General Electric Company
System and method for operating a power converter to improve IGBT reliability

Abstract:

A method for operating a renewable energy power system driven by at least one renewable energy power source and having at least one current conversion device includes determining a temperature of power semiconductor device(s) of the current conversion device(s). The method also includes determining whether an amount of power of the renewable energy power source(s) is above a predetermined threshold. Further, the method includes increasing or maintaining the temperature of the power semiconductor device(s) during periods of time when the amount of the renewable energy power source(s) is below the predetermined threshold.