furthermore, the flowchart of Fig. 7, for example, is executed when an input from the user requesting a message of the remaining operating time OTrem is received via an input unit or the terminal device 300, which is installed in the power converter device 100 or a predetermined machine to which the power converter device 100 is attached. The same can subsequently be done for the flowchart of Fig. 14, which will be described later, apply.

[0100] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the operational time estimator 1405 checks in step S202 whether the marker F1 is "1" or not, that is, whether the reference operational time OTcr has been achieved or not. If the marker F1 is "1", the operational time estimator 1405 proceeds to step S204. If the marker F1 is not "1", that is, if the marker F1 is "0" and indicates that the reference operational time OTcr has not been achieved, the operational time estimator 1405 terminates the current processing of the flowchart.

[0101] In step S204, the operational time estimation unit 1405 estimates (calculates) the remaining operational time OTrem by subtracting the current cumulative operating time OTa from the reference operational time OTcr.

[0102] When the processing of step S204 is complete, the control device 140 moves on to step S206.

[0103] In step S206, the operational time estimation unit 1405 reports the remaining operational time OTrem, estimated in step S204, to the user. In this way, the control device 140 can report the remaining operational time OTrem to the user in such a way that the cumulative operating time OTa is successively subtracted from the reference operational time OTcr, based on the progression of the cumulative operating time OTa from the state in which maintenance of the power converter device 100 in connection with the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed (see Fig. 8).

[0104] The operational time estimator 1405 reports the remaining operational time OTrem, for example, using a visual method via the display device 160, a display unit 310 of the terminal device 300, and so on. The visible content displaying the remaining operational time OTrem can be, for example, textual information such as numbers showing the remaining operational time OTrem, a bar chart, and so on. Furthermore, the operational time estimator 1405 can report the remaining operational time OTrem, for example, using an acoustic method, that is, using voice information, via an audio output unit installed in the power converter device 100 or in a predetermined machine to which the power converter device 100 is attached.

[0105] When the processing of step S206 is complete, the control device 140 terminates the current processing of the flowchart.

[0106] As described above, in this example, the control device 140 estimates the remaining operating time OTrem until the power converter device 100 is forcibly stopped due to an increase in fin temperature TF, based on actual fin temperature Tf data measured in chronological order.

[0107] In this way, the control device 140 can inform the user of the time at which the power converter device 100 will be forcibly stopped, using the remaining operational time OTrem until the power converter device 100 is forcibly stopped. Consequently, it becomes easier for the user to manage the use of the power converter device 100 in continuous operation, to schedule maintenance of the power converter device 100 in connection with the cooling assembly unit 190, and so on.

[0108] Furthermore, according to this example, the control device 140 reports the estimated operating time OTrem remaining until the power converter device 100 is forcibly stopped due to an increase in fin temperature Tf, via the display device 160 and the communication device 170. To be more precise, the control device 140 reports the remaining operating time OTrem using the display device 160 and the communication device 170 in such a way that the remaining operating time OTrem decreases over time, starting from the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed.

[0109] In this way, the control device 140 can report to the user the remaining operational time OTrem, which is successively reduced starting from the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed. [Another example of the control device setup]

[0110] Next, with reference to Fig. 9 Another example of the construction of the control device 140 will be described. The following mainly describes parts that differ from the example described above and may contain the same or similar content as the example described above ( Fig. 3 and Fig. 4) how appropriate it should be to refrain from doing so.

[0111] Fig. Figure 9 is a block diagram showing another example of the functional structure of the control device 140.

[0112] It should be noted that the hardware setup of the control device 140 is the same in this example as in the example described above. Therefore, its description will be omitted, and the above example ( Fig. 3) be used.

[0113] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 9, the control device 140, like the example described above, has as functional units a drive control unit 1401, a recording unit 1402, a storage unit 1403, a maintenance test unit 1404, and an operational time estimation unit 1405. In addition, unlike the example described above, the control device 140 has a diagnostic unit 1406. The functions of the drive control unit 1401, the recording unit 1402, the maintenance test unit 1404, the operational time estimation unit 1405, and the diagnostic unit 1406 are implemented, for example, when programs installed in the secondary storage device 143 are loaded into the storage device 142 and executed in the CPU 141. Furthermore, the function of the storage unit 1403 is implemented, for example, by a memory area defined in the secondary storage device 143.

[0114] The diagnostic unit 1406 diagnoses cooling performance anomalies in the power converter device 100. More precisely, the diagnostic unit 1406 diagnoses cooling performance anomalies caused by the cooling assembly unit 190, which is provided to dissipate the heat generated by the losses when the semiconductor diodes SDs and semiconductor switches SWs are energized, or by the cooling fan 180, which is provided to blow cooling air to the cooling assembly unit 190. Details will be described later (see Fig. 11 and Fig. 13). [Overview of the procedure for diagnosing cooling abnormalities]

[0115] Next, with reference to Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 An overview of the procedure by which the control device 140 (the diagnostic unit 1406) makes a diagnosis with regard to cooling anomalies of the power converter device 100 is described.

[0116] Fig. Figure 10 is a diagram showing examples of the change in the temperature difference Y between the fin temperature Tf and the internal air temperature Ta when a cooling anomaly occurs. To be more precise, it is Fig. 10 a diagram showing an example of the change in temperature difference Y over time when a cooling anomaly occurs due to the presence of foreign matter (curve 1001), and an example of the change in temperature difference Y over time when a cooling anomaly occurs due to a failure (a defect) of the cooling fan 180 (curve 1002). Fig. Figure 11 is a diagram showing an example of the procedure for diagnosing cooling anomalies in the power converter device 100.

[0117] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 10, the temperature difference Y between the fin temperature Tf and the indoor air temperature Ta increases over time when a cooling anomaly occurs. This is because the rate of increase of the temperature difference Y relative to the change in fin temperature Tf over time increases, while the rate of increase of the temperature difference Y relative to the change in indoor air temperature Ta over time decreases when the amount of heat dissipated into the air by the cooling assembly unit 190 decreases. Thus, the diagnostic unit 1406 can assess whether or not a cooling anomaly is occurring based on the magnitude of the temperature difference Y measurement data and the trend of its change over time.

[0118] Furthermore, the rate at which the temperature difference Y increases when a cooling anomaly occurs due to the presence of foreign matter is relatively low (slow), whereas the rate at which the temperature difference Y increases when a cooling anomaly occurs due to a problem with the cooling fan 180 is relatively high. Thus, the diagnostic unit 1406 can differentiate between a cooling performance anomaly due to the presence of foreign matter and a cooling performance anomaly due to a problem with the cooling fan 180 based on the magnitude of the temperature difference increase.

[0119] For example, the diagnostic unit 1406 uses, as in Fig. 11 Reference data 1100 (hereinafter referred to as “reference data for temperature difference Y” for ease of explanation) are shown, which show the tendency of the change of the temperature difference Y over time when an anomaly in cooling performance occurs due to the presence of foreign matter, in order to differentiate between a cooling anomaly due to the presence of foreign matter and a cooling anomaly due to a problem with the cooling fan 180 and to assess which cooling anomaly occurs.

[0120] Reference data 1100 shows how the temperature difference Y changes over time when an anomaly in cooling performance occurs due to the presence of foreign matter, based on the cumulative operating time OTa of the power converter device 100 from the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed. The cumulative operating time OTa of the power converter device 100 from the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed is the cumulative operating time of the power converter device 100 from the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 was performed.The control device 140 can calculate the cumulative operating time OTa by subtracting the cumulative operating time OT up to immediately before the maintenance is carried out in connection with the cooling assembly unit 190 from the cumulative operating time OT from the start of use after factory delivery.

