Expert system for the CAD in power electronics-application to UPS

In this paper, an application using an expert system approach to power electronics design is presented. The authors' goal is the development of a software tool for the computer-aided design of static power converters; they present here an initial approach, dedicated to uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). The specifications are described by the performances to be reached at the input and output of the power converter. These data are analyzed by use of rules and methods that allow achieving the design of the different parts of the system: the input filter; output filter; inverter; rectifier, etc. The characterization of these subparts, according to different criteria and specifications, has been made by the implementation of autonomous expert modules. Each of these modules has been designed and implemented independently from the others by use of the SMECI expert system shell; the design of the whole UPS is realized under the control of a special module that rules the cooperation between the specialized experts. The results of this approach are presented, and the benefits of its application are pointed out.