Model Based Design and Hardware in the Loop Testing in Power Electronics Courses

In this paper a low cost virtual test bed for educational purposes is developed and tested. Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) design concept as an experimental part of power electronics is considered. Software simulations lead to develop control of the studied system. Before a real-time implementation of the control, HIL simulations could be a very useful intermediary step. Thus a hardware device is introduced in the loop in order to take its real constraints into account. Used equipment is general purposes and can be utilized for controller implementation as well as virtual plant model. Simulations are performed under different conditions and results are presented graphically using virtual instruments on the designed front panels.