[0121] If the deviation of the temperature difference Y measurement data from the reference data 1100 for temperature difference Y is relatively small or below a first threshold, the diagnostic unit 1406 assesses that there is a cooling performance anomaly due to the presence of foreign matter. More precisely, the diagnostic unit 1406 can assess that there is a cooling performance anomaly due to the presence of foreign matter if the coordinates defined by the temperature difference Y measurement data and the cumulative operating time OTa from the state in which maintenance is completed until the time the measurement data is obtained are within the range 1101 containing the reference data 1100 for temperature difference Y.More precisely, if the difference between the temperature difference Y measurement data and the reference value Ycr is less than a threshold value ΔYth (> 0) at the same time as the maintenance on the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed, the diagnostic unit 1406 can assess that there is a cooling performance anomaly due to the presence of foreign matter. For example, the range 1101 is set to span ±30% of the Ycr value of the reference data 1100 for the temperature difference Y (hereinafter referred to as the "reference value"). In this case, the threshold value ΔYth corresponds to 30% of the reference value Ycr at the same time as the temperature difference Y measurement data was obtained at the same time as the maintenance on the cooling assembly unit 190 was completed.

[0122] If, on the other hand, the deviation of the temperature difference Y measurement data from the reference data 1100 for temperature difference Y is relatively large in the direction in which the temperature difference Y increases, or exceeds a second threshold, the diagnostic unit 1406 assesses that there is a cooling performance anomaly due to a problem with the cooling fan 180. More precisely, the diagnostic unit 1406 can assess that there is a cooling performance anomaly due to a problem with the cooling fan 180 if the coordinates defined by the temperature difference Y measurement data and the cumulative operating time OTa from the state in which maintenance is completed until the time the measurement data is obtained lie within area 1102. Area 1102 is an area adjacent to area 1101 on the side where the temperature difference Y is greater.To be more precise, the diagnostic unit 1406 subtracts the reference value Ycr from the temperature difference Y measurement data at the same timing from the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed, and the diagnostic unit 1406 can assess that there is an anomaly in cooling performance due to a problem with the cooling fan 180 if the resulting value is greater than or equal to the threshold value ΔYth.

[0123] It should be noted that if a cooling anomaly is present due to a problem with the cooling fan 180, in addition to the anomaly caused by the problem with the cooling fan 180, a cooling anomaly may also be present due to the presence of foreign substances.

[0124] Furthermore, the diagnostic unit 1406 assesses that no cooling anomaly exists if the deviation of the temperature difference Y measurement data from the reference data 1100 is relatively large in the direction where the temperature difference Y decreases. More precisely, the diagnostic unit 1406 can assess that no cooling anomaly exists if the coordinates defined by the temperature difference Y measurement data and the cumulative operating time OTa from the state in which maintenance is completed until the time the measurement data is obtained lie within area 1103. Area 1103 is an area adjacent to area 1101 on the side where the temperature difference Y is smaller.To be more precise, the diagnostic unit 1406 subtracts the temperature difference Y measurement data from the reference value Ycr with the same timing from the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed, and the diagnostic unit 1406 can assess that there is no cooling anomaly if the resulting value is greater than or equal to the threshold value ΔYth.

[0125] In this way, according to this example, the control device 140 uses the reference data 1100 for the temperature difference Y, which shows how the temperature difference Y changes over time when foreign substances are present and cause a cooling anomaly, to assess whether or not there is an anomaly in the power converter device 100.

[0126] In this way, the control device 100 can distinguish between a cooling anomaly due to the presence of foreign substances and a cooling anomaly due to a problem with the cooling fan 180 based on the magnitude of the deviation of the temperature difference measurement data Y from the reference data 1100 and assess which cooling anomaly is occurring. [The processing to obtain reference data for the temperature difference between the fin temperature and the indoor air temperature]

[0127] Next, with reference to Fig. 12 the processing, whereby the control unit obtains 140 reference data, is described.

[0128] Fig. Figure 12 is a flowchart that schematically illustrates an example of the processing by which the control device 140 obtains reference data for the temperature difference Y between the fin temperature Tf and the ambient air temperature Ta. This flowchart is repeated, for example, at predetermined time intervals during the operation of the power converter device 100, from switch-on to switch-off.

[0129] In this example, a marker F3 is used to indicate whether or not reference data for the temperature difference Y has been obtained. For instance, marker F3 is stored in secondary storage device 143 and is set to the initial value "0" by the factory upon delivery of the power converter device 100, indicating that no reference data has yet been obtained. Then, when the power converter device 100 is switched on, marker F3 is read from secondary storage device 143 to storage device 142 for use, updating, and so on. When the power converter device 100 is switched off, it is stored in its current form in secondary storage device 143.

[0130] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 12, in step S302, the recording unit 1402 checks whether marker F3 is "0" or not, that is, whether marker F3 is in the state indicating that no reference data has been obtained. If marker F3 is "0", the recording unit 1402 proceeds to step S304. If marker F3 is not "0", that is, if marker F3 is "1" and indicates that reference data has been obtained, the recording unit 1402 terminates the current flowchart.

[0131] In step S304, the recording unit 1402 checks whether the latest measurement data of the temperature difference Y between the fin temperature Tf and the indoor air temperature Ta is greater than a maximum temperature difference Ymax or not.

[0132] The maximum temperature difference Ymax is the highest value among the temperature difference Y measurements recorded in memory unit 1403. The maximum temperature difference Ymax is set to a predetermined initial value at the factory. This initial value of the maximum temperature difference Ymax acts as the lower limit for the temperature difference Y when the temperature difference Y is recorded as reference data.

[0133] The recording unit 1402 proceeds to step S306 if the latest measurement data of the temperature difference Y is greater than the highest temperature difference Ymax, and otherwise terminates the current processing of the flowchart.

[0134] In step S306, the recording unit 1402 combines the latest temperature difference Y measurement data with the cumulative operating time OT of the power converter device 100 from the start of use after factory delivery until the time this measurement data was obtained and records it in the storage unit 1403. More precisely, the recording unit 1402 generates recording data that includes the latest temperature difference Y measurement data and the cumulative operating time OT up to the time this measurement data was obtained, and stores this recording data in the storage unit 1403.

[0135] When the processing of step S306 is complete, the control device 140 moves on to step S308.

[0136] In step S308, the recording unit 1402 checks whether the condition for ending the recording of the temperature difference Y measurement data in a chronological order, which serve as reference data for the temperature difference, is met or not.

[0137] The termination condition can be met, for example, when the fin temperature Tf reaches a temperature Tfover, which serves as the termination condition (hereinafter referred to as the "record termination temperature"). The record termination temperature Tfover is set to a temperature that is slightly lower than the superheat temperature Tferr.

[0138] The recording unit 1402 proceeds to step S310 if the condition for ending the recording of the reference data for the temperature difference Y is met, or ends the current processing of the flowchart if the condition for ending is not met.

[0139] In step S310, the recording unit 1402 sets the marker F3 to "1".

[0140] When the processing of step S310 is complete, the control device 140 terminates the current processing of the flowchart.

