Current Sensor Monitoring of Capacitor and IGBT Aging Imbalance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Impedance injection modules (IIMs) in power electronics experience non-uniform degradation and aging of capacitors and insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), leading to increased heat losses, varying switching speeds, and unexpected downtime, which is costly and disruptive to power grid services.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of built-in current sensors to detect non-uniform aging and degradation of capacitors and IGBTs, allowing for proactive maintenance and condition-based reconfiguration of the inverter systems by monitoring current imbalances and capacitance value changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current sensors are installed to detect non-uniform aging and degradation, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The current sensors serve multiple functions: they detect non-uniform aging and degradation of capacitors, monitor IGBT switching performance, and provide data for both diagnostic and control purposes. This multi-functionality justifies the added device complexity by delivering comprehensive monitoring capabilities from a single sensor installation.
2Loss of time
If proactive maintenance scheduling is implemented, then loss of time is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of aging and degradation trends before actual failures occur. By identifying non-uniform aging patterns early, the system enables scheduled maintenance activities to be performed during planned downtime rather than experiencing unexpected failures, thus reducing overall loss of time while managing precision requirements through advance preparation.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of detecting non-uniform aging and degradation of power assembly units are disclosed. The system may include a first power assembly unit and a second power assembly unit adjacent to the first power assembly unit. Each of the first and second power assembly units has a coupling capacitor and a number of electrical components. The system may further include a current sensor in between the coupling capacitors of the first and second power assembly units to detect a current spike in the coupling capacitors and the electrical components.