Technique for temperature equalization of upper and lower arms based on dead-time shifting adjustment

doi:10.3785/j.issn.1008-973X.2026.10.001

Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science)

2026, Vol. 60

Issue (10): 2077-2086 DOI: 10.3785/j.issn.1008-973X.2026.10.001

Technique for temperature equalization of upper and lower arms based on dead-time shifting adjustment

Yanyong YANG1(

),Wuhua LI2,Pinjia ZHANG3

1. School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
2. College of Electrical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310057, China
3. Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Download:

HTML

PDF(3756KB) HTML
Export: BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)

Abstract

To address the issue of inconsistent thermal stress between the upper and lower devices of the same bridge arm in converters under conditions of uneven aging or layout deviations, a novel thermal balancing method for upper and lower bridge arms based on dead-time shifting adjustment was proposed. By monitoring the on-state voltage of insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) online, the real-time junction temperature of IGBTs was deduced based on the mapping relationship between the on-state voltage and junction temperature of IGBTs. Then, the temperature difference between the upper and lower devices of the same bridge arm was determined. When the thermal stress difference between the upper and lower bridge arms exceeded the threshold, the effective conduction time of the upper and lower bridge arms was adjusted by fine-tuning the position of the dead time, thereby actively regulating the power loss distribution of the upper and lower bridge arms. This achieved an increase in the loss of the bridge arm with lower temperature and a decrease in the loss of the bridge arm with higher temperature without affecting the total system loss, thus improving the thermal stress consistency of power devices in the converter and enhancing system reliability. Theoretical analysis and experimental results showed that the proposed method did not affect system efficiency and had no significant negative impact on output performance. Under typical operating conditions, the average temperature difference between the upper and lower devices was reduced by approximately 14% after adjustment, effectively improving the thermal stress consistency of the upper and lower bridge arms.

Key words： dead-time adjustment converter power device temperature equalization thermal management

Received: 31 December 2025 Published: 28 July 2026

CLC:	TN 322.8
	TM 46

Fund: 国家自然科学基金资助项目（52477204, 52225702, 52437004，52207185）；北京市自然科学基金资助项目（L247021，L257014）；中国科学技术协会青年人才托举工程 (YESS20240412)；新型电力系统运行与控制全国重点实验室资助课题(SKLD24KZ09)；中央高校基本科研项目(2025XJJD02) .

	Service
	E-mail this article
	Add to my bookshelf
	Add to citation manager
	E-mail Alert
	RSS
	Articles by authors
	Yanyong YANG
	Wuhua LI
	Pinjia ZHANG

Cite this article:

Yanyong YANG,Wuhua LI,Pinjia ZHANG. Technique for temperature equalization of upper and lower arms based on dead-time shifting adjustment. Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science), 2026, 60(10): 2077-2086.

URL:

https://www.zjujournals.com/eng/10.3785/j.issn.1008-973X.2026.10.001 OR https://www.zjujournals.com/eng/Y2026/V60/I10/2077

基于死区移位调整的上下桥臂热均衡方法

变换器在老化不均或者布局偏差的情况下，容易出现同一桥臂上管与下管热应力不一致的问题，为此提出基于死区移位调整的上、下桥臂热均衡新方法. 在线监测绝缘栅双极型晶体管（IGBT）导通电压，基于IGBT导通电压与结温之间的映射关系推算IGBT的实时结温，并判断同一桥臂上下管的温度差异. 当上下桥臂热应力差异超过阈值时，通过微调死区的位置来调节上桥臂和下桥臂的有效导通时间，主动调控上下桥臂的功率损耗分布，从而在不影响系统总损耗的情况下，使温度较低的桥臂损耗增加，温度较高的桥臂损耗减少，从而提高变换器中功率器件热应力一致性，提升系统可靠性. 理论分析和实验结果表明，所提方法不会影响系统效率，对输出性能也没有显著负面影响. 在典型工况下，调整后上管与下管之间的平均温度差降低了约14%，有效提升了上下桥臂热应力一致性.

