Using open source software: Easy Java Simulations

for Power Electronics teaching

A. Pozo-Ruz, F. D. Trujillo, M. J. Morón, E. Rivas and I. Santos

Dept. Tecnología Electrónica
Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Málaga
Málaga, España (Spain)
{apozo, fdtrujillo, mjmoron, erivas}@uma.es

Abstract—The advent of the European Higher Education Area
means an important both changes and challenges in the
teaching/learning process. University education is undergoing a
significant transformation towards new models that encourage
the active role of students in the teaching/learning process. The
use of multimedia tools makes possible to promote the students
independence. Therefore, based on Easy Java Simulations, a set
of power electronics converter simulation is implemented. The
advantages of the use of this practical application are
demonstrated by the results in the student academic
performance.
Keywords-Easy Java Simulations; European Higher Education
Area; Power Electronics; open source software; multimedia tools
SUMMARY
The European Higher Education Area (EHEA) means an
important challenge in the teaching/learning process. The aim
is to achieve that student becomes the focus at which converge
all efforts. In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to
involve more efficiently the students by means of boosting
their independent study (self-learning) and, mainly, an active
participation. This transition is happening at the same time as
the increase in the development and use of new information
technologies, simulations tools and educational platforms [1]
[2].
Traditional presentation techniques for Power Electronics
including blackboard, transparencies and slides aids present
several drawbacks such as: how to show the intervals in which
each device is in the on/off state, dynamics of the system, and
the complex waveforms of the currents for each interval [3] [4].
Moreover, these kinds of aids are static and thus results
difficult to show the effects of changing the load and control
parameters over the waveforms.
The traditional way of teaching the Power Electronics
subject by masterly lessons in the classroom can be
complemented, although not excluded, by the use of interactive
systems based on computers. It is demonstrated that the use of
these systems can be a great help in solving this problem [5].
Thus, circuit simulation packages have become essential tools
in many engineering courses such as power electronics. In fact,
these simulation packages are strongly recommended for
complementary and advanced circuit analysis now that they
provide complex models with almost realistic behaviour.
Taking into account these considerations, several
simulations of power converters have been implemented, using
an open source software written in Java, called Easy Java
Simulations, that helps non-programmers to create interactive
simulations in Java, mainly for teaching and learning purposes.
This tool generates an interactive visualization of simulation of
a power electronics converter in the steady state in real time,
from the parameters introduced by students. The results
showed during the simulation are the waveforms of output
voltages and currents, the animation of the state of switches
and the current circulation in each period and, finally, the
calculation of some important control values such as
commutation interval, main load voltage, etc. Therefore, this
tool allows the students to solve proposed problems and check
the results by themselves.
When students run the application, they choose, firstly, the
power electronics converter to analyze. After fixing the input
parameters, the students select the waveforms to display and
click the play button. Then, the animation of the circuit stars to
work. While this animation is running, the selected waveforms
are continuously updated. So, students can observe the
correspondence between the state of the operation of the circuit
and its waveform in each instant. Animation ends at four
periods. After that, clicking the tab calculation, students can
confirm if the result calculated by themselves matches with the
provided by the simulation tool.
REFERENCES
[1] T. Martin and A. Serrano-Fernandez, "The role of new technologies in
the learning process: Moodle as a teaching tool in Physics", Computer &
Education, vol. 52, pp. 35-44, Jan. 2009.
[2] G. Hwang, "A tutoring strategy supporting system for distance learning
on computer networks", IEEE Trans. on Education, vol. 41, pp. 333-
343, Nov. 1998.
[3] J. E. Tate, T. J. Overbye, J. Sebestik and G. C. Reese, "Interactive
lessons for pre-university power education", IEEE Trans. on Power
Systems, vol. 23, pp. 824-830, Aug. 2008.
[4] S. Surynarayanan and E. Kyriakides, “An online portal form
collaborative learning and teaching for power engineering education”,
IEEE Trans. on Power Systems, vol. 19, pp. 73-80, Feb. 2004.
[5] C. Elmas, Y. Sönmez, "An educational tool for power electronics
circuits", Computer Applications in Engineering Education, vol. 18, pp.
157-165, March. 2010.

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IEEE EDUCON Education Engineering 2011 – Learning Environments and Ecosystems in Engineering Education
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