Thermal Analysis of the Power Distribution System As Part of an Underwater Compressed Air Energy Storage Station

摘要

This paper deals with sizing and reliability of the power electronics equipment embedded in an offshore compressed air energy storage station. In this system, the power grid is distributed through a DC bus between ten identical electro-pneumatic power conversion units. Each unit is also divided in two parallel variable speed drive devices which operate with large power fluctuations. From a transient thermal model of IGBT modules, the thermal behaviour of power converters is described over cyclic fluctuations. Thermal results analysis shows that the sizing of the system could be considered downwards. Then, the main grid side converter sizing is discussed according to two operating configurations. Finally, considering thermal results, the temporal interleaving of the power units operation allows to reduce current rating of IGBTs as well as thermal stress of the semiconductors.