关键词： 死区时间调整, 变换器, 功率器件, 温度均衡, 热管理

Fig.1 Gate drive principle and structure of IGBT half-bridge

Tab.1 Strategy of dead-time shifting adjustment

Fig.2 Gate drive before and after dead-time shifting with case 3 and case 4 as examples

Fig.3 Schematic diagram of single-phase inverter used to simulate situation where thermal resistances of upper and lower bridge arms are inconsistent

Tab.2 Main components and instruments used in experimental platform

Fig.4 Experimental platform for verifying thermal management method

Fig.5 Observed infrared thermal image

Fig.6 Control method for dead-time shifting adjustment

Tab.3 Conduction time and conduction loss power of upper and lower arm before and after thermal management

Fig.7 Temperature of G2 and G4 during operation

Fig.8 Changes in temperature over time before and after implementing thermal management strategy

Fig.9 Temperature difference between upper and lower IGBTs of half-bridge over time

Fig.10 Waveforms without adopting thermal management strategies

Fig.11 Waveforms with dead-time shifting adjustment

Fig.12 FFT results of output voltage spectral characteristics before and after adopting thermal management strategy

Fig.13 Local enlarged graph near 50 Hz of output voltage spectrum characteristic FFT

Fig.14 Local enlarged graph near 10 kHz of output voltage spectrum characteristic FFT

Fig.15 Schematic diagram of temperature monitoring circuit for upper and lower arms of a half-bridge

Fig.16 Half-bridge arm circuit board for temperature monitoring with on-state voltage drop measurement

Fig.17 Actual temperature of bridge arm and monitoring waveform of conduction voltage


[1]	徐国卿, 王翔, 竺伟, 等电力电子器件故障预测与健康管理技术的研究现状和趋势[J]. 中国电机工程学报, 2023, 43 (5): 1912- 1926 XU Guoqing, WANG Xiang, ZHU Wei, et al Prognostics & health management technology for power electronic devices and its advances[J]. Proceedings of the CSEE, 2023, 43 (5): 1912- 1926

[2]	许智亮, 葛兴来, 李金, 等计及流-热耦合热网络模型的IGBT结温计算[J]. 电气工程学报, 2022, 17 (2): 19- 26 XU Zhiliang, GE Xinglai, LI Jin, et al Calculation of IGBT junction temperature with thermal network model considering flow-thermal coupling[J]. Journal of Electrical Engineering, 2022, 17 (2): 19- 26

[3]	魏晓光, 刘鉴辉, 唐新灵, 等. 基于差分热阻的功率器件封装老化在线监测方法[EB/OL]. [2025−12−25]. https://doi.org/10.13334/j.0258-8013.pcsee.242308.

[4]	敬德宝, 王惠民, 许智亮, 等. 基于功率循环实验的不同栅极结构SiC MOSFET失效机理对比分析[EB/OL]. [2026−02−24]. https://doi.org/10.19595/j.cnki.1000-6753.tces.251479.

[5]	丁杰, 张平地铁车辆牵引逆变器IGBT模块的结温与疲劳寿命计算[J]. 电气工程学报, 2017, 12 (10): 9- 18 DING Jie, ZHANG Ping Junction temperature and fatigue life calculation of IGBT module for metro vehicle traction inverter[J]. Journal of Electrical Engineering, 2017, 12 (10): 9- 18

[6]	陈丰野. 基于实际工况下功率器件的结温在线监测方法研究 [D]. 淮南: 安徽理工大学, 2025. CHEN Fengye. Research on online junction temperature monitoring methods for power devices under actual operating conditions [D]. Huainan: Anhui University of Science and Technology, 2025.

[7]	胡震, 崔曼, 吴晓华, 等功率器件结温主动控制及优化策略[J]. 电工技术学报, 2024, 39 (18): 5732- 5741 HU Zhen, CUI Man, WU Xiaohua, et al Active control and optimization strategy of junction temperature for power devices[J]. Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society, 2024, 39 (18): 5732- 5741

[8]	张通赫. 功率器件冷却强化及热管理特性研究 [D]. 长春: 吉林大学, 2025. ZHANG Tonghe. Study on cooling enhancement and thermal management characteristics of power devices [D]. Changchun: Jilin University, 2025.

[9]	LING Y, ZHAO Z, ZHU Y A self-regulating gate driver for high-power IGBTs[J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2021, 36 (3): 3450- 3461

[10]	KUMAR PRASOBHU P, RAVEENDRAN V, BUTICCHI G, et al Active thermal control of GaN-based DC/DC converter[J]. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, 2018, 54 (4): 3529- 3540

[11]	WANG B, ZHOU L, ZHANG Y, et al Active junction temperature control of IGBT based on adjusting the turn-off trajectory[J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2018, 33 (7): 5811- 5823

[12]	SINTAMAREAN C, WANG H, BLAABJERG F, et al. The impact of gate-driver parameters variation and device degradation in the PV-inverter lifetime [C]// Proceedings of the IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition. Pittsburgh: IEEE, 2014: 2257–2264.

