US 12,081,114 B2
Power converter and method for operating the power converter
Rodrigo Alonso Alvarez Valenzuela, Nuremberg (DE); Joerg Dorn, Buttenheim (DE); Herbert Gambach, Uttenreuth (DE); and Yeqi Wang, Langensendelbach (DE)
Assigned to Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG, Munich (DE)
Filed by Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG, Munich (DE)
Filed on Mar. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/703,023.
Claims priority of application No. 21164446 (EP), filed on Mar. 24, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0311327 A1, Sep. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. H02M 1/32 (2007.01); G01K 3/10 (2006.01); H02M 1/10 (2006.01)
CPC H02M 1/32 (2013.01) [G01K 3/10 (2013.01); H02M 1/10 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating a power converter having power converter arms, wherein each of the power converter arms having switching modules each with a plurality of semiconductor switches and an energy store, which comprises the steps of:
ascertaining a temperature value for the power converter on a basis of a state model of the power converter, wherein the ascertaining step is repeated so as to obtain time-related temperature values;
ascertaining a number and a magnitude of temperature rises that have occurred from the time-related temperature values;
estimating a remaining service life for the power converter based on the number and the magnitude of the temperature rises ascertained; and
assigning an event probability to the remaining service life.