Power Cycling Lifetime Investigation under Low Temperature Swings and 50 Hz Load with Experiment and Simulation

Conference: PCIM Europe digital days 2021 - International Exhibition and Conference for Power Electronics, Intelligent Motion, Renewable Energy and Energy Management
05/03/2021 - 05/07/2021 at Online

Proceedings: PCIM Europe digital days 2021

Pages: 8Language: englishTyp: PDF

Authors:
Schwabe, Christian; Thoenelt, Nick; Seidel, Peter; Lutz, Josef; Basler, Thomas (Technische Universität Chemnitz, Germany)

Abstract:
This paper focuses on the high cycle fatigue zone with low temperature swings for power modules, which is a new field in experimental testing. An advanced power cycling test concept, which can provide switching and conduction losses, was used. This combination allows accelerated testing with a load frequency of 50 Hz while avoiding to overstress devices with a current beyond specification. A design of experiments was developed and carried out with several million power cycling swings. Unexpectedly, the results can be fitted with standard models up to temperature swings of DeltaT = 25 K. A wide range of simulations has been performed to further investigate the temperature distribution and the mechanical background. The mechanical simulation underlined the failure analysis which exposes solder layer degradation as a main failure mode for low temperature swings.