Thermal and Efficiency Analysis of Five-Level Multilevel-Clamped Multilevel Converter Considering Grid Codes

Abstract

In this paper, a five-level multilevel-clamped multilevel converter (5L-MLC 2 ) topology is analyzed based on a typical grid integration application for renewable energy system. The loss and thermal distributions of the power devices in different switching legs are investigated and illustrated under rated condition. Afterward, a loss and efficiency evaluation method is proposed and applied which takes into account various injected reactive power ranges regulated by the grid codes. It is concluded that the loss and thermal distributions of the 5L-MLC 2 multilevel topology are unequal between the clamping switching legs and the main switching legs; it also shows a good and consistent efficiency characteristic under different output power ranges when complying with the grid codes.

Reliability evaluation of buck converter based on thermal analysis

“…Typically, the heat sink temperature is much lower than that at the junction of other components, and in reliability designs, a temperature of 40°C is considered a stable value for the temperature of the heat sink [50]. However, the structure and design of the heat sink can affect its operating temperature.…”