FPGA based detailed real-time simulation of power converters and electric machines for EV HIL applications

Real time simulation can play a fundamental role in the design and validation of hardware and software for power electronic converters and electric drives. In this paper, an FPGA based real time platform for simulation of power converters and electric machines is presented. Strategies for modeling power electronic devices are explained and compared. In addition, a Thevenin based equivalent model of a switch is enhanced to model the on characteristics of these devices. By using these on properties, an algorithm for electro-thermal modeling of converters is presented. With respect to electric machines, different methods for modeling of the saturation characteristics are evaluated for their use in real time simulation. Lastly, a Hardware in the Loop (HIL) model of an Electric Vehicle (EV) drive is presented.