A Case Study in Simulation Methods for Power Electronic Circuits

Motivated by the challenge of capturing the new discrete dynamics that fundamentally characterize modern grid technologies, we revisit the problem of simulating power electronic circuits. A simplified circuit is used as a case study to uncover and highlight key considerations in the use of traditional numerical simulation methods and compare them with those obtained from alternative methods that are discrete event-based from the outset. Results show the regimes where the traditional numerical methods and the alternative discrete event methods are applicable, and the need for discrete event approaches that precisely and efficiently resolve switching dynamics produced by power electronics systems that are important in emerging grid scenarios, such as large scale renewable energy.