[0141] In this way, the control device 140 obtains measurement data, as in this example, showing the tendency of the temperature difference Y to increase over time with the cumulative operating time OT from the state in which the use of the power converter device 100 began after factory delivery, which corresponds to the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed, in chronological order. This allows the control device 140 to obtain reference data for the temperature difference Y based on the measurement data obtained in chronological order. This is because it is very unlikely that the cooling fan 180 would fail at an early stage after the power converter device 100 was delivered from the factory, and the increase in the temperature difference Y at that time is likely to be caused by the presence of foreign substances.

[0142] The control device 140 (the diagnostic unit 1406) can use the sets of recorded measurement data in the storage unit 1403 as they are, as reference data, or the control unit 140 can generate an approximate expression based on the sets of recorded measurement data.

[0143] Generate tabular data and so on, which serve as reference data.

[0144] It should be noted that instead of separately obtaining reference data for the fin temperature Tf and reference data for the temperature difference Y, it is also possible to obtain reference data that combines both. In this case, reference data serving both the fin temperature Tf and the temperature difference Y can be obtained as a set of recorded data containing the measured values ​​of the fin temperature Tf and the temperature difference Y, as well as the cumulative operating time OT until these measurements were obtained. [Example of processing the diagnosis of a cooling anomaly]

[0145] Next, with reference to Fig. 13 the processing, whereby the control device 140 diagnoses a cooling anomaly of the power converter device 100, is described.

[0146] Fig. Figure 13 is a flowchart that schematically illustrates an example of the processing by which the control device 140 diagnoses a cooling anomaly of the power converter device 100. This flowchart is repeated, for example, at predetermined time intervals during the operation of the power converter device 100, from power-on to power-off.

[0147] In this example, a marker F2 is used to indicate whether or not maintenance related to the cooling unit 190 was performed immediately before the power converter device 100 began (switched on) its current operation. For example, the marker F2 is initially set to "1" at the start of the first use (switch-on) after factory delivery, indicating that maintenance related to the cooling unit 190 was performed. This marker is maintained from the time the power converter device 100 is switched on until it is switched off in the storage device 142. From the second time the power converter device 100 is switched on after factory delivery, the marker F2 can then be set according to the result of the test in the maintenance test unit 1404 and remain in this state until the power converter device 100 is switched off.To be more precise, the marker F2 can be set to "1" if the maintenance check unit 1404 determines that maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 has been performed, and will remain in this state until the power converter device 100 is switched off. Conversely, the marker F2 can be set to "0" to indicate that no maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 has been performed if the maintenance check unit 1404 determines that no maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 has been performed, and will remain in this state until the power converter device 100 is switched off.

[0148] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 13, the diagnostic unit 1406 checks in step S402 whether the F1 marker is "1" or not, indicating whether reference data has been obtained. If the F1 marker is not "1", meaning if the F1 marker is "0" and indicates that no reference data has been obtained, the diagnostic unit 1406 proceeds to step S404. If the F1 marker is "1" and indicates that reference data has been obtained, the diagnostic unit 1406 proceeds to step S408.

[0149] In step S404, the diagnostic unit 1406 checks whether the latest measurement data of the temperature difference Y (= Tf - Ta) between the fin temperature Tf and the indoor air temperature Ta exceed a predetermined threshold value Yth or not.

[0150] The threshold value Yth is predefined as the lower limit of the temperature difference Y for assessing whether a cooling anomaly exists in the power converter device 100. Furthermore, the threshold value Yth is set to a value slightly lower than the temperature difference Y corresponding to the point at which the fin temperature Tf reaches the superheating temperature Tferr. In this way, the diagnostic unit 1406 can assess whether a cooling anomaly exists in the power converter device 100 before it is forcibly shut down.

[0151] The diagnostic unit 1406 proceeds to step S406 if the latest temperature difference measurement Y exceeds the threshold Yth, and terminates the current flowchart if the latest temperature difference measurement Y does not exceed the threshold Yth.

[0152] In step S406, an alarm indicating that there is a cooling anomaly in the power converter device 100 is issued to the user.

[0153] The alarm can be displayed to the user, for example, using a visual method via the display device 160. Alternatively, the alarm can be displayed to the user, for example, using a visual method by sending a signal, which serves as an alarm, from the communication device 170 to the terminal device 300 via the display unit 310 of the terminal device 300. Furthermore, the display device 160 and the display unit 310 may only indicate that a cooling anomaly has occurred. In addition to this, data regarding the operating state (running state) of the power converter device 100, including the fin temperature Tf, the internal air temperature Ta, the temperature difference Y, and so on, as well as its history, can be displayed as numerical values.The data representing the history could, for example, be data showing the change in the temperature difference Y. Furthermore, the alarm can be output to the user via an audio output device, such as a loudspeaker, provided in the power converter device 100, a predetermined machine to which the power converter device 100 is attached, the terminal device 300, and so on. The same applies subsequently to the alarms of steps S412, S416, and S420, which are described later.

[0154] When the processing of step S406 is complete, the control device 140 terminates the current processing of the flowchart.

[0155] Meanwhile, in step S408, the diagnostic unit 1406 checks whether the F2 marker reads "1" or not, indicating whether maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 was performed immediately before the start (switch-on) of the current operation of the power converter device 100. If the F2 marker is not "1", that is, if the F2 marker reads "0" and indicates that no maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 was performed, the diagnostic unit 1406 proceeds to step S410. If the F2 marker reads "1" and indicates that maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 was performed, the diagnostic unit 1406 proceeds to step S418.

[0156] It should be noted that in step S408, it can be determined whether the cumulative operating time OTa of the power converter device 100 since the last maintenance performed on the cooling assembly unit 190 is equal to or shorter than a predetermined time. The predetermined time is set to a value slightly less than the lower limit for the time required from the state in which the maintenance on the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed until a cooling anomaly occurs in the power converter device 100 due to the presence of foreign matter. In this case, the diagnostic unit 1406 proceeds to step S410 if the cumulative operating time OTa is not equal to or shorter than the predetermined time, and to step S418 if the cumulative operating time OTa is equal to or shorter than the predetermined time.

[0157] In step S410, the diagnostic unit 1406 checks whether the absolute value of the subtraction value ΔY (= Y - Ycr), which is given by subtracting the reference data (the reference value Ycr) for the cumulative operating time OTa up to the same time as when the latest temperature difference Y measurement data were obtained, is less than the threshold value ΔYth or not.

[0158] If the reference data is represented, for example, by an approximation expression, the diagnostic unit 1406 can calculate the reference value Ycr, corresponding to the cumulative operating time OTa up to the time the temperature difference Y measurement data is obtained, using the approximation expression. Alternatively, if the reference data is represented, for example, by a set of recorded measurement data or a set of discrete data such as tabular data, the reference value Ycr for the cumulative operating time OTa up to the time the latest temperature difference Y measurement data is obtained may or may not be present in the storage unit 1403. If the reference value Ycr for the cumulative operating time OTa up to the time the latest temperature difference Y measurement data is obtained is present in the storage unit 1403, the diagnostic unit 1406 can use this reference value Ycr as is.If the reference value Ycr for the cumulative operating time OTa is not available in the storage unit 1403 up to the same time as the latest measurement data of the temperature difference Y is obtained, the diagnostic unit 1406 can interpolate the reference value Ycr for the targeted cumulative operating time OTa using the reference values ​​Ycr for cumulative operating times OTa before and after this targeted cumulative operating time OTa.

