Lifetime Extension of Power Converters of Type-4 Wind Turbines at System Level.

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Title: Lifetime Extension of Power Converters of Type-4 Wind Turbines at System Level.
Authors: Alisar, Ibrahim1 (AUTHOR) ibrahim.alisar@std.ieu.edu.tr, Demirok, Erhan2 (AUTHOR), Akan, Aydin1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Energies (19961073). Jun2026, Vol. 19 Issue 11, p2652. 22p.
Subject Terms: *Power semiconductor switches, *Service life, *Converters (Electronics), *Computer simulation, *Wind turbines, *Thermal analysis, *Electric current converters
Abstract: This study introduces an innovative approach to enhance the lifetime of power converters linked in a back-to-back configuration for Type-4 wind turbines. The proposed method involves periodically changing both the connection points and functions of the machine-side converter (MSC) and grid-side converter (GSC) at ultra-low frequencies. This adjustment enables shared usage of power semiconductor switch lifetime, specifically of the IGBTs in power modules and their diodes, across the inverter and rectifier modes. In addition, the method incorporates simulation-based tests to assess aging effects on semiconductors as part of the evaluation process. To validate this proposed strategy, simulations were carried out using PSCAD for modeling the wind turbine and converter systems, alongside MATLAB for developing thermal models, calculating losses, and determining expected lifetimes. The impedance parameters employed in the thermal network were obtained through manufacturer-led experimental data; furthermore, the estimated junction temperatures align with the results obtained from the manufacturer's tool. The findings illustrate that the proposed approach can significantly improve the lifetime of wind turbine converter systems, by values of 85% or more, even if the swapping operation is implemented during maintenance work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
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Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 194588040
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PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
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Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Lifetime Extension of Power Converters of Type-4 Wind Turbines at System Level.
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  Label: Authors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alisar%2C+Ibrahim%22">Alisar, Ibrahim</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> ibrahim.alisar@std.ieu.edu.tr</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Demirok%2C+Erhan%22">Demirok, Erhan</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Akan%2C+Aydin%22">Akan, Aydin</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Energies+%2819961073%29%22">Energies (19961073)</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 19 Issue 11, p2652. 22p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Power+semiconductor+switches%22">Power semiconductor switches</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Service+life%22">Service life</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Converters+%28Electronics%29%22">Converters (Electronics)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+simulation%22">Computer simulation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Wind+turbines%22">Wind turbines</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thermal+analysis%22">Thermal analysis</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electric+current+converters%22">Electric current converters</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study introduces an innovative approach to enhance the lifetime of power converters linked in a back-to-back configuration for Type-4 wind turbines. The proposed method involves periodically changing both the connection points and functions of the machine-side converter (MSC) and grid-side converter (GSC) at ultra-low frequencies. This adjustment enables shared usage of power semiconductor switch lifetime, specifically of the IGBTs in power modules and their diodes, across the inverter and rectifier modes. In addition, the method incorporates simulation-based tests to assess aging effects on semiconductors as part of the evaluation process. To validate this proposed strategy, simulations were carried out using PSCAD for modeling the wind turbine and converter systems, alongside MATLAB for developing thermal models, calculating losses, and determining expected lifetimes. The impedance parameters employed in the thermal network were obtained through manufacturer-led experimental data; furthermore, the estimated junction temperatures align with the results obtained from the manufacturer's tool. The findings illustrate that the proposed approach can significantly improve the lifetime of wind turbine converter systems, by values of 85% or more, even if the swapping operation is implemented during maintenance work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3390/en19112652
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 22
        StartPage: 2652
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Power semiconductor switches
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Service life
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Converters (Electronics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer simulation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Wind turbines
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thermal analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Electric current converters
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Lifetime Extension of Power Converters of Type-4 Wind Turbines at System Level.
        Type: main
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          Name:
            NameFull: Alisar, Ibrahim
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          Name:
            NameFull: Demirok, Erhan
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Akan, Aydin
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 19961073
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              Value: 19
            – Type: issue
              Value: 11
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Energies (19961073)
              Type: main
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