MatLab in Model-Based Design for Power Electronics Systems

This chapter’s main goal is to show how MatLab can be very useful when applied in the model-based design of dynamic systems, especially in the domain of power electronics systems. Two cases will be described that are encountered in energy conversion: i) a slip energy recovery (SER) system and ii) a power electronic converter for a fuel cell (FC) based energy generation system. In both cases, the energy handled in the process needs to be controlled and optimized in order to increase the efficiency of the systems. The chapter explains how MatLab/Simulink, with its toolboxes, is well adapted to solve the issues of defining the design requirements, at developing different components’ models for the physical evolution processes and, through the combination of various sub-systems, how it enables engineers to verify that the overall performance satisfies the requirements. Considering the aspects mentioned above, the chapter will illustrate how a simple PC can be used to test any power system and through the analysis of simulation results, manufacturing companies can reduce the amount of experimental tests and thus save lots of money. For each case study some details of the requirements and implementation are discussed and validation results are presented in order to conclude on the advantages of modelling processes using the MatLab/Simulink. In fact, at designing electrical engineering systems that require accurate models of components and sub-systems, MatLab/Simulink is shown to be an accurate design tool and useful for implementation and rapid prototyping. In the first case, a brief explanation about the circuit‘s configuration of a SER system is presented and its control implementation in MatLab/Simulink are done. The SER system presents some problems associated with the operation of the power electronics converter, namely its effects on the electromagnetic torque. To analyze these effects, the model of the system implemented in MatLab/Simulink supports the harmonic study, with several special features. The oscillations of the electromagnetic torque are explained by considering the interaction between the stator and the rotor fundamental and harmonic currents. The simulation results show a strong disturbance in the electromagnetic torque in the steady state, caused by the power converter operation. To reduce this disturbance, and consequently to increase the mechanical life of the motor, an appropriate DC link coil is shown to be useful. The presentation of the second case illustrates how MatLab/Simulink can be used when undertaking an accurate design of electrical generation systems based on hydrogen. The behaviour of PEM fuel cells is dependent on so many parameters, so obtaining an accurate