American Journal of Educational Research, 2013, Vol. 1, No.

4, 137-142
Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/education/1/4/4
© Science and Education Publishing
DOI:10.12691/education-1-4-4

The Case Study of Simulation of Power Converter

Circuits Using Psim Software in Teaching
Hemant Mehar*

Electrical & Electronics Engineering Department IES, IPS Academy, Indore, MP, India
*Corresponding author: meharhemant@yahoo.com
Received April 21, 2013; Revised May 19, 2013; Accepted May 20, 2013

Abstract Involvement of software in teaching is provide a batter support, more clear and visual operation of
complex circuits and waveforms to the faculty of power electronics in classroom teaching. The software
packages available for simulation of power electronic circuits are MATLAB, PSPICE and PSIM and many
more. Use of the software in classroom teaching is provide an additional support to the faculty and its better
then the time consuming black board practice. This paper provides a case study of power electronics circuits in
PSIM software. Different power electronics converters model are prepared on PSIM software and generate
simulation waveforms. This paper is helpful for the faculty of electrical engineering to find the applications of
PSIM in teaching.

Keywords: PSIM, simulation, power electronics, electrical, teaching

and sent back to the power circuit through switch
controllers to control switches.
1. Introduction
In the present trends, Power electronics is one of the
most important subjects of electrical engineering. Power
electronics technology involved various types of
converters. These converters are the application of circuit
theory and design techniques, the development of
analytical tools toward efficient electronic conversion,
control, and conditioning of electric power. The typical
undergraduate syllabus will have topics like uncontrolled
and controlled rectifiers with R, RL loads; choppers;
single-phase and 3-phase inverters; AC voltage controllers,
etc. [1]. A simulation practice is providing a platform the Figure 1.1. PSIM Process
student to work efficiently in the present and future design
industry because due to the advanced development in
technology, simulation process is very useful. Here the 3. Simulation in Power Electronics
simulation of converters is presented using PSIM software.
3.1. Diode Characteristics
2. PSIM for Simulation Diodes are active devices constructed to allow current
to flow in one direction. The diode consists of N-type and
The basic PSIM process in represented in the Figure 1.1. P-type materials The N-type material is called the cathode
A circuit is represented in PSIM in four blocks: power and the P-type material is called the anode. There are two
circuit, control circuit, sensors, and switch controllers. types of biasing that can be applied to a diode. For a diode
The power circuit consists of switching devices, RLC to be forward biased, a power supply is connected with the
branches, transformers, and coupled inductors. The positive terminal to the P-type material (anode) and the
control circuit is represented in block diagram. negative terminal to the N-type material (cathode). The
Components in s-domain and z domain, logic components graph below shows the electrical characteristics of a
(such as logic gates and flip-flops), and non-linear typical diode. When a small voltage is applied to the diode
components (such as multipliers and dividers) are used in in the forward direction, current flows easily. For a diode
the control circuit. Sensors are used to measure power to be reversed biased, the power supply leads are set up
circuit quantities and pass them to the control circuit. with the negative terminal attached to the P-type material
Gating signal is then generated from the control circuit and the positive terminal attached to the N-type material.
138 American Journal of Educational Research

When voltage is applied in the reverse direction through a flow. Different diodes have different characteristics when
diode, the diode will have a great resistance to current reverse-biased.

Figure 3.1. Simulation modal of Diode Characteristics

Figure 3.2. Waveform of Diode Characteristics

Figure 3.3. Simulation modal of Single Phase Uncontrolled Bridge
3.2. Diode Rectifiers Rectifier

Rectifiers are mainly used in power supplies

where an AC signal is to be converted to DC. The DC
voltage is obtained by passing the rectifier’s output
through a filter to remove the ripple (AC components).
There are many possible ways to construct rectifier
circuits using diodes. The three basic types of rectifier
circuits are:
 The Half Wave Rectifier
 The Full Wave Rectifier
 The Bridge Rectifier
In such diode rectifiers, the power flow can be only
from the utility ac side to the dc side. A majority of the
power electronics applications use such as switching dc
power supplies, ac motor drives, dc servo drives and so on
use such uncontrolled rectifiers. in this simulation model
capacitor filter are use to filtered the ripple content in the
Figure 3.4. Waveforms of Single Phase Uncontrolled Bridge Rectifier
output of the rectifier.
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3.3. Three Phase Diode Bridge Rectifiers
In industrial applications where three-phase ac voltages
are available, it is preferable to use three-phase rectifier
circuits, compared to single-phase rectifiers, because of
their lower ripple content in the waveforms and a higher
power-handling capability. The 3-phase, 6-pulse, full
bridge diode rectifier is commonly used circuit
arrangement. A filter capacitor is connected at the dc side
of the rectifier.

Figure 3.5. Simulation modal of Three Phase Uncontrolled Bridge Rectifier

Figure 3.6. Waveforms of Three Phase Uncontrolled Bridge Rectifier

140 American Journal of Educational Research

3.4. Thyristor Converters controlled by delaying the instants at which the thyristors
are allowed to start conduction.
For given ac input voltages, the magnitude of the
average output voltage in thyristor converters can be

Figure 3.7. Simulation modal of Three Phase controlled Rectifier

Figure 3.8. Simulation modal of Three Phase controlled Rectifier

T1 on, load gets connected to source through T1 and D1.

3.5. Single Phase Half-Controlled Bridge
Rectifier
A single-phase semi converter bridge consists of two
diodes and two thyristors. The load is of RLE type. With
For the period wt=45 to 180, load current flows through
T1 and D1 and output Vo is of same wave shape as Vs.
after wt=180 load voltage tends to reverse as ac voltage
changes polarity. There is limited control over the level of
dc output voltage.
 American Journal of Educational Research
Figure 3.9. Simulation model of Single Phase Half-Controlled Bridge
Rectifier
Figure 3.10. Simulation model of Single Phase Half-Controlled Bridge
Rectifier
3.6. Single Phase Fully Controlled Bridge
Rectifier
A single-phase full converter bridge consists of four
SCRs as shown. Thyristor pair T1 and T2 is
simultaneously triggered and 180 later, pair T3 and T4 is
gated together. Voltage at the output terminals can be
controlled by adjusting the firing angle delay of the
thyristors. There is a wider control over the level of dc
output voltage.
Figure 3.11. Simulation model of Single Phase Fully Controlled Bridge
Rectifier
141
Figure 3.12. Waveforms of Single Phase Fully Controlled Bridge
Rectifier
4. Advantages & Limitations
The following advantages derived when using PSIM in
teaching power electronics courses:
1. It provides better visual operation of power
electronics converters.
2. Use of software in classroom save the time of the
faculty.
3. With its user-friendly interface, its simulation speed,
its capability of simulating any type of power converters
and control circuits.
4. Students can use this software for their project works.
This paper provides a basic approach to deal with the
software.
The Only Limitation with this software approach is that
the knowledge of computer and depth knowledge of
power electronics subject is necessary to identify the truth
results.
5. Conclusion
This case study provides the visual operations of power
electronics converters. As power electronic systems are
getting more complex today, the simulation used for
education is requiring more features. This approach is
time saving and some directions in the development of
simulation are discussed in this paper, with the help of
present model students can simulate the power electronics
circuit with various load & conditions.
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