[13]	CHANEKAR A, DESHMUKH N, ARYA A, et al Gate voltage-based active thermal control of power semiconductor devices[J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2023, 38 (9): 11531- 11542

[14]	PHAN T M, RIEDEL G J, OIKONOMOU N, et al. Active thermal protection and lifetime extension in 3L-NPC-inverter in the low modulation range [C]// Proceedings of the IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition. Charlotte: IEEE, 2015: 2269–2276.

[15]	KO Y, ANDRESEN M, BUTICCHI G, et al Discontinuous-modulation-based active thermal control of power electronic modules in wind farms[J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2019, 34 (1): 301- 310

[16]	KO Y, KUPRAT J, PUGLIESE S, et al Modulation strategies for thermal stress control of CHB inverters[J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2022, 37 (3): 3515- 3527

[17]	WANG X, XIAO H, REN Y, et al A novel modulation strategy for split-inductor active NPC inverter with loss distribution balancing and thermal stress reduction[J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2023, 38 (6): 7296- 7307

[18]	ZHANG Q, ZHANG P A novel junction temperature balance control method for typical three-phase converters based on a hybrid modulation strategy[J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2023, 38 (3): 3917- 3927

[19]	DING H, MA F, HAN R, et al Junction temperature optimization based compensation strategy of modular multilevel railway power conditioner[J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2022, 37 (6): 6585- 6598

[20]	陈正亮. 三电平风电变流器功率器件结温控制策略研究 [D]. 西安: 西安理工大学, 2025. CHEN Zhengliang. Research on junction temperature control strategy of power device of three-level wind power converter [D]. Xi’an: Xi’an University of Technology, 2025.

[21]	金鑫, 邹志翔, 刘鑫磊, 等. 基于载波重构的级联H桥变流器可靠性提升策略[EB/OL]. [2026−02−25]. https://link.cnki.net/urlid/12.1420.tm.20250822.0932.004.

[22]	杨金东, 刘红文, 党军朋, 等基于结温均衡的并联变流器分流控制策略[J]. 智慧电力, 2025, 53 (8): 95- 104 YANG Jindong, LIU Hongwen, DANG Junpeng, et al Current sharing control strategy for parallel converters based on junction temperature balancing[J]. Smart Power, 2025, 53 (8): 95- 104

[23]	MURDOCK D A, TORRES J E R, CONNORS J J, et al Active thermal control of power electronic modules[J]. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, 2006, 42 (2): 552- 558

[24]	LEMMENS J, DRIESEN J, VANASSCHE P. Dynamic DC-link voltage adaptation for thermal management of traction drives [C]// Proceedings of the IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition. Denver: IEEE, 2013: 180–187.

[25]	TCAI A, WIJEKOON T, LISERRE M Thermal control of quasi-2-level super-switch by power routing[J]. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 2024, 71 (1): 360- 368

[26]	XU T, GAO F, TAN P, et al Coordinated PWM-based active thermal control for power semiconductor devices in parallel grid-tied inverters[J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2024, 39 (12): 15655- 15671

[27]	ANDRESEN M, MA K, BUTICCHI G, et al Junction temperature control for more reliable power electronics[J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2018, 33 (1): 765- 776

[28]	ANDRESEN M, RAVEENDRAN V, BUTICCHI G, et al Lifetime-based power routing in parallel converters for smart transformer application[J]. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 2018, 65 (2): 1675- 1684

[29]	YANG Y, WU Y, DING X, et al A novel thermal management method for enhancing the consistency of IGBT heat stress in converter[J]. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 2023, 70 (10): 10628- 10638

[30]	LI Q, JIANG D, SHEN Z, et al Variable switching frequency PWM strategy for high-frequency circulating current control in paralleled inverters with coupled inductors[J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2020, 35 (5): 5366- 5380

[31]	ZHU X, WANG H, ZHANG W, et al A passive variable switching frequency SPWM concept and analysis for DCAC converter[J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2022, 37 (5): 5524- 5534

[32]	VAN DER BROECK C H, DE DONCKER R W Increasing torque capability of AC drives via active thermal management of inverters[J]. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, 2021, 57 (6): 6277- 6287

[33]	BAKHSHIZADEH M K, MA K, LOH P C, et al. Indirect thermal control for improved reliability of Modular Multilevel Converter by utilizing circulating current [C]// Proceedings of the IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition. Charlotte: IEEE, 2015: 2167–2173.

