Method of changing an operation mode of a frequency converter based on temperature conditions, and a frequency converter having a changeable mode of operation based on temperature conditions

• US 8,238,131 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2006
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Beijing Drive Systems Co., Ltd. (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Abb Oy (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Hedemäki, Ari, Tiihonen, Vesa
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhane, Adolf
• Assistant Examiner(s): Finch, III, Fred E
• Application Number:
  US11/637,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20110141787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,064 Days
• Field of Search: 363/37, 363/50, 363/55, 363/95, 363/141, 363/159, 363/178
• US Class Current: 363/141
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/1216 for AC-AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/32 Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/0828 in composite switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/0806 against excessive temperature

Abstract

A method in connection with a frequency converter and a frequency converter, the frequency converter being arranged for periodic recurrent use. The method comprises steps for generating and storing in a memory an average heating of a power semiconductor of the frequency converter, caused by one loading period, determining a temperature limit from the generated heating and the highest allowed temperature of the power semiconductor, determining the temperature of the power semiconductor in the frequency converter, and changing the operation mode of the frequency converter when the temperature of the power semiconductor exceeds the temperature limit when transferring to a loading period.

Claims

1. A method in connection with a frequency converter, the frequency converter being arranged for periodic recurrent use, wherein the method comprises steps of:

determining and storing in a memory a magnitude of an average temperature rise of a power semiconductor in the frequency converter, caused by one loading period;

determining a temperature limit from the determined temperature rise and a highest allowed temperature of the power semiconductor;

determining the temperature of the power semiconductor in the frequency converter; and

changing the operation mode of the frequency converter by reducing a torque limit on-line when the temperature of the power semiconductor exceeds the temperature limit when transferring to a loading period,

wherein the determining of the magnitude of the average temperature rise caused by one loading period comprises;

(i) determining the magnitude of the temperature before the start of the loading period;

(ii) determining the magnitude of the temperature after the loading period;

(iii) calculating the difference of the determined temperatures; and

(iv) repeating steps (i)-(iii) and calculating the mean of the differences of the determined temperatures.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mean of the differences between the starting temperatures and the end temperatures is calculated as an arithmetic mean.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mean of the differences between the starting temperatures and the end temperatures is calculated as a root-mean-square value.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the determining of the temperature limit from the determined temperature rise and from the highest allowed temperature of the power semiconductor comprises subtracting the determined temperature rise from the highest allowed temperature of the power semiconductor in order to provide the temperature limit.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the determining of the temperature limit from the determined temperature rise and from the highest allowed temperature of the power semiconductor comprises subtracting from the highest allowed temperature of the power semiconductor the sum of the determined temperature rise and a safety margin in order to provide the temperature limit.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the determining of the temperature of the power semiconductor in the frequency converter comprises measuring the temperature of a cooling plate of the power semiconductor and calculating the temperature of the power semiconductor from the temperature of the cooling plate.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the changing of the operation mode of the frequency converter comprises preventing the use of the frequency converter.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

observing the working condition of a cooling system of the power semiconductor in the frequency converter by comparing the temperature change of a cooling plate of the power semiconductor to the previously implemented temperature changes or to the temperature change to be calculated from a temperature model.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, comprising:

providing an alarm signal in response to the weakening of a working condition of a cooling system of the power semiconductor in the frequency converter.

10. A frequency converter comprising several semiconductors and being arranged for periodic recurrent use, wherein the frequency converter comprises:

means for determining and storing a magnitude of an average temperature rise of a power semiconductor in the frequency converter, caused by one loading period,

means for determining a temperature limit from the determined temperature rise and a highest allowed temperature of the power semiconductor,

means for determining the temperature of the power semiconductor in the frequency converter, and

means for changing the operation mode of the frequency converter by reducing the torque limit on-line when the temperature of the power semiconductor exceeds the temperature limit when transferring to a loading period,

wherein the means for determining of the magnitude of the average temperature rise caused by one loading period comprises;

means for determining the magnitude of the temperature before the start of the loading period;

means for determining the magnitude of the temperature after the loading period; and

means for calculating the difference of the determined temperatures.