Inclusion of robustness into design using optimization-enabled transient simulation

This paper presents an approach to the design of robust power-electronic systems (i.e., those which have optimal operation over a range of operating configurations). Designing nonlinear systems, such as power-electronic converters, to be robust is a challenging task as settings that may be optimal for a given operating configuration may be inadequate for another. This paper extends the method of combining nonlinear optimization with electromagnetic transient simulation, which has previously been successfully applied to the design of optimal systems at only one operating point; to an approach which simultaneously considers a range of operating points. The method is exemplified using two examples. In the first example, a dc power supply is designed to operate optimally over a range of current order settings. The second is the case of an HVdc system, which is optimized to work well with a range of possible ac system configurations.