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Reliability of Power Electronics Devices and Converter Systems: 2nd Edition

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "F3: Power Electronics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2026 | Viewed by 5067

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jun Wang

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College of Electrical and Information Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
Interests: power semiconductor devices and applications (including design, characterization, modeling, reliability, gate driver, converter control and topology)
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Dr. Jun Zhang

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Guest Editor

School of Electrical and Power Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
Interests: power electronics reliability
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Dr. Kun Tan

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School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Anhui University, Hefei, China
Interests: advanced driving; condition monitoring; packaging; characterization of power semiconductor devices
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Dr. Jingwei Zhang

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Guest Editor

College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Hohai University, Changzhou, China
Interests: modeling of PV module and PV system; failure mechanisms of PV module; fault diagnosis; intelligent maintenance of PV systems; PV fed microgrids
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Dr. Hengyu Yu

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Guest Editor

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Interests: reliability and ruggedness of advanced semiconductor power devices; health state monitoring technologies; applications in power electronic systems
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Power electronics play a key role in energy conversion and management, being prominent in renewable energy generation systems, electric vehicles, smart grids, etc. However, industrial experience indicates that the power converter is one of the weakest components in the system. Thus, there is a pressing need to improve the reliability of power converters and reduce the system downtime induced by the failure of power converters. The failure mechanism, thermal network model, junction temperature estimation, lifetime prediction, condition monitoring, and thermal control of power electronics systems have become increasingly important. This Special Issue aims to present and disseminate the most recent advances related to the reliability of power electronics system. Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:

1) Failure and degradation mechanism of power devices and converters;
2) Testing methodologies, techniques, and platforms design for power devices and converters;
3) Junction temperature estimation and thermal management of power devices and converters;
4) Packaging and modeling of advanced semiconductor power devices, such as SiC, GaN, Ga₂O₃, etc;
5) Condition monitoring, fault detection, and diagnosis of power device and converters;
6) Gate drivers and artificial intelligence-driven reliability enhancement methodology of power device and converters;
7) Digital twin modeling of power electronic converters and components.

Prof. Dr. Jun Wang
Dr. Jun Zhang
Dr. Kun Tan
Dr. Jingwei Zhang
Dr. Hengyu Yu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

power device
power converter
reliability

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Related Special Issue

Reliability of Power Electronics Devices and Converter Systems in Energies (9 articles)

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 18293 KB

Open AccessArticle

Differential Protection Based on Virtual Short-Circuit Current Considering Both Grid-Forming Inverter and Grid-Following Inverter for New Energy Bases

by Zehua Su, Qian Chen, Sijin Wang, Zhehan Qin and Jingyu Gao

Energies 2026, 19(8), 1853; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19081853 - 9 Apr 2026

Viewed by 476

Abstract

The rapid development of renewable energy generation, now increasingly integrated through centralized new energy bases, is propelled by government strategy and enabling technologies. The demand for inverters to connect new energy sources results in a short-circuit current that is both amplitude-limited and highly non-linear. This characteristic makes traditional relay protection methods poorly adapted, introducing significant safety and stability hazards within new energy bases. Therefore, a current differential protection method based on a virtual short-circuit current is proposed in this study. The virtual short-circuit current is calculated based on the ratio of the inverter’s internal modulation coefficient, within the controller of both grid-forming (GFM) and grid-following (GFL) inverters, before and during a short-circuit fault in the grid. That is, the short-circuit current output from the inverter is the same as that output from a traditional synchronous generator with the same generation capacity. Consequently, the trip criterion based on RMS (Root Mean Square) measurement is satisfied, and the traditional differential protection method remains applicable. It is verified by simulation cases that the aforementioned differential protection method based on a virtual short-circuit current is correct and adaptable for new energy bases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reliability of Power Electronics Devices and Converter Systems: 2nd Edition)

