Remaining Useful Lifetime Management of Modular Power Converters: Advantages and Collateral Negative Effects Part 4

In this talk, the advantages of using modular converters in a wide range of power applications are introduced. In addition, the operation of these converters with an eye on the thermal behaviour by applying advanced active thermal control methods is addressed. It will be shown that it is possible to smartly manage the remaining useful lifetime of each power cell of the modular structure to reduce the corresponding maintenance cost. However, the application of such methods leads to creating negative collateral effects that could mitigate the achieved advantages. These negative effects can be mitigated by applying advanced modulation methods based on modifying well-known techniques such as phase-shifted modulation and interleaved operation.