An international debate on the need for a model curriculum for graduate programs in Modeling and Simulation (M&S) continues to grow. As the use of M&S continues to expand to new application areas, and its importance as a key enabling technology in the 2 1 century continues to be recognized, many questions are being asked by both universities and corporations concerning the proper basis and content for advanced studies in M&S.Corporations and government bodies are experiencing rising demands for new recruits with broad exposure to the concepts and methodologies of M&S and capable of contributing to the increasingly important M&S activities within the organization. Many recruiters are, however, frustrated in their efforts to define productive sources in US universities that meet these needs.
Real-time simulation is a familiar technique for testing hardware and software in the loop and for operatortraining. An important parameter of these simulations is the frame-time necessary to capture the dynamics of the system being simulated. Modern power electronic systems, using higher frequency pulse-width modulation (PWM) converter control demand frame times that are significantly shorter than those found in most real-time simulators. The paper describes an approach to real-time simulation that is capable of achieving the frame times of 10µS and less required for this application. It is a scalable technique that uses arrays of digital signal processors on commercially available boards plugged into a conventional desktop computer. Analog and digital interfaces provide for the connection of real hardware to the simulation. Although the technique has so far been applied only to power electronic systems, it is capable of being used in a wide range of applications in which frame times of less than 10µS are required. Why High-Speed Real-Time Simulation?Real-time simulation has been used for many years for operator training and design or testing of hardware and software in situations in which it is inconvenient to use the real system. Examples include flight simulators for pilot training, plant simulators for operator training, and a wide range of applications in which the simulator is used to test hardware and embedded software in the loop.One of the key parameters of a real-time simulator is the frame rate at which its outputs are updated. Many realtime simulators, including those used for operator training, perform satisfactorily with frame times in the range 10 to 100ms. All the calculations needed to advance the simulation by one frame must be completed, along with all necessary data transfers within one frame.In some applications real-time simulation is used as a test environment for real hardware or embedded software, referred to as the system under test (SUT). In some cases much shorter frame times (<10µs) are required because of the high-frequency dynamics of both the simulated system and the SUT. Such applications are found, for example, in aerospace, automotive and power electronic systems. The techniques described here focus on power electronic systems, but they are equally relevant to other applications requiring similar frame times. Modern power electronic systems are used to provide flexible alternating and direct current (ac and dc) power, as well to improve power quality. They generally consist of combinations of electronic switches (converters) that convert ac to dc (rectification) or dc to ac (inversion). Feedback controllers control switch timing to maintain demanded current, voltage or power levels. These converters are often based on pulse-width modulation (PWM) techniques.Reduction of harmonics of the ac line frequency is important in maintaining power quality. This is achieved in a number of ways including careful choice of the switch configuration, the use of harmonic filters and higher s...
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