METHOD OF PROTECTING A CONVERTER OF A WIND TURBINE AND PROTECTION SYSTEM

A method of protecting a converter of a wind turbine and a respective protection system are provided. The converter is coupled to a generator of the wind turbine to perform conversion of electrical power produced by the generator, the converter including plural semiconductor components that are operational to provide the conversion of the electrical power. The method includes the performing of a step of estimating a junction temperature of at least one of the semiconductor components by determining a current in the converter associated with power loss in one or more of the semiconductor components; estimating power loss associated with the one or more semiconductor components based on the determined current and on a state of the one or more semiconductor components; and using a thermal model to estimate the junction temperature of the semiconductor components based on the estimated power loss. The estimating step is repeatedly performed.