Reactive Power Influence on the Thermal Cycling of Multi-MW Wind Power Inverter

In this paper the reactive power influence on the thermal cycling of power devices in grid-connected inverter for 10 MW wind turbines is investigated. Restrained by the grid codes, the allowable reactive power ranges in relation to amplitude and phase angle of the load current for a single converter system are first presented at different wind speeds. Furthermore, the interaction between paralleled converter systems in a wind park is also considered and analyzed. By controlling the reactive power circulated among paralleled converters, a new concept is then proposed to stabilize the thermal fluctuation of the power devices during wind gusts. It is concluded that the reactive power may change the thermal distribution of power devices. By properly controlling the reactive power, it is possible to achieve a more stable junction temperature in the power devices during the fluctuation of wind speed, and thereby could provide a new way to improve the reliability of the wind power conversion system.