RELIABILITY TESTS AND THERMAL MODELLING FOR INVERTER IN HYBRID ELECTRICAL VEHICLES

This paper presents thermal models and describe the reliability of switching component of inverter used in Hybrid Electrical Vehicles. Inverters are made up of semiconductors and capacitors so it is important to assure the reliability of these components. The use of power electronic components in automobile applications is increasing day-by-day. Due to this it becomes important to determine the reliability of power electronic components used in automotive applications. Paper will compare reliability of IGBT and diode. This paper deals with the electrical and thermal modelling of three phase IGBT inverter which is capable of determining the junction temperature of the components over short mission profiles. Thermal simulations of systems and to accurately predict a systems response becomes essential in order to reduce the cost of design and production increase reliability.