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26 pages, 4223 KB

Open AccessArticle

Overvoltage Elimination via Distributed Backstepping-Controlled Converters in Near-Zero-Energy Buildings Under Excess Solar Power to Improve Distribution Network Reliability

by J. Dionísio Barros, Luis Rocha, A. Moisés and J. Fernando Silva

Energies 2026, 19(8), 1832; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19081832 - 8 Apr 2026

Viewed by 376

Abstract

This work uses battery-coupled power electronic converter systems and distributed backstepping controllers to improve the reliability of electrical distribution networks. The motivation is to prevent blackouts such as the 28 April 2025 outage in Spain, Portugal, and the south of France. It is now accepted that a rapid rise in solar power injections caused AC overvoltage above grid code limits, triggering photovoltaic (PV) park disconnections as overvoltage self-protection. This case study considers near-Zero-Energy Buildings (nZEBs) connected to the Madeira Island isolated microgrid, where PV power installation is increasing excessively. The main university facility will be upgraded as an nZEB, using roughly 3000 m² of unshaded rooftops plus coverable parking areas to install PV panels. Optimizing the profits/energy cost ratio, a PV power system of around 560 kW can be planned, and the Battery Storage System (BSS) energy capacity can be estimated. The BSS is connected to the university nZEB via backstepping-controlled multilevel converters to manage PV and BSS, enabling the building to contribute to voltage and frequency regulation. Distributed multilevel converters inject renewable energy into the medium-voltage network, regulating active and reactive power to prevent overvoltages shutting down the PV inverters. This removes sustained overvoltage and maximizes PV penetration while augmenting AC grid reliability and resilience. When there is excess solar power and reactive power is insufficient to reduce voltage, controllers slightly curtail PV active power to eliminate overvoltage, maintaining operation with minimal revenue loss while preventing long interruptions, thereby improving grid reliability and power quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reliability of Power Electronics Devices and Converter Systems: 2nd Edition)

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28 pages, 6139 KB

Open AccessArticle

Principal–Slave Control Strategy for SLCC DC Interconnection System Considering Principal Station Capacity Margin

by Wanyun Xie, Zhenhua Zhu and Chuyang Wang

Energies 2026, 19(7), 1762; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19071762 - 3 Apr 2026

Viewed by 426

Abstract

In flexible DC transmission and AC-DC interconnection systems, the Self-Adaption Station and Line Commutation Converter (SLCC) integrates static var compensation with conventional thyristor conversion functionality. This enables dynamic reactive power support at the valve side while improving commutation conditions, thereby enhancing the voltage support capability and operational robustness of DC systems. Under high renewable energy penetration, power fluctuations and sudden ramping challenges principal–slave controlled SLCC DC interconnection systems with a trade-off between principal-side DC voltage regulation and capacity margin constraints: Disturbance-induced active power demands may exceed available margins, causing DC voltage deviations and increasing protection trip risks. Leveraging the active/reactive decoupling characteristics of the SLCC topology, this paper proposes a principal–slave coordinated control strategy that accounts for principal station capacity margins. Methodologically, capacity margins are explicitly embedded into the principal station control mode. By reconstructing key variables in the DC voltage outer loop and introducing a closed-loop suppression mechanism with “over-capacity power” as feedback, the principal station maintains continuous voltage regulation while avoiding entry into over-capacity operation zones. On the slave side, a power support mechanism is designed to coordinate regulation among generation, storage, and load under power balance and equipment capacity constraints. This coordination process is formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem balancing disturbance economic losses with generation/storage utilization, solved using NSGA-II. Simulation results demonstrate that this strategy suppresses the risk of principle station overcapacity, enhances power sharing coordination during disturbance conditions, and improves DC voltage dynamic performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reliability of Power Electronics Devices and Converter Systems: 2nd Edition)

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34 pages, 6564 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Damage Analysis of Critical Sub-Profiles in Random Mission Profile of Electric Drive Power Converters Under Controlled Thermal Conditions

by Ilija Jeftenić, Saša Štatkić, Snežana Aleksandrović and Nebojša Mitrović

Energies 2026, 19(5), 1193; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19051193 - 27 Feb 2026

