Improving power electronics reliability with fiber optics sensors

Power modules such as IGBT are widely used for electric vehicles, aircrafts and grid connected applications, such as renewable energies (solar panels and windmills). The reliability of these systems is essential because failures cause downtimes and thus costs. The most important failure mechanism is based on thermal cycling and aging.Integrated temperature measurements during the testing and operation phases of the modules have been identified as an efficient solution for increasing the reliability of these devices. The EM immunity, response time and size of the sensors combined with other technological benefits provide efficient monitoring diagnostics of power electronic components under stress.