System and Methods for Improving Power Handling of an Electronic Device

• US 20120218027A1
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Published: 08/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Ioannidis, Dimitrios
• Granted Patent: US 8,674,651 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 327/513
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/327 against abnormal temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 29/68 based on the temperature of a drive component or a semiconductor component
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

There is provided an electronic device that includes a heatsink and a set of IGBTs coupled to the heatsink and configured to deliver power to a field exciter and a battery. The electronic device also includes a temperature sensor disposed in the heatsink and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a temperature reading from the temperature sensor and, based on the temperature reading, determine a junction temperature for at least one of the IGBTs of the set of IGBTs. The controller is also configured to de-rate an output power provided by each of the IGBTs based, at least in part, on the junction temperature.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a heatsink;

a set of IGBTs coupled to the heatsink and configured to deliver power to a field exciter and a battery;

a temperature sensor disposed in the heatsink; and

a controller configured to;

receive a temperature reading from the temperature sensor and, based on the temperature reading, determine a junction temperature for at least one of the IGBTs of the set of IGBTs; and

de-rate an output power provided by each of the IGBTs based, at least in part, on the junction temperature.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to de-rate the output power if the junction temperature is greater than approximately 137 degrees celsius.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine a temperature of ambient air and de-rate the output power based, at least in part, on a temperature difference between the junction temperature and the temperature of the ambient air.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to de-rate the output power if the temperature difference is greater than approximately 76 degrees celsius.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller receives an IGBT command from a system controller and wherein de-rating the output power comprises generating a new IGBT command based, at least in part, on the IGBT command from the system controller and the junction temperature.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the set of IGBTs comprises a first dual IGBT configured to provide electrical power to the field exciter, a second dual IGBT configured to provide electrical power to a battery, and a third dual IGBT common to the field exciter and the battery charger.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to de-rate the output power based on the junction temperature of either the second dual IGBT or the third dual IGBT.

8. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a single temperature sensor disposed between the second and third dual IGBTs.

9. A power system for a vehicle comprising:

a heatsink;

a set of IGBTs coupled to the heatsink and configured to deliver power to a field exciter and a battery;

a temperature sensor disposed in the heatsink; and

a controller configured to;

receive a temperature reading from the temperature sensor and, based on the temperature reading, determine a junction temperature for at least one of the IGBTs of the set of IGBTs; and

de-rate an output power provided by each of the IGBTs based, at least in part, on the junction temperature.

10. The power system of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to de-rate the output power if the junction temperature is greater than approximately 137 degrees celsius.

11. The power system of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to determine a temperature of ambient air and de-rate the output power based, at least in part, on a temperature difference between the junction temperature and the temperature of the ambient air.

12. The power system of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to de-rate the output power if the temperature difference is greater than approximately 76 degrees celsius.

13. The power system of claim 9, wherein the controller recieves an IGBT command from a system controller and wherein de-rating the output power comprises generating a new IGBT command based, at least in part, on the IGBT command from the system controller and the junction temperature.

14. The power system of claim 9, wherein the set of IGBTs comprises a first dual IGBT configured to provide electrical power to the field exciter, a second dual IGBT configured to provide electrical power to a battery, and a third dual IGBT common to the field exciter and the battery charger.

15. The power system of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to de-rate the output power based on the junction temperature of either the second dual IGBT or the third dual IGBT.

16. The power system of claim 14, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a single temperature sensor disposed between the second and third dual IGBTs.

17. A method of reducing thermal cycling in an electronic device comprising:

receiving a temperature reading from a temperature sensor disposed in a heatsink;

based on the temperature reading, determining a junction temperature of at least one IGBT of a set of IGBTs; and

de-rating an output power provided by each of the IGBTs based, at least in part, on the junction temperature.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising determining a temperture of ambient air, and de-rating the output power based, at least in part, on a temperature difference between the junction temperature and the temperature of the ambient air.

19. The method of claim 17, comprising receiving an IGBT command from a system controller, wherein de-rating the output power comprises generating a new IGBT command based, at least in part, on the IGBT command from the system controller and the junction temperature.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the set of IGBTs comprises a first dual IGBT configured to provide electrical power to the field exciter, a second dual IGBT configured to provide electrical power to a battery, and a third dual IGBT common to the field exciter and the battery charger, and the temperature sensor comprises a single temperature sensor disposed between the second dual IGBT and the third dual IGBT.