[0159] The diagnostic unit 1406 proceeds to step S412 if the absolute value of the subtraction value ΔY is less than the threshold value ΔYth, or otherwise proceeds to step S414.

[0160] In step S412, the diagnostic unit 1406 issues an alarm to the user indicating that the power converter device 100 has a cooling anomaly due to the presence of foreign matter (a blockage of the cooling fin unit 194 or the intake opening with foreign matter).

[0161] When the processing of step S412 is complete, the control device 140 terminates the current processing of the flowchart.

[0162] Meanwhile, in step S414, the diagnostic unit 1406 checks whether the subtraction value ΔY (= Y - Ycr) is greater than or equal to the threshold value ΔYth. If the subtraction value is greater than or equal to the threshold value ΔYth, the diagnostic unit 1406 proceeds to step S416. Otherwise, the diagnostic unit 1406 determines that there is no cooling anomaly in the power converter device 100 and terminates the current processing of the flowchart.

[0163] In step S416, the diagnostic unit 1406 issues an alarm to the user indicating that the power converter device 100 has a cooling anomaly due to a problem with the cooling fan 180.

[0164] When the processing of step S416 is complete, the diagnostic unit 1406 ends the current processing of the flowchart.

[0165] Meanwhile, in step S418, the diagnostic unit 1406 checks whether the subtraction value ΔY (= Y - Ycr), which is obtained by subtracting the reference data (the reference value Ycr) for the cumulative operating time OTa up to the time when the latest temperature difference Y measurement data is obtained, is greater than or equal to the threshold value ΔYth. The diagnostic unit 1406 proceeds to step S420 if the subtraction value ΔY is greater than or equal to the threshold value ΔYth, or otherwise terminates the current processing of the flowchart. In this way, during operation of the power converter device 100 immediately after maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190, the control device 140 can only assess whether the aforementioned cooling anomaly is due to the presence of foreign substances or other factors.whether or not this occurs due to a problem with the cooling fan 180.

[0166] In step S420, the diagnostic unit 1406 issues an alarm to the user to indicate that the power converter device 100 has a cooling anomaly due to a problem with the cooling fan 180.

[0167] When the processing of step S420 is complete, the diagnostic unit 1406 ends the current processing of the flowchart.

[0168] In this example, the control device 140 uses reference data showing how the temperature difference Y between the fin temperature Tf and the internal air temperature Ta changes over time when a cooling anomaly occurs due to the presence of foreign matter.

[0169] In this way, the control device 140 can distinguish between a cooling anomaly due to the presence of foreign substances and a cooling anomaly due to a problem with the cooling fan 180.

[0170] Furthermore, in this example, in a situation where the cumulative operating time of the power converter device 100 after maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 is relatively short or shorter than a predetermined duration, the control device 140 merely assesses whether the second cooling anomaly results from a cooling anomaly due to the presence of foreign matter and a cooling anomaly due to a problem with the cooling fan 180 or not.

[0171] This prevents the control device 140 from making an incorrect assessment regarding the occurrence of a cooling anomaly due to the presence of foreign matter. This is because, for a certain period or within a predetermined timeframe after maintenance has been performed on the cooling assembly unit 190, it is highly unlikely that a cooling anomaly will occur due to the presence of foreign matter.

[0172] Furthermore, in this example, in a situation where no reference data has been obtained, the control device 140 assesses whether a cooling anomaly exists in the power converter device 100, based on the magnitude of the temperature difference between the fin temperature Tf and the internal air temperature Ta.

[0173] In this way, even in a situation where no reference data has been obtained, the control device 140 can still assess whether or not there is a cooling anomaly in the power converter device 100, even if the control device 140 cannot distinguish between a cooling anomaly due to the presence of foreign matter and a cooling anomaly due to a problem with the cooling fan 180.

[0174] It should be noted that, in addition to the reference data obtained in a format suitable for the actual environment in which the power converter device 100 is used, the control device 140 can use pre-prepared reference data. The pre-prepared data can, for example, be pre-registered (pre-stored) in the secondary storage device 143 during a pre-shipment check, or loaded from an external source (e.g., from the arithmetic logic device 200) and stored in the secondary storage device 143 after factory delivery. In this case, if no reference data has been obtained (“NO” in step S402), it is possible to perform the same processing operations as in steps S408 to S420 using the pre-prepared reference data, instead of performing the processing operations of steps S404 and S406.Furthermore, the control device 140 can use pre-prepared reference data instead of reference data obtained in a form suitable for the actual environment in which the power converter device 100 is used. In this case, the processing of . Fig. Step 13 does not need to be performed, and the processing steps S402 to S406 can be omitted. Furthermore, it is possible to prepare several types of reference data in advance. For example, several types of reference data can be prepared in advance according to the usage environment and made available for selection by the user through a predefined input. [Another example of processing to diagnose a cooling anomaly]

[0175] Next, with reference to Fig. 14 Another example of the processing, whereby the control device 140 diagnoses the cooling anomaly of the power converter device 100, is described.

[0176] Fig. Figure 14 is a flowchart that schematically illustrates another example of the processing by which the control device 140 diagnoses the cooling anomaly of the power converter device 100. This flowchart is repeated, for example, at predetermined time intervals during the operation of the power converter device 100, from power-on to power-off.

[0177] In this example, a marker F4 is used, which indicates whether or not maintenance related to the cooling unit 190 was performed immediately before the start (switch-on) of the current operation of the power converter device 100. The marker F4 is the one described above with reference to Fig. The marking F3 described in section 13 is identical, which is why its description will be omitted here.

[0178] Furthermore, this example uses a marker F5, which indicates whether or not a cooling anomaly exists due to the presence of foreign matter. For example, the marker F5 is set to "0" upon initial use (power-on) after factory delivery, indicating that no cooling anomaly exists due to the presence of foreign matter. Then, the marker F5 is read from secondary storage device 143 to storage device 142 for use, updates, and so on, when the power converter device 100 is powered on, and stored in its current form in secondary storage device 143 when the power converter device 100 is powered off.

[0179] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 14, the diagnostic unit 1406 checks in step S502 whether the F3 marker is "1", indicating whether reference data has been obtained. If the F3 marker is not "1", meaning if the F3 marker is "0" and indicates that no reference data has been obtained, the diagnostic unit 1406 proceeds to step S504. If the F3 marker is "1" and indicates that reference data has been obtained, the diagnostic unit 1406 proceeds to step S508.

[0180] Step S504 is the processing of step S404 in Fig. 13 are the same, which is why a detailed description will be omitted here.

[0181] The diagnostic unit 1406 proceeds to step S506 if the latest temperature difference measurement Y exceeds the threshold Yth, and proceeds to step S524 if the latest temperature difference measurement Y does not exceed the threshold Yth.

[0182] Step S506 is the processing of step S406 in Fig. 13 are the same, which is why its detailed description will be omitted here. Furthermore, the alarm at this step S506 and the alarms at steps S512, S518, and S522, which will be described later, can be the same as the alarm at step S406 of Fig. Be 13.

[0183] When the processing of step S506 is complete, the control device 140 moves on to step S514.

[0184] It should be noted that the control device 140 can skip the processing of step S514 if the processing of step S506 is complete, and can terminate the current processing of the flowchart as it is.

