Modified rainflow algorithm for temperature-time-dependent counting in lifetime estimation of power devices

Power electronic systems include many fragile elements, with power devices being the most prone to failure. Cycle counting algorithms are essential to evaluate power devices degradation and system reliability. Among the available options, the rainflow algorithm is the most widely used. Since the ra...

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Main Authors: Renata O. de Sousa, Rodrigo C. de Barros, William C. S. Amorim, Allan F. Cupertino, Heverton Augusto Pereira, Lenin M. F. Morais
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Associação Brasileira de Eletrônica de Potência 2025-04-01
Series:Eletrônica de Potência
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Online Access:https://journal.sobraep.org.br/index.php/rep/article/view/1021
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author Renata O. de Sousa
Rodrigo C. de Barros
William C. S. Amorim
Allan F. Cupertino
Heverton Augusto Pereira
Lenin M. F. Morais
author_facet Renata O. de Sousa
Rodrigo C. de Barros
William C. S. Amorim
Allan F. Cupertino
Heverton Augusto Pereira
Lenin M. F. Morais
author_sort Renata O. de Sousa
collection DOAJ
description Power electronic systems include many fragile elements, with power devices being the most prone to failure. Cycle counting algorithms are essential to evaluate power devices degradation and system reliability. Among the available options, the rainflow algorithm is the most widely used. Since the rainflow algorithm was originally designed for fatigue analysis, it faces challenges when applied to power devices. Specifically, the conventional rainflow algorithm cannot compute the effective heating time and the time-dependent equivalent mean temperature of the thermal cycles. Additionally, it counts cooling half-cycles, which contradicts the basis of lifetime models, as these models rely on data associated with heating temperature gradients. To address these limitations, this work introduces a modified rainflow algorithm for cycle counting in the lifetime estimation of power devices. This methodology enhances the conventional rainflow by enabling the calculation of effective heating time and mean temperature while also filtering out cooling half-cycles. The results demonstrate that the modified rainflow algorithm significantly affects the lifetime predictions for all critical joints in an IGBT module, regardless of the mission profile. Across all case studies, the utilization of the modified rainflow algorithm resulted in a damage reduction exceeding 53\%. %.
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issn 1414-8862
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publishDate 2025-04-01
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spelling doaj-art-9752ac686bae4d50946e801128eefdea2025-08-20T02:26:22ZengAssociação Brasileira de Eletrônica de PotênciaEletrônica de Potência1414-88621984-557X2025-04-013010.18618/REP.e202532Modified rainflow algorithm for temperature-time-dependent counting in lifetime estimation of power devicesRenata O. de Sousa0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9556-5260Rodrigo C. de Barros1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7662-3947William C. S. Amorim2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2054-4393Allan F. Cupertino3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8418-1985Heverton Augusto Pereira4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0710-7815Lenin M. F. Morais5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1680-0400Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná Universidade Federal de Ouro PretoInstituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de Minas Gerais Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora Universidade Federal de Viçosa Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Power electronic systems include many fragile elements, with power devices being the most prone to failure. Cycle counting algorithms are essential to evaluate power devices degradation and system reliability. Among the available options, the rainflow algorithm is the most widely used. Since the rainflow algorithm was originally designed for fatigue analysis, it faces challenges when applied to power devices. Specifically, the conventional rainflow algorithm cannot compute the effective heating time and the time-dependent equivalent mean temperature of the thermal cycles. Additionally, it counts cooling half-cycles, which contradicts the basis of lifetime models, as these models rely on data associated with heating temperature gradients. To address these limitations, this work introduces a modified rainflow algorithm for cycle counting in the lifetime estimation of power devices. This methodology enhances the conventional rainflow by enabling the calculation of effective heating time and mean temperature while also filtering out cooling half-cycles. The results demonstrate that the modified rainflow algorithm significantly affects the lifetime predictions for all critical joints in an IGBT module, regardless of the mission profile. Across all case studies, the utilization of the modified rainflow algorithm resulted in a damage reduction exceeding 53\%. %. https://journal.sobraep.org.br/index.php/rep/article/view/1021cycle counting algorithmmodified rainflowlifetime estimationpower devicesreliability
spellingShingle Renata O. de Sousa
Rodrigo C. de Barros
William C. S. Amorim
Allan F. Cupertino
Heverton Augusto Pereira
Lenin M. F. Morais
Modified rainflow algorithm for temperature-time-dependent counting in lifetime estimation of power devices
Eletrônica de Potência
cycle counting algorithm
modified rainflow
lifetime estimation
power devices
reliability
title Modified rainflow algorithm for temperature-time-dependent counting in lifetime estimation of power devices
title_full Modified rainflow algorithm for temperature-time-dependent counting in lifetime estimation of power devices
title_fullStr Modified rainflow algorithm for temperature-time-dependent counting in lifetime estimation of power devices
title_full_unstemmed Modified rainflow algorithm for temperature-time-dependent counting in lifetime estimation of power devices
title_short Modified rainflow algorithm for temperature-time-dependent counting in lifetime estimation of power devices
title_sort modified rainflow algorithm for temperature time dependent counting in lifetime estimation of power devices
topic cycle counting algorithm
modified rainflow
lifetime estimation
power devices
reliability
url https://journal.sobraep.org.br/index.php/rep/article/view/1021
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