Reliability and Fault Diagnosis in Power Electronic Systems

Understand the fundamental principles of reliability in power electronic systems.

Fundamental Principles of Reliability in Power Electronic Systems: - Definition and importance of reliability in power electronics. - Reliability metrics: Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF), Mean Time to Repair (MTTR), and failure rate. - Reliability standards and testing protocols (e.g., MIL-STD-217, IEC 61709). - Impact of reliability on system performance, safety, and lifecycle cost.

Learn the common failure modes and mechanisms in power electronics.

Common Failure Modes and Mechanisms in Power Electronics: - Identification of typical failure modes: thermal, electrical, mechanical, and environmental. - Failure mechanisms: dielectric breakdown, solder joint fatigue, thermal cycling, and electromigration. - Analysis of component-specific failures: semiconductors (IGBTs, MOSFETs), capacitors, inductors, and connectors. - Case studies of failures in power supplies, inverters, and motor drives.

Explore techniques for enhancing the reliability of power electronic components and systems.

Techniques for Enhancing Reliability of Power Electronic Components and Systems: - Design for reliability: derating, redundancy, component selection, and robust design practices. - Thermal management strategies: heat sinks, forced cooling, and thermal interface materials. - Protective measures: overvoltage, overcurrent, and thermal protection circuits. - Accelerated life testing and Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT) methods.

Develop skills in fault detection and diagnosis methods.

Fault Detection and Diagnosis Methods: - Techniques for real-time fault detection: voltage and current monitoring, thermal sensors, and failure signatures. - Diagnostic methods: fault tree analysis (FTA), failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), and root cause analysis (RCA). - Advanced fault diagnosis techniques: model-based diagnosis, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. - Implementation of self-diagnosing and self-correcting systems in power electronics.

Implement predictive maintenance and monitoring strategies for power electronics.

Predictive Maintenance and Monitoring Strategies: - Overview of predictive maintenance: principles, benefits, and application in power electronics. - Condition monitoring techniques: vibration analysis, thermal imaging, and electrical signal analysis. - Prognostics: predicting the remaining useful life (RUL) of components and systems. - Integration of monitoring systems: data acquisition, processing, and decision-making in power electronics.

Analyse and troubleshoot faults in power electronic systems in practical applications.

Analysis and Troubleshooting of Faults in Power Electronic Systems: - Practical approaches to fault analysis: identifying symptoms, isolating causes, and implementing solutions. - Use of diagnostic tools: oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and fault simulators. - Case studies of fault diagnosis and resolution in industrial, automotive, and renewable energy systems. - Continuous improvement strategies: feedback loops, post-fault analysis, and design revisions for enhanced reliability.

Providing safety awareness and practical training for live working on high voltage systems and an explanation of the safe working techniques to mitigate the hazards.