[0185] Meanwhile, in step S508, the diagnostic unit 1406 checks whether the F4 indicator reads "1" or not, indicating whether maintenance related to the cooling unit 190 was performed immediately before the start (switch-on) of the current operation of the power converter device 100. If the F4 indicator is not "1", that is, if the F4 indicator reads "0" and indicates that no maintenance related to the cooling unit 100 was performed, the diagnostic unit 1406 proceeds to step S510. If the F4 indicator reads "1" and indicates that maintenance related to the cooling unit 190 was performed, the diagnostic unit 1406 proceeds to step S520.

[0186] It should be noted that in step S508, it can be assessed whether the cumulative operating time OTa of the power converter unit 100, since the last maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 was performed, is equal to or shorter than a predetermined time. The predetermined time is set to a value slightly less than the lower limit for the time required from the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed until a cooling anomaly occurs in the power converter unit 100 due to the presence of foreign matter. In this case, the diagnostic unit 1406 proceeds to step S510 if the cumulative operating time OTa is not equal to or shorter than the predetermined time, and to step S520 if the cumulative operating time OTa is equal to or shorter than the predetermined time.

[0187] Step S510 is the processing of step S410 in Fig. 13 are the same, which is why a detailed description will be omitted here.

[0188] The diagnostic unit 1406 proceeds to step S512 if the absolute value of the subtraction value ΔY is less than the threshold value ΔYth, or otherwise proceeds to step S516.

[0189] Step S512 is the processing of step S412 in Fig. 13 are the same, which is why a detailed description will be omitted here.

[0190] When the processing of step S512 is complete, the control device 140 moves on to step S514.

[0191] In step S514, the diagnostic unit 1406 sets the marker F5 to “1” to indicate that a cooling anomaly caused by the presence of foreign substances exists.

[0192] It should be noted that the situation in which no reference operating time OTcr has been obtained corresponds to the situation in which the cumulative operating time OT from the start of use of the power converter device 100 is relatively short, and it is very unlikely that a problem with the cooling fan 180 will occur. Thus, even if the condition of step S504 is met and the cooling anomaly alarm of step S506 is issued, the marker F5 is still set to "1".

[0193] When the processing of step S514 is complete, the control device 140 terminates the current processing of the flowchart.

[0194] Meanwhile, in step S516, the diagnostic unit 1406 checks whether the subtraction value ΔY (= Y - Ycr) is greater than or equal to the threshold value ΔYth. If the subtraction value ΔY is greater than or equal to the threshold value ΔYth, the diagnostic unit 1406 proceeds to step S518. Otherwise, the diagnostic unit 1406 determines that there is no cooling anomaly in the power converter device 100 and proceeds to step S524.

[0195] Step S518 is the processing of step S416 in Fig. 13 are the same, which is why a detailed description will be omitted here.

[0196] When the processing of step S518 is complete, diagnostic unit 1406 moves on to step S524.

[0197] Meanwhile, in step S520, the diagnostic unit 1406 checks whether the subtraction value ΔY (= Y - Ycr), which is obtained by subtracting the reference data (the reference value Ycr) for the cumulative operating time OTa up to the time when the latest temperature difference Y measurement data is obtained, is greater than or equal to the threshold value ΔYth. The diagnostic unit 1406 proceeds to step S522 if the subtraction value ΔY is greater than or equal to the threshold value ΔYth, or otherwise to step S524.In this way, the control device 140 can, during the operation of the power converter device 100 immediately after the performance of maintenance in connection with the cooling assembly unit 190, merely assess whether the second cooling anomaly arises from a cooling anomaly due to the presence of foreign substances and a cooling anomaly due to a problem with the cooling fan 180 or not.

[0198] Step S522 is the processing of step S429 in Fig. 13 are the same, which is why a detailed description will be omitted here.

[0199] When the processing of step S522 is complete, diagnostic unit 1406 moves on to step S524.

[0200] In step S524, the diagnostic unit 1406 sets the marker F5 to “0” to indicate that there is no cooling anomaly due to the presence of foreign matter.

[0201] When the processing of step S524 is complete, the control device 140 terminates the current processing of the flowchart.

[0202] In this example, the control device 140 uses reference data showing how the temperature difference Y between the fin temperature Tf and the internal air temperature Ta changes over time when a cooling anomaly occurs due to the presence of foreign matter.

[0203] In this way, the control device 140 can distinguish between a cooling anomaly due to the presence of foreign substances and a cooling anomaly due to a problem with the cooling fan 180.

[0204] Furthermore, in this example, in a situation where the cumulative operating time of the power converter device 100 is relatively short after maintenance has been carried out on the cooling assembly unit 190, the control device 140 merely assesses whether the cooling anomaly is the second type, consisting of a cooling anomaly due to the presence of foreign matter and a cooling anomaly due to a problem with the cooling fan 180.

[0205] This prevents the control device 140 from making an incorrect assessment regarding the occurrence of a cooling anomaly due to the presence of foreign matter. This is because, for a certain period after maintenance has been performed on the cooling assembly unit 190, it is highly unlikely that a cooling anomaly will occur due to the presence of foreign matter.

[0206] Furthermore, in this example, in a situation where no reference data has been obtained, the control device 140 assesses whether a cooling anomaly exists in the power converter device 100, based on the magnitude of the temperature difference between the fin temperature Tf and the internal air temperature Ta.

[0207] In this way, even in a situation where no reference data has been obtained, the control device 140 can still assess whether or not there is a cooling anomaly in the power converter device 100, even if the control device 140 cannot distinguish between a cooling anomaly due to the presence of foreign matter and a cooling anomaly due to a problem with the cooling fan 180.

[0208] It should be noted that, in addition to the reference data obtained in a format suitable for the actual environment in which the power converter device 100 is used, the control device 140 can use pre-prepared reference data. The pre-prepared data can, for example, be pre-registered (pre-stored) in the secondary storage device 143 during a pre-shipment inspection or loaded from an external source (e.g., from the arithmetic logic device 200) and stored in the secondary storage device 143 after factory delivery. In this case, if no reference data has been obtained (“NO” in step S502), it is possible to perform the same processing operations as in steps S510 to S524 using the pre-prepared reference data, instead of performing the processing operations of steps S504 and S506.Furthermore, the control device 140 can use pre-prepared reference data instead of reference data obtained in a form suitable for the actual environment in which the power converter device 100 is used. In this case, the processing of . Fig. Step 7 does not need to be performed, and the processing steps S502 to S506 can be omitted. Furthermore, it is possible to prepare several types of reference data in advance. For example, several types of reference data can be prepared in advance according to the usage environment and made available for selection by the user via a predetermined input. Additionally, the control device 140 can diagnose cooling anomalies of the power converter device 100 without distinguishing between a cooling anomaly due to the presence of foreign matter and a cooling anomaly due to a problem with the cooling fan 180. For example, the processing steps S502, S508 to S512, and S516 to S522 can be omitted. [Another example of processing to report remaining uptime]

[0209] Next, with reference to Fig. 15 and Fig. 16 Another example of the processing for reporting the remaining operational time OTrem until the control device 140 forcibly stops the power converter device 100 will be described.

[0210] Fig. Figure 15 is a flowchart that schematically shows another example of the processing for reporting the remaining operational time OTrem until the control device 140 forcibly stops the power converter device 100. Fig. Figure 16 is a diagram showing another example of the relationship between the cumulative operating time OTa from the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed and the content of the remaining operational time message OTrem.

[0211] As in Fig. As shown in 15, step S602 is the processing of step S202 in Fig. 7 is the same, which is why a detailed description will be omitted here.

