Towards Self-aware and Environment-aware Power Converters

This paper develops the vision of power converter as a sensor for D&P (Diagnostic & Prognostic) of electrical energy systems. Such power converter would rely on available on-board intelligence & sensors. The converters are capable of monitoring components within the converters themselves, i.e. self-awareness and also the systems to which they are connected (e.g. motor, cables...), i.e. environmental awareness. This vision is supported in this paper by an analysis of the literature. For a selection of components and systems prone to failure, key methodological steps are outlined. They include analysis of failure modes, of their cause and consequences. Then, stressors and precursors to failure are listed in a context of observability at the converter level. Means for processing this measurable data and extracting the useful information such as state of health, remaining lifetime and fault location are exemplified.