Writer: STMicroelectronics
STPOWER Studio 4.0 simply grew to become out there 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 net simulation instrument solely provided a 3-phase 2-level topology for motor drivers and photovoltaic inverters, that are among the hottest use circumstances. Due to the robustness of the underlying structure that ST not too long ago up to date and dropped at the online, 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 element of eDesignSuite, focuses on thermo-electrical simulations. As eDesignSuite transitioned to HTML5 to reinforce its person interface, STPOWER Studio benefited from the identical underlying structure, enabling extra highly effective simulations. It stands out within the business as one of many few simulators able to adjusting energy losses in response to the junction temperature for the time being of the simulation, offering a extra correct illustration of real-world utilization. Some rivals historically use a set 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 lots 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 will 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 units (ACEPACK or SLLIMM) and the element 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 modify their mission profile by defining varied 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 Part Present of 10 A. For a fast simulation, customers can use Regular State ON to research performances after reaching a thermal regular state. Then, by selecting Regular State OFF, customers can set the period of the simulation step for a extra detailed evaluation. Clearly, it’ll require extra computing energy on the server and take longer to generate. Nonetheless, ST lowered rendering instances 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 power to retailer photo voltaic power in batteries is more and more in demand. Therefore, we wished to make sure that engineers might extra quickly take a look at 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 gadget.
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 frequent 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. Actually, whereas the present model of the simulator focuses solely on DC-AC methods, we’re evaluating the addition of DC-DC functions and can replace this weblog submit with extra data as they turn into out there.
3-phase 3-level T-NPC
Lastly, the 3-phase 3-level T-NPC (T-type Impartial Level Clamped) is more and more well-liked 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 drastically advantages high-power methods, reminiscent of photovoltaic inverters, energy issue inverters, or motor drivers, whereas making certain the general design stays comparatively small.