[0212] If the marker F1 is “1”, the operational time estimator 1406 moves to step S604. If the marker F1 is not “1”, that is, if the marker F1 is “0”, the operational time estimator 1406 ends the current processing of the flowchart.

[0213] In step S604, the operational time estimator 1406 checks whether the F5 marker is "1" or not, indicating whether a cooling anomaly due to the presence of foreign matter is present. If the F5 marker is "1", the operational time estimator 1406 proceeds to step S606. If the F5 marker is "0", indicating that no cooling anomaly due to the presence of foreign matter is present, the operational time estimator 1406 proceeds to step S608.

[0214] Step S606 is the processing of step S204 in Fig. 7 is the same, which is why a detailed description will be omitted here.

[0215] When the processing of step S606 is complete, the control device 140 moves on to step S610.

[0216] Meanwhile, in step S608, the operational time estimation unit 1406 estimates (calculates) the reference operational time OTcr as the remaining operational time OTrem (OTrem = OTcr).

[0217] When the processing of step S608 is complete, the control device 140 moves on to step S610.

[0218] In step S610, the operational time estimation unit 1406 reports the remaining operational time estimated in step S606 or step S608 to the user. In this way, the control device 140 can maintain the remaining operational time OTrem, starting from the state in which maintenance of the power converter device 100 in conjunction with the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed, until a cooling anomaly occurs in connection with the presence of foreign matter at the reference operational time OTcr. Then, when a cooling anomaly occurs in connection with the presence of foreign matter, the control device 140 can report to the user the remaining operational time OTrem, which is successively subtracted from the reference operational time OTcr as the cumulative operating time OTa progresses (see Fig. 16).

[0219] When the processing of step S610 is complete, the control device 140 terminates the current processing of the flowchart.

[0220] In this example, the control device 140 reports the remaining operational time OTrem, which is successively reduced over time, via the display device 160 and the communication device 170 when a cooling anomaly occurs in the power converter device 100.

[0221] In this way, the control device can only report the remaining operational time OTrem, which is gradually reduced over time, if a cooling anomaly occurs in the power converter device 100. [Effects]

[0222] Next, the effects of the power converter device 100 (the control device 140) according to the embodiment described above will be described.

[0223] According to the present embodiment, the power converter device 100 comprises a power device (for example, a semiconductor diode SD or a semiconductor switch SW), a cooling assembly 190, a cooling fan 180, and a diagnostic unit 1406. More precisely, the cooling assembly 190 is used to dissipate heat from the power device. The cooling fan 180 also blows air onto the cooling assembly 190. The diagnostic unit 1406 then diagnoses cooling performance anomalies (cooling anomalies) caused by the cooling assembly 190 and the cooling fan 180 based on the trend of the change in the temperature difference Y between the fin temperature Tf and the internal temperature Ta over time.

[0224] In this way, the control device 140 can utilize the difference in the tendency of the temperature difference Y to change over time between the case in which a cooling anomaly is caused by a problem with the cooling fan 180 and the case in which a cooling anomaly is caused by the presence of foreign substances. Thus, the control device 140 can distinguish between a cooling anomaly caused by a problem with the cooling fan 180 and a cooling anomaly caused by the presence of foreign substances.

[0225] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the diagnostic unit 1406 can distinguish between an anomaly in cooling performance due to the presence of foreign substances and an anomaly in cooling performance due to a problem with the cooling fan 180, based on the rate of increase of the temperature difference Y.

[0226] In this way, the control device 140 can specifically distinguish between a cooling anomaly caused by a problem with the cooling fan 180 and a cooling anomaly caused by the presence of foreign substances by using the different rates of increase of the temperature difference Y.

[0227] Furthermore, the power converter device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a storage unit 1403. More precisely, the storage unit 1403 can store reference values ​​that show the trend of the change in the temperature difference Y over time in the event of an anomaly in cooling performance due to the presence of foreign substances. If the deviation of the measured temperature difference Y from the reference data, which correspond to the same timing as these measured data, is relatively small, the diagnostic unit 1406 can assess that an anomaly in cooling performance due to the presence of foreign substances exists.If the deviation of the temperature difference Y measurement data from the reference data, which correspond to the same timing as these measurement data, is relatively large in a direction in which the temperature difference Y increases, the diagnostic unit 1406 can assess that there is an anomaly in cooling performance due to a problem with the cooling fan 180.

[0228] In this way, the control device 140 can specifically distinguish between a cooling anomaly due to a problem with the cooling fan 180 and a cooling anomaly due to the presence of foreign substances by using reference data showing the tendency of the change in the temperature difference Y over time.

[0229] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the power converter device 100 can include a maintenance test unit 1404. More precisely, the maintenance test unit 1404 can check whether or not maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 has been performed. Additionally, the reference data can show how the temperature difference Y changes over time, starting from the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 was completed, if a cooling anomaly occurs due to the presence of foreign matter.Then, based on the magnitude of the deviation of the temperature difference measurement data in a chronological sequence, starting with the time at which the maintenance testing unit 1404 determines that maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 has been carried out, the diagnostic unit 1406 can make a diagnosis regarding the cooling performance anomalies from the reference data, which correspond to the same timing as the measurement data.

[0230] In this way, the control device 144 can diagnose cooling anomalies over time, starting from the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed, while distinguishing between a cooling anomaly caused by a problem with the cooling fan 180 and a cooling anomaly caused by the presence of foreign substances.

[0231] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the diagnostic unit 1406 can calculate the difference (subtraction value ΔY) between the measured data of the temperature difference Y and the reference data (the reference value Ycr) which correspond to the same timing as these measured data and, based on a comparison between this difference and the threshold value ΔYth, make a diagnosis regarding the anomalies in the cooling performance.

[0232] In this way, the control device can specifically diagnose cooling anomalies by distinguishing between a cooling anomaly caused by a problem with the cooling fan 180 and a cooling anomaly caused by the presence of foreign substances.

[0233] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the power converter device 100 can include a maintenance test unit. Then, in a situation where the cumulative operating time of the power converter device 100 is relatively short after the maintenance test unit 1404 has determined that maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 has been performed, the diagnostic unit 1406 can only assess whether a cooling anomaly due to the presence of foreign matter and a cooling anomaly due to a problem with the cooling fan 180 are present or not.

[0234] In this way, the control device 140 according to the present embodiment can avoid an incorrect diagnosis, as described above as the first objective of this disclosure. More precisely, the control device 140 can avoid an incorrect assessment regarding the occurrence of a cooling anomaly due to the presence of foreign substances.

[0235] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the storage unit 1403 can store reference data obtained from temperature difference Y measurements in chronological order from the first use of the power converter device 100 after factory delivery until a predetermined time. Then, upon reaching the predetermined time (more precisely, the time at which the above-described condition for termination is met), the diagnostic unit 1406 can diagnose cooling performance anomalies based on the magnitude of the deviation of the temperature difference Y measurements from the reference data, which correspond to the same timing.

[0236] In this way, the control device 140 can use reference data suitable for the operating environment of the power converter device 100, and so on. Thus, the control device 140 can improve the accuracy of diagnosing cooling anomalies, such as the accuracy of determining whether a cooling anomaly is present or not, the accuracy of distinguishing between a cooling anomaly due to the presence of foreign matter and a cooling anomaly due to a problem with the cooling fan 180, and so on.

[0237] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the storage unit 1403 can store reference data obtained on the basis of measurement data of the temperature difference Y from the time at which the temperature difference Y exceeded a predetermined value after the start of the first use of the power converter device 100 after factory delivery, up to a predetermined time.

