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http://dx.doi.org/10.6113/JPE.2010.10.6.660

Reliability: A Neglected Topic in the Power Electronics Curricula  

Calleja, Hugo (Dept. of Electronics, National Centre for Research and Development of Technology)
Chan, Freddy (Division of Science and Engineering, Quintana Roo University)
Publication Information
Journal of Power Electronics / v.10, no.6, 2010 , pp. 660-666 More about this Journal
Abstract
This paper presents the approach followed to develop a course that introduces reliability into the design of power electronics converters. The course is part of the curriculum of a master of science in electrical engineering program, and it is aimed at providing reliability tools that can be used in a straightforward manner, while avoiding the mathematical intricacies. The reliability calculations are performed according to the Military Handbook 217, using the evaluation version of a commercial software package which greatly reduces the computational burden usually associated with this task. The course assessment shows that, after attending the course, students were able to improve the mean time between failures in a power-electronics converter, from a minimum of 5%, up to 100%.
Keywords
Failure rate; Power converters; Reliability;
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