TCAD-a simulation package for power electronic systems

The authors present TCAD-a novel power electronic systems simulation package for research (CAD) and teaching (CAE) application. The need for such a simulation tool, different approaches and main inconveniences of using electronic system simulators are discussed. The first part of the paper puts emphasis on the applications of modern simulation methods of converter systems in the TCAD program. The second one describes briefly the features of the main modules of TCAD package, options and basic library elements. The third one presents some examples of simulation of practical converter systems. A given converter circuit diagram can be drawn with the aid of TCAD graphic editor or represented by a text file. As simulation examples a three-phase resonant converter and an induction motor fed by a PWM current inverter with tolerance band control are presented. For the single-phase resonant converter the comparison of simulation and experimental results are shown and a good agreement has been reached. In the conclusions some suggestions concerning the TCAD applications in teaching, research and engineering practice are given