Thermal Cycling in Converter IGBT Modules with Different Cooling Systems in Pitch- and Active Stall-Controlled Tidal Turbines

This paper compares active and passive cooling systems in tidal turbine power electronic converters. The comparison is based on the lifetime of the IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) power modules, calculated from the accumulated fatigue due to thermal cycling. The lifetime analysis accounts for the influence of site conditions, namely...

Improving the Reliability of Tidal Turbine Generator Systems

Among different ways of harnessing tidal energy, tidal stream turbines are gaining popularity over traditional tidal dams. This is owing to the lower capital cost, and potentially lower ecological impact of tidal turbines. However, compared to more developed sources of energy, tidal energy remains expensive, which impedes its large-scale...