Design and Performance Investigation of Liquid based cooling system for Electrical converter system of Adama I wind power plant

Abstract

This Paper Presents Design And Numerical Performance Investigation Of Single Phase DirectLiquid Cooling For Converter System Of Adama I Wind Power Plant. The Cooling System Design WasDone By Applying Liquid To The Heat Sink Of Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (Igbts) And RectifierDiodes. In Adama I, Converter System Consists A Total Of 10 Igbts And 2 Diodes In Two Cabinets.The Heat Sink Of These Igbts Have 360 X 215 X 70 Mm Rectangular Dimension And Exposed To 30W/Cm2 Heat Flux At Its Top Surface. Issues Related To Effectiveness, Dust Accumulation And ReliabilityOf The Current Forced Air Converter Cooling Is The Motivation To Propose Liquid Cooling. Single PhaseDirect Contact Liquid Cooling Is Reliable Thermal Management Approach As It Allows High HeatExchange By Conduction. In This Study The Model Of Liquid Cooled Igbt And Diode Heat Sink WasSimulated By Ansys Fluent By Considering Steady State Heat Transfer And Fluid Flow. Three DifferentFluids (Water, Glycol Water Mixture And Natural Oil) Cooling Performance Was Compared At ThreeDifferent Inlet Velocities (0.4, 0.6 & 0.8m/S). Water Was Found As Best Cooler To Operate At 0.8m/S.Using Water At 0.8m/S Flow Velocity And 250c Inlet Temperature Lowered The Heat Sink?�?S VolumeAverage Temperature To 31.170c. Its Top Surface Average And Maximum Temperature Were 47.880cAnd 63.90c Respectively. The Target Body?�?S (Heat Sink?�?S) Temperature When Cooled By Water WasCompared With That Of The Existing Air Cooling. 42.020c, 65.730c And 90.690c Were Heat SinkVolume Average, Top Wall Average And Top Surface Maximum Temperatures.