Comparative Study of Component-Level Reliability Approaches in Power Electronic Components

The increasing acceptance of renewable energies has significantly increased the use of photovoltaic (PV) systems within power grids. In environments heavily dependent on solar power, accurately predicting solar energy output and its lifetime is paramount. There are various factors that impact these predictions and the failure rates. Microinverter is a significant subsystem in a photovoltaic power system. Numerous research has focused on developing new inverter topologies and modifications in commercially available inverters to improve the reliability of photovoltaic systems. Improving the efficiency and reliability of PV inverters is critical for reducing the overall cost of energy produced through photovoltaics. This article analyses diverse reliability techniques, including MIL Handbook 217, RIAC, and FIDES, in-depth to determine the lifetime and reliability of inverter components. Furthermore, all these reliability techniques were compared to determine the most effective approach.