An Innovative Concept To Prototype Power Electronic Circuits

Abstract

Digital signal processors (DSPs) are being extensively used in various power electronic circuits and systems to handle the growing complexity of the controllers and the trigger signal generation schemes. In this paper we present a DSP library based on the Modelica language and a fixed- point code generator that generates code for TI’s C2000 DSPs for implementing power electronic circuits using a rapid prototyping approach. A novel real-time link has been incorporated into the automatic fixed-point code generator to go with the DSP, and which can be used for the real-time control of parameters such as duty ratio or firing angle of classical power electronic converters. The effectiveness of such a setup for power electronic education and research is demonstrated by the simulation and concurrent real-time implementation of a classical buck chopper circuit.

I. Introduction

Power electronic systems (PES) are used in a wide array of industrial applications. Computers, digital products, most modern industrial systems, automobiles, home appliances, motor controllers and any other application that uses electrical energy involves some form of energy processing using a PES. With the advent of better semi-conductor devices and faster processors, designers are now producing energy-efficient, more reliable, and very sophisticated power electronic systems. According to IEEE [1] rapid prototyping is defined as “a type of prototyping in which emphasis is placed on developing prototypes early in the development process to permit early feedback and analysis in support of the development process.” The use of rapid prototyping tools greatly reduces the time required for the overall design process and enables the designer to spend more time designing efficient controllers. In the past few years integrated real-time control has been gaining importance in power electronic applications. To achieve real-time control most modern power electronic systems are employing new techniques such as digital signal processing. A modern power electronics lab should hence have a powerful thrust towards digital real-time control as well as hardware basics. Simulation has become an important tool in understanding any engineering system in general and Power Electronic (PE) system in particular. In educational institutions, simulation is mainly used as a tool for effective teaching and research. Industries extensively use simulation as an effective tool to design new products and to trouble shoot problems. Rapid prototyping tools aim to bridge the gap between simulation and implementation and make the power electronic circuit design a one step process. In this paper we present a rapid prototyping tool that utilizes Modelica-Dymola based modeling and simulation platform and modular power electronic building blocks with fixed point DSP control for physical implementation.

“Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2003, American Society for Engineering Education”