Compact thermal model of a three-phase IGBT inverter power module

A compact thermal model of a three-phase IGBT inverter power module utilised in most of variable speed drivers has been described in this paper. The compact thermal model equals to an electrical RC network model is assembled from thermal resistances and thermal capacitances so that it can be easily implemented in a circuit simulator. Transient thermal 3D finite element (FE) model of the IGBT module has been carried out using commercially available FLOTHERM software; the 3D simulation results are then utilised to extract the compact thermal network parameters of the IGBT power modular. Good agreement has been achieved between simulation and experimental measurement.