3 new topologies for correct electro-thermal simulation on STPOWER gadgets

Writer: STMicroelectronics

STPOWER Studio 4.0 simply grew to become accessible and now helps three new topologies (1-phase full bridge, 1-phase half-bridge, and 3-phase 3-level T-NPC) to cowl considerably extra functions. Beforehand, the web simulation device solely supplied a 3-phase 2-level topology for motor drivers and photovoltaic inverters, that are a number of the hottest use instances. Due to the robustness of the underlying structure that ST just lately up to date and dropped at the net, we are actually in a position to construct on high of the prevailing platform to make STPOWER Studio extra versatile and help extra engineers in designing a extra complete vary of energy levels.

What’s STPOWER Studio?

A novel simulator

STPOWER Studio, a part of eDesignSuite, focuses on thermo-electrical simulations. As eDesignSuite transitioned to HTML5 to reinforce its consumer interface, STPOWER Studio benefited from the identical underlying structure, enabling extra highly effective simulations. It stands out within the trade as one of many few simulators able to adjusting energy losses based on the junction temperature in the meanwhile of the simulation, offering a extra correct illustration of real-world utilization. Some opponents historically use a hard and fast worth for the junction temperature, resulting in over- or underestimated losses. Due to our dynamic junction temperature, customers get extra correct outcomes.

STPOWER Studio can simulate as much as tons of of seconds per step with Regular State off, which supplies engineers sufficient time to see how their energy stage would ramp up and stabilize. They’ll additionally run simulations with or with out warmth sinks, which is able to assist them anticipate kind issue and warmth dissipation necessities. Customers merely choose the ST household of gadgets (ACEPACK or SLLIMM) and the part they are going to use of their design. Beneath Setting, designers can tweak the gate resistor values and a few thermal properties. Lastly, underneath I/O, customers can alter their mission profile by defining numerous steps with values such because the output energy or the present degree, amongst different issues.

A design assistant

Let’s take the instance of an engineer designing a big motor driver for industrial functions, an inverter for a photovoltaic converter, or an HVAC system. In our instance, the motor would use a DC Hyperlink voltage of 650 V and an RMS Section Present of 10 A. For a fast simulation, customers can use Regular State ON to investigate performances after reaching a thermal regular state. Then, by selecting Regular State OFF, customers can set the length of the simulation step for a extra detailed evaluation. Clearly, it would require extra computing energy on the server and take longer to generate. Nevertheless, ST diminished rendering occasions by an element of 10 over the past releases of STPOWER Studio.

What’s new in STPOWER Studio 4.0?

1-phase full bridge

The brand new model of STPOWER Studio options three new topologies. The 1-phase full bridge will match single-phase photovoltaic converters or uninterruptible energy provides. As extra residential properties and buildings more and more depend on renewable power, the flexibility to retailer photo voltaic power in batteries is more and more in demand. Therefore, we wished to make sure that engineers might extra quickly check their designs and cut back their time to market. Equally, engineers engaged on an uninterruptible energy provide can in a short time anticipate what their design will appear to be in the event that they undertake an STPOWER machine.

1 part half bridge

Since STPOWER Studio helps a one-phase full bridge topology, it made sense to supply a one-phase half-bridge. This construction is widespread in DC-AC conversion for smaller photo voltaic inverters or motor drivers. Engineers additionally mix single-phase half-bridge topologies when designing a one-phase to three-phase converter. In truth, whereas the present model of the simulator focuses solely on DC-AC techniques, we’re evaluating the addition of DC-DC functions and can replace this weblog submit with extra info as they turn out to be accessible.

3-phase 3-level T-NPC

Lastly, the 3-phase 3-level T-NPC (T-type Impartial Level Clamped) is more and more standard as a result of it improves total effectivity by decreasing switching losses due to a mechanism that clamps the enter voltage at its midway level. Consequently, solely half of the enter voltage is utilized to every swap, which reduces switching losses. This artistic method significantly advantages high-power techniques, reminiscent of photovoltaic inverters, energy issue inverters, or motor drivers, whereas making certain the general design stays comparatively small.