Viewed by 446

Abstract

This paper presents a signal-processing methodology for assessing thermal stress and fatigue damage in IGBT modules. This study utilizes junction temperature data from operational frequency converters at a belt conveyor station rather than conventional approaches. These in situ measurements ensure that thermal profiles accurately reflect actual loading conditions. A reliability framework based on mission profiles assesses the contribution of each operational regime. We examine transient overloads, steady-state operation, and periods of low load specifically. We apply Miner’s rule and rainflow counts to the analyzed temperature profiles. This enables the assessment of accumulated damage in each operational segment. The primary finding indicates that a minimal duration of operational time constitutes the majority of total lifetime utilization. This disproportionate impact is attributable to transient overloads. This study quantitatively evaluates this phenomenon using Rainflow analysis to disaggregate mission profiles. The proposed framework enhances the precision of reliability engineering. It provides a valuable foundation for enhancing maintenance planning and control strategies in practical scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reliability of Power Electronics Devices and Converter Systems: 2nd Edition)

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27 pages, 6387 KB

Open AccessArticle

An Abnormal Increase in Switching Frequency in Multi-Sources Line Commutated Converter and Suppression Method

by Xintong Mao, Xianmeng Zhang, Jian Ling, Honglin Yan, Rui Jing, Zhihan Liu and Chuyang Wang

Energies 2026, 19(4), 870; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19040870 - 7 Feb 2026

Viewed by 378

Abstract

Distinct from the traditional Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) which focuses on fundamental frequency operation, the Static Var and Filter (SVF) within the Multi-Source Line-Commutated Converter (SLCC) system is tasked with the core function of high-frequency harmonic filtering. This paper reveals a unique engineering reliability issue stemming from this functional difference: to satisfy the Nyquist sampling theorem for precise tracking and elimination of high-frequency harmonics, the update frequency of the capacitor voltage balancing algorithm in the SLCC-SVF system is forced to increase significantly. Mathematical modeling and quantitative analysis demonstrate that this strong coupling between harmonic tracking demands and the voltage sorting strategy directly drives an abnormal surge in the average switching frequency (reaching over five times that of the fundamental condition), severely threatening device safety. To address this, an optimized adaptive hybrid modulation strategy is proposed. The system operates under Nearest Level Modulation (NLM) in normal conditions and automatically transitions to Carrier Phase-Shifted PWM (CPS-PWM)—leveraging its closed-loop balancing capability—when switching frequency or junction temperature exceeds safety thresholds. Furthermore, a non-integer frequency ratio optimization theory for low-modulation indices is constructed specifically for SVF conditions to prevent low-frequency oscillations. PLECS simulation results validate the theoretical analysis, showing that the proposed strategy effectively reduces the average switching frequency by approximately 20% under complex harmonic conditions, significantly enhancing thermal stability and operational reliability while guaranteeing filtering performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reliability of Power Electronics Devices and Converter Systems: 2nd Edition)

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15 pages, 2576 KB

Open AccessArticle

Active Power Criterion Based High-Adaptive Differential Protection for Power Electronic Equipment

by Yigong Xie, Chen Wu, Min Cheng, Dan Zhang, Xiao Zhang and Qian Chen

Energies 2026, 19(2), 356; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19020356 - 11 Jan 2026

Viewed by 437

Abstract

In flexible AC/DC microgrids, a variety of non-traditional power equipment are in operation, such as AC/DC interlinking converters. Moreover, due to the influence of interlinking converters, short-circuit fault characteristics in microgrids are much different from those in traditional distribution networks, which makes existing protection methods have poor adaptability. This paper introduces an active power variable-based differential protection method, which is suitable for various non-traditional power equipment. While in normal operation or during an external fault state, internal active power losses are rather minimum, resulting in nearly zero power difference between equipment terminals. However, during an internal fault state, the active power difference between terminals becomes extremely large, which can be adopted as protection criteria. The selectivity and rapidity are verified by simulation cases, and the aforementioned method is applicable to various non-traditional equipment, such as single-phase AC/DC converters, three-phase AC/DC converters, etc. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reliability of Power Electronics Devices and Converter Systems: 2nd Edition)

