Experimental analysis of temperature distribution within traction IGBT modules

This work establishes a method which allows a rapid thermal evaluation of both IGBT modules and cooling systems during an acceleration or deceleration cycle experienced along any traction application. Usually, the followed methodologies to test the cooling systems in railway applications are based on power pulses which rapidly reach its steady-state, instead of using current saw-tooth waveforms more similar to the real working environment. This procedure has been applied to a heat pipe-based thermosyphon optimised for railway applications. From the experiment results, it is concluded that the temperature distribution inside the power module is strongly dependent on both the thermal excitation procedure applied to the whole system and the way to mechanically fix the power modules to the cooling system.