Power converters with component stress monitoring for fault prediction

• US 20080284449A1
• Filed: 05/15/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Astec International Limited (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Astec International Limited (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Currie, Gordon, Phadke, Vijay, Asuncion, Arlaindo
• Application Number:
  US11/803,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20080284449A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/548
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2843 In-circuit-testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0012 Control circuits using digital or numerical techniques in DC/DC converters H02M3/157, H02M3/33515; in DC-AC converters H02M7/53873
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/32 Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection

Abstract

A power converter includes a controller and at least one circuit component. The controller is configured for monitoring stress on the circuit component during operation of the power converter and estimating a remaining life of the circuit component based on the monitored stress.

Claims

1. A power converter comprising a controller and at least one circuit component, the controller configured for monitoring stress on the circuit component during operation of the power converter and estimating a remaining life of the circuit component based on the monitored stress.

2. The power converter of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured for generating a fault signal when the estimated remaining life of the circuit component is below a predetermined value.

3. The power converter of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured for estimating the remaining life of the circuit component by comparing the monitored stress on the circuit component with stored data for the circuit component.

4. The power converter of claim 3 wherein the circuit component is an electrolytic capacitor.

5. The power converter of claim 4 wherein the monitored stress on the electrolytic capacitor includes temperature stress.

6. The power converter of claim 5 wherein the monitored stress on the electrolytic capacitor further includes current stress or voltage stress.

7. A system comprising a controller and at least one component, the controller configured for monitoring stress on the component during operation of the system and estimating a remaining life of the component based on the monitored stress.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the controller is configured for generating a fault signal when the estimated remaining life of the component is below a predetermined value.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the controller is configured for estimating the remaining life of the component by comparing the monitored stress on the component with stored data for the component.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the component is an electrolytic capacitor.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the monitored stress on the component includes temperature stress.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the monitored stress on the component further includes current stress or voltage stress.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the system comprises a power converter, and the power converter comprises the controller and the electrolytic capacitor.