[0238] In this way, the control unit 140 can obtain reference data based on data measured in a state where the influence of the presence of foreign matter, such as a blockage of the cooling fin unit 194 or the intake opening with foreign matter, is relatively significant. Thus, the control unit 140 does not need to record the measurement data in a situation where the influence of the presence of foreign matter, such as a blockage of the cooling fin unit 194 or the intake opening with foreign matter, is relatively insignificant, which reduces the processing load for obtaining reference data.

[0239] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the storage unit 1403 can combine and thus store measurement data of the temperature difference Y with the cumulative operating time of the power conversion device 100 from the beginning of its use until the time at which this measurement data was obtained.

[0240] In this way, the control device 140 can, for example, use as reference data the recording data of the combination of measurement data of the temperature difference Y and the cumulative operating time of the power converter device 100 from the beginning of its use until the time of obtaining this measurement data, as it is.

[0241] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the diagnostic unit 1406 can make a diagnosis regarding the cooling anomalies of the power converter device 100 based on the size of the temperature difference Y before a certain time is reached.

[0242] In this way, the control device 140 can diagnose cooling anomalies of the power converter device 100 itself before obtaining reference data suitable for the operating environment of the power converter device 100.

[0243] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the power converter device 100 comprises, for example, a power device such as a semiconductor diode SD or a semiconductor switch SW, a cooling assembly 190, a cooling fan 180, a drive control unit 1401, and an operational time estimation unit 1405. More precisely, the cooling assembly 190 is used to dissipate heat from the power device. The cooling fan 180 also blows air onto the cooling assembly 190. When the temperature of the cooling assembly 190 reaches the superheat temperature TFerr, the drive control unit 1401 forcibly stops the operation of the power converter device 100.Furthermore, the operational time estimation unit 1405 can estimate the operational time of the power converter device 100, until the fin temperature Tf reaches the superheating temperature Tferr, based on the trend of the change in temperature (the fin temperature Tf) of the cooling assembly unit 190 over time.

[0244] In this way, according to the present embodiment, the control device 140 can inform the user of the time until the power converter device 100 will be forcibly stopped, using the estimated operating time of the power converter device 100 until the fin temperature Tf reaches the superheating temperature Tferr, as described above as the second task.

[0245] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the operational time estimation unit 1405 can estimate the operational time of the power converter device 100 for an entire period, starting from the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed and ending when the temperature of the cooling assembly unit 190 reaches the superheating temperature Tferr, based on measurement data of the fin temperature Tf in a chronological sequence from the first start of use of the power converter device 100 after factory delivery until a predetermined time (the reference operational time OTcr).

[0246] In this way, the control unit 140 can estimate the time at which the power converter device 100 will be forcibly stopped, based on the operating time of the power converter device 100 for the entire period that begins from the state in which the maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed and then ends when the temperature of the cooling assembly unit 190 reaches the superheating temperature Tferr.

[0247] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the power converter device 100 can include a maintenance test unit 1404. More precisely, the maintenance test unit 1404 can check whether maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 has been performed. Then, the operational time estimation unit 1405 can estimate the remaining operational time OTrem of the power converter device 100 until the fin temperature Tf reaches the superheat temperature Tferr by subtracting the cumulative operating time OTa of the power converter device 100 from the time at which the maintenance test unit 1404 determines that maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 has been performed, from the estimated operational time of the power converter device 100 for the entire period (the reference operational time).

[0248] In this way, the control device 140 can specifically estimate the remaining operational time OTrem.

[0249] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment 100, the power converter device 100 can, for example, include a signaling unit such as a display device 160 or a communication device 170. More precisely, the signaling unit can inform the user of the remaining operating time OTrem of the power converter device 100, estimated by the operational time estimation unit 1405, until the temperature of the cooling assembly unit 190 reaches the overheating temperature Tferr.

[0250] This allows the power converter device 100 to specifically report the time at which the power converter device 100 will be forcibly stopped, using the estimated remaining operating time OTrem of the power converter device 100.

[0251] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the power converter device 100 can include a diagnostic unit 1406. More precisely, the diagnostic unit 1406 can diagnose cooling performance anomalies caused by the cooling assembly unit 190. If the diagnostic unit 1406 determines that a cooling performance anomaly caused by the cooling assembly unit 190 exists, the message unit can inform the user of the remaining operating time OTrem of the power converter device 100, which decreases with the cumulative operating time of the power converter device 100.

[0252] In this way, the power converter device 190 can only report the remaining operational time OTrem, which is successively reduced with the course of the cumulative operating time of the power converter device 100, if an anomaly in the cooling capacity occurs due to the cooling assembly unit 190.

[0253] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the power converter device 100 can include a maintenance test unit 1404. The signaling unit can then report the remaining operational time OTrem to the user in such a way that the remaining operational time OTrem is reduced with the progression of the cumulative operating time of the power converter device 100, starting from the time at which the maintenance test unit 1404 determines that maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 has been performed.

[0254] In this way, the power converter device 100 can report to the user the remaining operational time OTrem, which is successively reduced with the progression of the cumulative operating time of the power converter device 100 from the state in which maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit 190 is completed.

[0255] The present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments; various modifications and adaptations may be made without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. Reference symbol list 1 Cooling anomaly diagnostic system 100 power converter device 110 Rectifier circuit 110A circuit board 120 smoothing circuit 130 Inverter circuit 130A circuit board 140 Control device (information processing device) 141 CPU 142 Storage device 143 secondary storage device 144 Interface 150 Sensor 160 Display device (signaling unit) 170 Communication device (signaling unit) 180 Cooling fans (air blower unit) 190 Cooling unit 192 Rib base 194 Cooling fin unit 194A Rib 200 arithmetic logic device (information processing device) 300 Terminal device (information processing device) 310 Display unit 1401 Drive control unit (stop control unit) 1402 Recording unit 1403 storage unit 1404 Maintenance Test Unit 1405 Operational time estimation unit (estimation unit) 1406 Diagnostic Unit M electric motor NL negative line PL positive line PS Mains power supply SD Semiconductor Diode (Power Device) SW Semiconductor Switch (Power Device)

