System and Method for Controlling Multiple IGBT Temperatures in a Power Converter of an Electrical Power System

A temperature control system for a plurality of switching devices of a power converter of a wind turbine power system connected to a power grid, the plurality of switching devices having a primary switching device and a plurality of secondary switching devices, the temperature control system comprising:

• a plurality of temperature sensors communicatively coupled to the plurality of switching devices, the plurality of temperature sensors configured to generate a plurality of temperature signals;
• a temperature measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the primary switching device for estimating a primary temperature thereof based on a primary temperature signal of the plurality of temperature signals;
• at least one comparator circuit communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of temperature sensors, the at least one comparator circuit configured to compare remaining temperature signals from the plurality of temperature signals or a function of the remaining temperature signals to the primary temperature;
• and,
• a controller communicatively coupled to the temperature measurement circuit and the at least one comparator circuit, the controller configured to implement a control action if one of the remaining temperature signals or the function of remaining temperature signals exceeds the primary temperature.

A method for controlling temperature of a plurality of switching devices of a power converter of an electrical power system connected to a power grid, the method comprising:

• generating, via a plurality of temperature sensors communicatively coupled to the plurality of switching devices, a plurality of temperature signals from the plurality of switching devices;
• selecting a primary switching device from the plurality of switching devices to estimate a primary temperature thereof;
• comparing, via an operational amplifier, the plurality of temperature signals to at least one of each other or to the primary temperature;
• and,
• if one of the plurality of temperature signals varies from remaining temperature signals by a predetermined amount, implementing, via a controller, a control action.