[34]	MA K, LISERRE M, BLAABJERG F Reactive power influence on the thermal cycling of multi-MW wind power inverter[J]. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, 2013, 49 (2): 922- 930

[35]	LISERRE M, RAVEENDRAN V, ANDRESEN M Graph-theory-based modeling and control for system-level optimization of smart transformers[J]. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 2020, 67 (10): 8910- 8920

[36]	YANG Y, ZHANG P In situ junction temperature monitoring and bond wire detecting method based on IGBT and FWD on-state voltage drops[J]. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, 2022, 58 (1): 576- 587

[1]	Hui SUN,Maoliang ZHANG,Yuchen FANG,Chenhao LIU,Shangjun HAN,Ruisong JI. Modular LCC resonant converter based on phase-shift voltage balancing control[J]. Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science), 2026, 60(7): 1494-1503.

[2]	Yanxia SHEN,Shuo WEI,Wei ZHANG. Voltage model predictive control of DAB converter considering current stress optimization[J]. Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science), 2026, 60(6): 1329-1338.

[3]	Jianlin LI,Laixin GUO,Zhi LI,Penghui HAN. Wide-voltage-range current-fed resonant DC-DC converter of fuel cell vehicle power system[J]. Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science), 2026, 60(6): 1339-1349.

[4]	Yuan WANG,Ye LI,Xianglong LIU,Guojing DONG,Yating CHEN,Yuchen ZHANG,Junjie CHEN,Xiaoting MA,Xingxi YANG,Ji XIANG. Dissipative energy flow-based port characteristic analysis of modular multilevel converter under sub-synchronous oscillation[J]. Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science), 2025, 59(9): 1931-1941.

[5]	Ziyu WANG,Jianjiang SHI. LLC resonant three port DC-DC converter and its decoupling control[J]. Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science), 2025, 59(6): 1322-1332.

[6]	Zihan GAO,Yuzhou CHENG,Xuehe WANG,Kun LUO,Jianren FAN. Numerical simulation of thermal management of IGBT power modules in new energy vehicles[J]. Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science), 2025, 59(10): 2014-2022.

[7]	Jinfeng HUANG,Xiaotian LI. Composite control method for non-minimum phase single inductance dual output Buck-Boost converter[J]. Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science), 2024, 58(6): 1266-1274.

[8]	Guopeng ZHANG,Chuangchuang JIANG,Haijun TAO,Zhuo CHEN. Dead band effect and compensation for return-free power control of dual active bridge[J]. Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science), 2024, 58(11): 2406-2416.

[9]	Yu-xiang XU,Pei-liang WANG,Zhi-duan CAI,Neng-wei LEI,Yong-feng JIANG. Performance optimization of matrix converter based on specific harmonic elimination[J]. Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science), 2023, 57(1): 209-218.

[10]	Shan-shan WANG,Ming GAO,Jian-jiang SHI. Current stress optimization of dual Buck-Boost integrated DAB three-port DC-DC converter[J]. Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science), 2022, 56(7): 1425-1435, 1472.

[11]	Zi-heng LIU,Fan-yi MENG,Chen-fei WANG,Kai-xue MA. Monolithic integrated resonant boost converter design[J]. Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science), 2022, 56(5): 1035-1043.

[12]	Guo-peng ZHANG,Zi-han LI,Hao WANG,zheng ZHENG. Isolated AC-DC solid state transformer front and rear stages integrated sliding mode control[J]. Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science), 2022, 56(3): 622-630.

[13]	Dong-jiao WANG,Chang-run CHEN,Kun LIU,Shou-qiang QIU. Investigation on parametrically excited motions of multiple degrees of freedom wave energy converter[J]. Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science), 2022, 56(12): 2496-2506.

[14]	Rong-chuang WANG,Shan-shan WANG,Ming GAO,Jian-jiang SHI. Three-port DC-DC converter based on LCL resonant dual active bridge and its decoupling control[J]. Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science), 2021, 55(8): 1585-1593.

[15]	Yue WANG,Zhen-bang ZHOU,Yun PENG. Collaborative selective harmonic elimination pulse width modulation for dual-module parallel-connected three-level converters[J]. Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science), 2020, 54(7): 1425-1432.

Viewed

Full text

Abstract

Cited

Shared

Discussed