The impact of gate-driver parameters variation and device degradation in the PV-inverter lifetime

Abstract

This paper introduces a reliability-oriented design tool for a new generation of grid connected PV-inverters. The proposed design tool consists of a real field Mission Profile (MP) model (for one year operation in USA-Arizona), a PV-panel model, a grid connected PV-inverter model, an Electro-Thermal model and the lifetime model of the power semiconductor devices. A simulation model able to consider a one year real field operation conditions (solar irradiance and ambient temperature) is developed. Thus, one year estimation of the converter devices thermal loading distribution is achieved and is further used as an input to a lifetime model. The proposed reliability oriented design tool is used to study the impact of MP-variation, Gate-Driver (GD) parameters variation and device degradation in the PV- inverter lifetime. The obtained results indicate that in order to improve the accuracy of the lifetime estimation it is crucial to consider also the device degradation feedback. Moreover the MP of the field where the PV-inverter is operating and the GD- parameters selection has an important impact in the converter reliability and it should be considered from the design stage to better optimize the converter design margin.