Multi-timescale modelling for the loading behaviours of power electronics converter

The thermal dynamics of power device, referred as “thermal cycling”, are closely related to the reliability as well as the cost of the power electronics converter. However, the device loading is disturbed by many factors of the converter system which present at various times-constants from micro-seconds to years, thereby the complete loading conditions of power device are still challenge to be predicted by the existing models, which normally have to be restricted at certain time ranges. As a result, a more advanced modelling concept is proposed in this paper, which separates the converter system into three modelling levels according to the timescales of the interested thermal dynamics and their disturbances. A series of multi-disciplinary models are then established including the whole set of control, electrical, loss and thermal parts of the converter. It is concluded that, by the proposed multi-timescales modelling concept and approaches, more complete loading information of power device can be mapped based on the mission profiles of converter, thus it is very helpful for better prediction of converter lifetime and more cost-effective design of the cooling system.

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