Power system junction temperature control

• US 9,287,766 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2011
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Wagoner, Robert Gregory, Smith, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Finch, III, Fred E
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROSARIO BENITEZ, GUSTAVO A
• Application Number:
  US13/246,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20130076327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,631 Days
• Field of Search: 323/907, 323/284, 363/50, 363/141, 307/117, 361/93.8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/32 Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/327 against abnormal temperatures

Abstract

An electrical power generating system including a power generating device, a power converter connected to the power generating device, and an electrical controller connected to the power converter. The electrical controller is configured to limit a peak junction temperature of the power converter by applying at least one junction temperature derating function.

Claims

1. An electrical power generating system, comprising:

a power generating device;

a power converter connected to the power generating device; and

an electrical controller connected to the power converter, wherein the electrical controller is configured to limit a peak junction temperature of the power converter by applying at least one junction temperature derating function and wherein a power derating factor derived from the junction temperature derating function is applied to the electrical controller to reduce at least one of an output power, current or voltage of the power converter, wherein the power derating factor is based on a minimum power derating factor selected from a plurality of power derating factors, each power derating factor derived from a respective junction temperature derating function, wherein a first power derating factor of the plurality of power derating factors has a first numerical value and a second power derating factor of the plurality of power derating factors has a second numerical value, the electrical controller further configured to compare the first numerical value with the second numerical value, determine the lower value of the first numerical value and the second numerical value, and select the lower value as the minimum power derating factor.

2. The electrical power generating system according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor that senses a temperature of the power converter and transmits the sensed temperature to the electrical controller.

3. The electrical power generating system according to claim 2, wherein the junction temperature derating function is a function of the sensed temperature.

4. The electrical power generating system according to claim 2, wherein the electrical controller is configured to limit the output power of the power converter until the sensed temperature reaches a predetermined value.

5. A method of controlling a power converter of an electrical power generating system, said method comprising:

sensing a plurality of temperatures;

applying at least one junction temperature derating function that is based upon each sensed temperature to limit the power output of the power converter;

deriving a plurality of power derating factors, each power derating factor derived from a respective junction temperature derating function, wherein a first power derating factor of the plurality of power derating factors has a first numerical value and a second power derating factor of the plurality of power derating factors has a second numerical value;

comparing the first numerical value with the second numerical value;

determining the lower value of the first numerical value and the second numerical value;

selecting the lower value as a minimum power derating factor;

limiting the power of the power converter using the minimum power derating factor until a threshold temperature value of the power converter is met; and

limiting the power output of the power converter using the minimum power derating factor until the sensed temperature of the power converter is at or below the threshold temperature value.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein sensing the plurality of temperatures comprises sensing a plurality of temperatures of the power converter.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the selected minimum power derating factor derived from the respective junction temperature derating function is applied to reduce at least one of an output power, current or voltage of the power converter.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing program instructions for controlling a power converter of an electrical power generating system, the program instructions comprising instructions for:

sensing a plurality of temperatures using a plurality of temperature sensing devices;

applying at least one junction temperature derating function that is based upon each sensed temperature to limit the power output of the power converter;

deriving a plurality of power derating factors, each power derating factor derived from a respective junction temperature derating function, wherein a first power derating factor of the plurality of power derating factors has a first numerical value and a second power derating factor of the plurality of power derating factors has a second numerical value;

comparing the first numerical value with the second numerical value;

determining the lower value of the first numerical value and the second numerical value;

selecting the lower value as a minimum power derating factor;

limiting the power of the power converter using the minimum power derating factor until a predetermined condition is met; and

applying the selected minimum power derating factor to reduce at least one of an output power, current or voltage of the power converter.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein sensing the plurality of temperatures comprises sensing a plurality of temperatures of the power converter.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 9, wherein:

the predetermined condition is a threshold temperature value of the power converter; and

limiting the power comprises limiting the power output of the power converter until the sensed temperature of the power converter is at or below the threshold temperature value.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the selected minimum power derating factor is a real number between 0 and 1.0.