Claims

[1] Power converter device (100), comprising a power device; a cooling assembly unit (190) configured to dissipate heat from the power device; an air blowing unit (180) configured to blow air to the cooling assembly unit (190); and a diagnostic unit (1406) which is designed to make a diagnosis of an anomaly in cooling performance caused by the cooling assembly unit (190) and the air blower unit, based on a tendency of the change in a temperature difference between a temperature of the cooling assembly unit (190) and a temperature of the air inside the power converter device (100) over time. wherein the diagnostic unit (1406) is designed to differentiate, on the basis of the rate of increase of the temperature difference, between an anomaly in cooling performance due to the presence of foreign matter and an anomaly in cooling performance due to a problem with the air blower unit. [2] Power converter device (100) according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit (1403) configured to store reference data showing the tendency of the change in the temperature difference over time in the case of anomaly in cooling performance due to the presence of foreign substances, wherein The diagnostic unit (1406) is then, when a deviation of the temperature difference measurement data from the reference data, which correspond to the same timing as the measurement data, is below a first threshold, configured to assess whether the cooling performance anomaly is due to the presence of foreign matter; and The diagnostic unit (1406) is then, when the deviation of the temperature difference measurement data from the reference data corresponding to the same timing as the measurement data in a direction in which the temperature difference increases is above a second threshold, is configured to assess that the cooling performance anomaly is due to a problem with the air blower unit. [3] Power converter device (100) according to claim 2, further comprising a maintenance test unit (1404) which is configured to check whether maintenance has been carried out in connection with the cooling assembly unit (190), wherein The reference data show how the temperature difference changes over time, starting from a state where maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit (190) is completed, when the cooling performance anomaly occurs due to the presence of foreign matter; and the diagnostic unit (1406) is designed to make a diagnosis regarding the anomaly of the cooling performance based on the magnitude of the deviation of the temperature difference measurement data in a chronological sequence, starting from the time at which the maintenance testing unit (1404) determines that maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit (190) has been carried out, from the reference data corresponding to the same timing as the measurement data. [4] Power converter device (100) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the diagnostic unit (1406) is configured to calculate a difference between the temperature difference measurement data and the reference data corresponding to the same timing as the measurement data and to make the diagnosis regarding the cooling performance anomaly based on a comparison between the difference and a predetermined threshold value. [5] Power converter device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a maintenance test unit (1404) which is configured to check whether maintenance has been carried out in connection with the cooling assembly unit (190), wherein the diagnostic unit (1406) in a situation in which a cumulative operating time of the power converter device (100), after a determination by the maintenance test unit (1404) that maintenance in connection with the cooling assembly unit (190) has been carried out, is shorter than a predetermined period of time, is configured to assess only whether the anomaly in cooling performance due to the presence of foreign matter and the anomaly in cooling performance due to a problem with the air blower unit is the anomaly in cooling performance due to a problem with the air blower unit or not. [6] Power converter device (100) according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the storage unit (1403) stores the reference data, which are obtained on the basis of the temperature difference measurement data in a chronological order from the first commencement of use of the power converter device (100) after delivery from a factory until a predetermined time; and The diagnostic unit (1406) is set up after the occurrence of the predetermined time to make the diagnosis of the cooling performance anomaly based on the magnitude of the deviation of the temperature difference measurement data from the reference data corresponding to the same timing as the measurement data. [7] Power converter device (100) according to claim 6, wherein the storage unit (1403) stores the reference data, which are obtained on the basis of the temperature difference measurement data in a chronological sequence from a time at which the temperature difference after the first use of the power converter device (100) after delivery from the factory exceeds a predetermined value, up to the predetermined time. [8] Power converter device (100) according to claim 7, wherein the storage unit (1403) combines and stores the temperature difference measurement data with a cumulative operating time of the power converter device (100) from the start of use until the time of obtaining the measurement data. [9] Power converter device (100) according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the diagnostic unit (1406) is configured to make the diagnosis regarding the anomaly of the cooling performance based on the magnitude of the temperature difference before the predetermined time occurs. [10] Information processing device connected to or comprising a power converter device (100), wherein the power converter device (100) comprises a power device, a cooling assembly unit (190) configured to dissipate heat from the power device, and an air blowing unit configured to blow air to the cooling assembly unit (190), where, based on a tendency of the change in a temperature difference between a temperature of the cooling assembly unit (190) and a temperature of the air inside the power converter device (100) over time, a diagnosis is made regarding an anomaly in the cooling performance caused by the cooling assembly unit (190) and the air blower unit, where a distinction is made between an anomaly in cooling performance due to the presence of foreign substances and an anomaly in cooling performance is encountered due to a problem with the air blower unit based on the rate of increase of the temperature difference. [11] Information processing method for execution in an information processing device, wherein the information processing device a power device; a cooling assembly (190) designed to dissipate heat from the power device; and an air blowing unit designed to blow air to the cooling assembly unit (190), exhibits where, based on a tendency of the change in a temperature difference between a temperature of the cooling assembly unit (190) and a temperature of the air inside the power converter device (100) over time, a diagnosis is made regarding an anomaly in the cooling performance caused by the cooling assembly unit (190) and the air blower unit, where a distinction is made between an anomaly in cooling performance due to the presence of foreign substances and an anomaly in cooling performance due to a problem with the air blower unit based on the rate of increase of the temperature difference. [12] Power converter device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a stop control unit (1401) configured to forcibly stop the operation of the power converter device (100) when the temperature of the cooling assembly unit (190) reaches a predetermined level; and an estimation unit (1405) designed to estimate the operating time of the power converter device (100) based on a trend in the change in temperature of the cooling assembly unit (190) over time, to estimate until the temperature of the cooling assembly unit (190) reaches the predetermined level. [13] Power converter device (100) according to claim 12, wherein the estimating unit is configured to estimate, based on measurement data of the temperature of the cooling assembly unit (190) in a chronological sequence from a first commencement of use of the power converter device (100) after delivery from a factory until a predetermined time, an operating time of the power converter device (100) for an entire period from a state in which maintenance in connection with the cooling assembly unit (190) is completed until a temperature of the cooling assembly unit (190) reaches the predetermined level. [14] Power converter device (100) according to claim 13, further comprising a maintenance test unit (1404) which is configured to check whether maintenance has been carried out in connection with the cooling assembly unit (190), wherein the estimating unit is configured to estimate a remaining operating time of the power converter device (100) until the temperature of the cooling assembly unit (190) reaches the predetermined level by subtracting a cumulative operating time of the power converter device (100) from the estimated operating time of the power converter device (100) over the entire period, wherein the cumulative operating time begins when the maintenance testing unit (1404) determines that maintenance related to the cooling assembly unit (190) has been performed. [15] Power converter device (100) according to one of claims 12 to 14, further comprising a signaling unit which is configured to notify a user of the remaining operating time of the power converter device (100) estimated by the estimating unit until the temperature of the cooling assembly unit (190) reaches the predetermined level. [16] Power converter device (100) according to claim 15, further comprising a diagnostic unit (1406) which is configured to make a diagnosis regarding an anomaly in cooling performance caused by the cooling assembly unit (190), wherein the reporting unit, when the diagnostic unit (1406) assesses that the cooling performance anomaly caused by the cooling assembly unit (190) is occurring, informs the user of the remaining operating time of the power converter device (100) until the temperature of the cooling assembly unit (190) reaches the predetermined level, indicating that the remaining operating time is subject to a reduction as the operating time of the power converter device (100) progresses. [17] Power converter device (100) according to claim 15, further comprising a maintenance test unit (1404) configured to check whether maintenance of the cooling assembly unit (190) has been carried out, wherein the signaling unit is configured to signal to the user the remaining time of the power converter device (100) until the temperature of the cooling assembly unit (190) reaches the predetermined level, in such a way that the remaining time is reduced as the operating time of the power converter device (100) progresses from the time at which the maintenance test unit (1404) determines that maintenance in connection with the cooling assembly unit (190) has been carried out. [18] Information processing device according to claim 10, wherein the air blow unit is forced to stop operation when a temperature of the cooling assembly unit (190) reaches a predetermined level, wherein, based on a trend of the change in the temperature of the cooling assembly unit (190) over time, an operating time of the power converter device (100) until the temperature of the cooling assembly unit (190) reaches the predetermined level is estimated. [19] Information processing method according to claim 11 wherein the air blow unit is forced to stop operation when a temperature of the cooling assembly unit (190) reaches a predetermined level, wherein, based on a trend of the change in the temperature of the cooling assembly unit (190) over time, an operating time of the power converter device (100) until the temperature of the cooling assembly unit (190) reaches the predetermined level is estimated.

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