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20 pages, 2525 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Fault Diagnosis Method for Excitation Transformers Based on HPO-DBN and Multi-Source Heterogeneous Information Fusion

by Mingtao Yu, Jingang Wang, Yang Liu, Peng Bao, Weiguo Zu, Yinglong Deng, Shiyi Chen, Lijiang Ma, Pengcheng Zhao and Jinyao Dou

Energies 2025, 18(20), 5505; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18205505 - 18 Oct 2025

Viewed by 787

Abstract

In response to the limitations of traditional single-signal approaches, which fail to comprehensively reflect fault conditions, and the difficulties of existing feature extraction methods in capturing subtle fault patterns in transformer fault diagnosis, this paper proposes an innovative fault diagnosis methodology. Initially, to address common severe faults in excitation transformers, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is applied to reduce the dimensionality of multi-source feature data, effectively eliminating redundant information. Subsequently, to mitigate the impact of non-stationary noise interference in voiceprint signals, a Deep Belief Network (DBN) optimized using the Hunter–Prey Optimization (HPO) algorithm is employed to automatically extract deep features highly correlated with faults, thus enabling the detection of complex, subtle fault patterns. For temperature and electrical parameter signals, which contain abundant time-domain information, the Random Forest algorithm is utilized to evaluate and select the most relevant time-domain statistics. Nonlinear dimensionality reduction is then performed using an autoencoder to further reduce redundant features. Finally, a multi-classifier model based on Adaptive Boosting with Support Vector Machine (Adaboost-SVM) is constructed to fuse multi-source heterogeneous information. By incorporating a pseudo-label self-training strategy and integrating a working condition awareness mechanism, the model effectively analyzes feature distribution differences across varying operational conditions, selecting potential unseen condition samples for training. This approach enhances the model’s adaptability and stability, enabling real-time fault diagnosis. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves an overall accuracy of 96.89% in excitation transformer fault diagnosis, outperforming traditional models such as SVM, Extreme Gradient Boosting with Support Vector Machine (XGBoost-SVM), and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The method proves to be highly practical and generalizable, significantly improving fault diagnosis accuracy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reliability of Power Electronics Devices and Converter Systems: 2nd Edition)

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22 pages, 6557 KB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling of Residual Stress, Plastic Deformation, and Permanent Warpage Induced by the Resin Molding Process in SiC-Based Power Modules

by Giuseppe Mirone, Luca Corallo, Raffaele Barbagallo and Giuseppe Bua

Energies 2025, 18(20), 5364; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18205364 - 11 Oct 2025

Viewed by 1045

Abstract

A critical aspect in the design of power electronics packages is the prediction of their mechanical response under severe thermomechanical loads and the consequent structural damage. For this purpose, finite element (FE) simulations are used to estimate the mechanical performance and reliability under operational conditions, typically alternate high voltages/currents resulting in thermal gradients. When simulations are performed, it is common practice to consider the as-received package to be in a stress-free state. Namely, residual stresses and plastic deformation induced by the manufacturing processes are neglected. In this study, an advanced FE modeling approach is proposed to assess the structural consequences of the encapsulating resin curing, typical in the production of silicon carbide (SiC)-based power electronics modules for electric vehicles. This work offers a general modeling framework that can be further employed to simulate the effects of thermal gradients induced by the production process on the effective shape and residual stresses of the as-received package for other manufacturing stages, such as metal brazing, soldering processes joining copper and SiC, and, to lower extents, the application of polyimide on top of passivation layers. The obtained results have been indirectly validated with experimental data from literature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reliability of Power Electronics Devices and Converter Systems: 2nd Edition)

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