Abstract
This paper present result from an on-going research project on pressure tolerant power electronics where the power electronic components are enabled to operate in a pressurized dielectric environment.
The driving force for the research is to provide new solutions for subsea high power converters that can get benefits by reduced weight and volume of pressure chambers, reduced number of electric
power penetrators, obtain less complexity and more reliable cooling system, reduced costs and increased overall reliability. The components of most concern have been power semiconductors, power capacitors and IGBT gate drivers. Even though the work reported in this paper is still in progress, the basic investigations and experimental work so far indicates that reliable solutions for pressure tolerant power electronics has a high potential for success, when all power components and gate driver electronics are vacuumized and soaked in a proper dielectric fluid. This is valid for the individual components as well as for the complete circuits. Also the feedbacks from the components manufacturers are uplifting in that respect.
The driving force for the research is to provide new solutions for subsea high power converters that can get benefits by reduced weight and volume of pressure chambers, reduced number of electric
power penetrators, obtain less complexity and more reliable cooling system, reduced costs and increased overall reliability. The components of most concern have been power semiconductors, power capacitors and IGBT gate drivers. Even though the work reported in this paper is still in progress, the basic investigations and experimental work so far indicates that reliable solutions for pressure tolerant power electronics has a high potential for success, when all power components and gate driver electronics are vacuumized and soaked in a proper dielectric fluid. This is valid for the individual components as well as for the complete circuits. Also the feedbacks from the components manufacturers are uplifting in that respect.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 2009 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | 13th International European Power Electronics Conference and Exhibition - Barcelona, Spain Duration: 8 Sept 2009 → 10 Sept 2009 Conference number: 13 |
Conference
| Conference | 13th International European Power Electronics Conference and Exhibition |
|---|---|
| Number | 13 |
| Country/Territory | Spain |
| City | Barcelona |
| Period | 08/09/2009 → 10/09/2009 |
Bibliographical note
This paper presents results from a research project [1] financed by the Norwegian Research Council (the Petromaks Programme) and industry partners (oil companies, engineering companies andmanufacturers of equipment), and with NTNU as university partner