National Instruments is a global company that generated $1.24 billion in revenue in 2014. It employs over 7,000 people across almost 50 countries and serves over 35,000 companies annually. The document describes National Instruments' platform-based approach and a power electronics hardware-in-the-loop teaching laboratory. The laboratory uses National Instruments and OPAL-RT hardware and software to teach power electronics concepts through simulated experiments and exercises on converters, rectifiers and inverters. It provides a safe, low-cost way for students to learn practical skills in controlling and validating power electronics systems.

1. Ben Black, Ph.D.
National Instruments
ben.black@ni.com

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National Instruments
We equip engineers and scientists with tools that accelerate productivity,
innovation, and discovery.

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National Instruments
Revenue: $1.24 billion in 2014
Global Operations: Approximately 7,080
employees; operations in almost 50
countries
Broad customer base: More than 35,000
companies served annually
Diversity: No industry >15% of revenue
Culture: Ranked among top 25 companies
to work for worldwide by the Great Places
to Work Institute
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Platform-Based Approach

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Power Electronics HIL Teaching Laboratory
Power Electronics HIL Teaching Laboratory by OPAL-RT TECHNOLOGIES is an
educational courseware intended to teach power electronics to university
undergraduate students

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Power Electronics HIL Teaching Laboratory
• Works with both OPAL-RT and NI hardware platforms
• Teach complex power electronics concepts with the inherent safety
and low cost of a simulated plant
• Experiment with converters, rectifiers, and inverters along with their
control techniques
• Use expert-designed lab manuals and courseware from industry
leader OPAL-RT
• Learn common control and validation concepts using industry-
standard HIL and RCP tools
• Customize and edit courseware and lab material for ultimate
teaching flexibility
• Software and courseware add-ons coming soon

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Power Electronics HIL Teaching Laboratory
Power Electronics HIL Teaching Laboratory Exercises

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This circuit simulates a DC-DC Boost
converter with various loads.
Teaching objectives:
• To understand the operating principles of a boost converter
• To observe and understand the effect of the load type and
value on the boost output voltage
• To find the S1 switching duty cycle marking the delimitation
between continuous and discontinuous operation modes.
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Demonstration – Module 1 – DC-DC Converter

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Module 2 – AC / DC Converter
This circuit simulates a 3-phase Diode-Bridge Rectifier
Teaching objectives:
• To introduce the student with a simple AC-DC converter
• To become familiar with its operation and diode operating principles

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Module 3 – DC / AC Converter
This circuit simulates a 2-level DC-AC converter with various loads
Teaching objectives:
• To understand the operating principles of a H-Bridge Inverter
• To observe and understand the effect of the load type and value on the inverter output voltage and current
• To understand the effect of the PWM modulation index on the output current/voltage waveform.
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
VDC
VDC
Iload, A
Iload, B
Iload, C

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Module 3 – DC / AC Converter
3-Phase Inverter with External Control (Open Loop)
Digital
Input
module
H-Bridge
Inverter
Model
Solver
(eHS)
Digital
Output
Module
SPWM
Generator
myRIO cRIO
Teaching objectives:
• To introduce the student with PWM generation for an H-Bridge Inverter.

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Module 3 – DC / AC Converter
3-Phase Inverter with External Control (Closed Loop)
Digital
Input
Module
H-Bridge
Inverter
Model
Solver
(eHS)
Digital
Output
Module
Analog
Output
Module
Reference
Signal
Generator
PI Controller
Hysteresis
PWM
Analog
Input
Module
Signal
Rescaling
3-Phased current
(Ia, Ib, Ic)
-
myRIO cRIO
Teaching objectives:
• To introduce the student with a hysteresis closed-loop control
• To observe the effect of the hysteresis band on the pulse modulation
• To find the suited controller parameters according to load characteristics

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Module 4 – Three-Level NPC Converter
This circuit simulates a 3-level NPC converter with RLE load. It is
simulated in rectifier mode and in inverter mode
Teaching objectives:
• To introduce the student with a higher-complexity circuit simulation through
behavioral analysis of its transient signals
• To observe the effect of the back-electromotive force on the converter in
generator (rectifier) mode or inverter mode

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The Electrical Hardware Solver (eHS)
The Power Electronics HIL Teaching Laboratory uses the eHS tool.
The eHS tool is a powerful FPGA-based generic hardware
power-electronics solver.
eHS increases the simulation accuracy of complex and fast electric circuits, as
well as, drives, by achieving very small model time step updates.
eHS
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eHS: Computation Time
On the cRIO, the eHS feature uses a 160-MHz clock.
• This enables very small computation step sizes, in general between 125 ~ 500 ns.
• Computation step sizes depends on the circuit complexity and the number of scenarios implemented.
• Loop rate of the Boost, Buck and Buck-Boost Converters models is 5.0 MHz (200 ns).
• Loop rate of the Diode-Bridge Rectifier model is 4.16 MHz (243 ns) for 1-phase, 3.3 MHz (300 ns) for 3-phase
converter.
• Loop rate of the 2-level inverter model is 3.7 MHz (268 ns).
• Loop rate of the NPC Converter model is 2.7 MHz (368 ns).
S1
VDC
Iload
Vload
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
VDC
VDC
Iload, A
Iload, B
Iload, C
U01
U02
SW01SW02SW03SW04
SW05SW06SW07SW08
SW09SW10SW11SW12
SW13SW14
SW15SW16
SW17SW18
RL1
RL2
RL3
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Creating New Exercises
The new exercises can be designed in the LabVIEW / LabVIEW FPGA environment to include
• A variety if input signal generators and simulation scenario management.
• Open-loop or closed-loop controllers including PWM generators, etc.
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Power Electronics Teaching Laboratory Software
Tools available through VI Package Manager (installed with LabVIEW)
Try the tools for free!

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Power Electronics Teaching Laboratory Software
Software available as an example LabVIEW project
Project includes link to courseware and documentation

20. Thank You
ben.black@ni.com