NDLI: Reliable Power Electronics for Wind Turbines

Content Provider	The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Digital Collection
Author	Devoto, Douglas Mccluskey, Patrick
Copyright Year	2009
Abstract	Power electronics are used in wind turbines to convert variable voltages and frequencies produced by the generator to fixed voltages and frequencies compliant with an electrical grid with minimal losses. The power electronic system is based on a series of three-phase pulse width modulated (PWM) power modules consisting of insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) power switches and associated diodes that are soldered to a ceramic substrate and interconnected with wirebonds. Power electronics can generate thermal loads in the hundreds of watts/cm2, therefore the design of the packaging and cooling of the electronics is crucial for enhancing their energy efficiency and reliability. Without adequate heat removal, the increase in device temperature will reduce the efficiency of power electronic devices, leading to thermal runaway and eventual failure of the entire power electronic system. Furthermore, the increased temperatures can lead to failure of the packaging elements. Turbines utilizing these power electronics are often placed in harsh and inaccessible offshore environments; power electronic failures causing unscheduled maintenance lead to costly repairs. This paper will provide an overview of the fundamental package level mechanisms that can cause failures in the power electronic system. These include wirebond and lead fatigue, die attach fatigue, substrate cracking, and lead micro-voids. Attention will then be given to the reliability of a plastic-insert liquid cold plate used to manage the thermal loads from the power electronics.
Starting Page	55
Ending Page	59
Page Count	5
File Format	PDF
ISBN	9780791843789
DOI	10.1115/IMECE2009-11776
e-ISBN	9780791838631
Volume Number	Volume 5: Electronics and Photonics
Conference Proceedings	ASME 2009 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
Language	English
Publisher Date	2009-11-13
Publisher Place	Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Subject Keyword	Temperature Switches Electronics Power grids Design Electronic systems Failure Turbines Cracking (materials) Cooling Fatigue Generators Maintenance Ceramics Stress Electrical measurement Fracture (process) Heat Gates (closures) Packaging Ocean engineering Energy efficiency Wind turbines Reliability Transistors
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article

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