Abstract
The reliability of power converters has been extensively examined in terms of component- and converter level. However, in case of multiple generation units, the evaluation of the performance of power systems requires system-level modeling. This paper aims to merge the prior art of reliability modeling of power converters with the adequacy evaluation of power systems through an extensive design and evaluation analysis of a microgrid based case study. The methodology proposed in the paper integrates the device-level analysis into the domain of the conventional power system reliability analysis while outlining the steps needed to deal with non-exponential distributed failures of power electronic-based generation units. A replacement policy of the power electronic-based units is adopted by means of evaluating the system risk of not supplying system loads, and, finally, an approach on how to ensure a desired replacement frequency is outlined.
Highlights
Power electronics constitute an essential part of the power system modernization, which is aimed at distributing electrical power, while leaving a low carbon footprint
This paper aims to integrate the non-exponential failure distributions of power electronic converters obtained in device-level analysis and introduce the concept of repair to compute the power electronic converter state probabilities needed for system adequacy analysis
Power electronics constitutes a substantial part of renewable power generation and, due to its indispensable role within power systems, it has a significant influence on the overall performance of the system
Summary
Power electronics constitute an essential part of the power system modernization, which is aimed at distributing electrical power, while leaving a low carbon footprint. According to literature [2,3], power converters are among the frequent sources of failure in a wide range of applications, which can lead to an increase in downtime and maintenance related financial expenses. According to field data, as power converters age, wear-out-related failures have a high tendency of occurrence, depending on the operating condition, as explained in [4]. The reliability of power electronic components depends on factors such as the device mechanical strength, applied electrical loading, the environmental conditions of its surroundings, and the applied control and switching schemes These factors provide the basis for the physics-of-failure (PoF) analysis, the main concept of which is to understand how the elements of the converter react to various stresses and how these stresses affect the lifetime and degradation of the power converters, as outlined in [5]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
