US 12,113,433 B2
System and method for detecting IGBT failure in a multi-level converter using gate-emitter voltage sensing
Nathaniel Robert Michener, Roanoke, VA (US); and Robert Gregory Wagoner, Roanoke, VA (US)
Assigned to GE Infrastructure Technology LLC, Greenville, SC (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Apr. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/725,683.
Prior Publication US 2023/0344332 A1, Oct. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. H02M 1/32 (2007.01); H02J 3/00 (2006.01); H02M 1/084 (2006.01); H02M 5/458 (2006.01)
CPC H02M 1/32 (2013.01) [H02J 3/0012 (2020.01); H02M 1/084 (2013.01); H02M 5/4585 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A controller-implemented method for operating a multi-level bridge power converter of an electrical power system connected to a power grid, the multi-level power converter having a first converter coupled to a DC link, the multi-level power converter having a plurality of switching devices, the method comprising:
receiving, via a controller, a commanded state for a gate of one or more of the plurality of switching devices;
receiving, via the controller, a gate-emitter voltage of the one or more of the plurality of switching devices, the gate-emitter voltage referring to a voltage from the gate to an emitter of the one or more of the plurality of switching devices;
comparing, via at least one comparator of the controller, the gate-emitter voltage of the one or more plurality of switching devices to a reference voltage range corresponding to the commanded state for the gate of the one or more of the plurality of switching devices;
determining, via the controller, an actual state of the gate of the one or more of the plurality of switching devices based on the comparison; and
implementing, via the controller, a control action based on the actual state of the gate of the one or more of the plurality of switching devices.