DSIM
World’s Fastest Simulation for Power Electronics. Period.
DSIM is capable of simulating simple topologies or large and complex systems with astounding speed and accuracy.
Its novel technique of solving power electronics simulation was specifically designed to address schematics with a large numbers of switches, high switching speeds, the need for small time constants for switch transitions, and large time constants for system simulations including nanosecond timing with switch transitions.
How fast can DSIM simulate this 10 kV 2 MW System with 578 active switches and 20 kHz switching frequency? 13 seconds to finish 100 ms simulation!
About DSIM
DSIM is a simulation software designed for power electronic systems.
Its novel Discrete-State Event-Driven (DSED) simulation technique was specifically designed to address systems with large numbers of switches, high switching frequencies, and wide variations of time constants including: small time constants for switching transients in the scale of nanoseconds and large time constants for system simulations in the scale of seconds or minutes.
DSIM simulations run at record-breaking speeds that are hundreds or thousands of times faster than existing commercial simulation tools.
DSIM is ideally suited for applications in power system, power transmission, motor drive, industrial power supply, renewable energy source, aerospace and more.
Fast Simulation Speed
With it's novel Discrete-State Event Driven (DSED) solver, DSIM is the fastest power electronics simulation tool on the market.
Accurate Switching Transient Simulation
DSIM offers hundreds of physical models of IGBT and SiC MOSFETs and can simulate the non-ideal switching transients without increasing the simulation time exponentially.
Rich Component Library
DSIM provides a rich component library of power switches, motors, photovoltaics. energy storage, and both continuous and discrete control blocks.
Highlights
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Simulate thousands of switches
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Fast switching (MHz)
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Non-ideal switch transitions (physical model with parasitics)
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Switching transient simulations
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Scripted, automated simulations
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Superfast AC Sweep
Feature Application:
SST (Solid-State Transformers)
1
Challenge:
Grid Compatibility
Harmonic issues, voltage regulation, protection, load balancing and power distribution are important considerations with SSTs and may require modifications to the grid infrastructure to ensure compatibility.
2
Challenge:
Control & Protection
Solid-state transformers (SSTs) require sophisticated control systems to regulate voltage, current, and power flow.
Designing robust and reliable control systems that can handle various grid conditions and fault scenarios is a major challenge.
[ 1 ] DSIM for Grid Compatibility
Challenges solved:
Harmonic issues
SSTs generate high-frequency harmonics due to power electronics switching, leading to grid voltage distortion and additional losses.
DSIM helps address this issue, allowing you to design the SST by adding filters (either passive LC or active APF) to suppress harmonics, or by using multilevel topologies or advanced PWM to reduce harmonic content.
Voltage Regulation
Unlike conventional transformers, SSTs require dynamic voltage control due to fast power fluctuations from renewables (solar/wind) and bidirectional reactive power support for grid stability.
To address this issue, one has to specially design the control algorithms to ensure SSTs handle certain voltage variations.
Load Balancing and Power Distribution
SSTs need to manage load balancing and power distribution efficiently, especially in microgrid or distributed generation scenarios.
To address this issue, intelligent power management systems are needed to dynamically allocate power based on load demands and generation availability.
Grid Compatibility
Comprehensive Component Library
DSIM offers an extensive built-in library to streamline grid-compatibility design: switch modules (T-type, ANPC, DNPC, etc.), passive components (RLC, transformers, coupled inductors, etc.), control elements (THD, PLL, filters, PI, logic, lookup tables etc.), modulations (SPWM, SVPWM, phase-shift control, variable-frequency control, etc.) and renewables (solar, wind, battery, etc.). All essential components for grid SST simulations are readily available for immediate deployment.
Unparalleled Simulation Performance
Grid compatibility simulation tests are usually time-consuming. Now, DSIM provides unprecedented simulation speed to support large-scale simulation, such as multi-SST grids. Conventionally, due to low simulation speed, such simulations can only be done with simplified models such as switch averaging, which hinders the switching ripples and high-frequency dynamics.
Now, with DSIM, one can simulate large-scale system composed of multiple SSTs based on detailed switch models, and the simulation speed is 10-100x faster than other tools. This enables system-level grid-compatibility analysis previously impractical with other tools.
[ 2 ] DSIM for Control & Protection
Challenges solved:
Multi-level Control
SSTs require control at module level (e.g., DAB, H-bridge), stage level (e.g., Cascaded H-bridge), equipment level (full SST), and system level (multiple SSTs).
This hierarchy makes simulations complex and time-consuming, often limiting analysis to module/stage levels only.
Multi-mode Control
Each SST port or stage supports various control modes - voltage/current regulation, APF, PFC, grid-forming/following.
This flexibility dramatically increases simulation requirements.
Robustness and stability testing
Comprehensive validation requires numerous test cases - grid-connected/islanded operation, LVRT/HVRT, etc.
Fast and automated batch testing tools become essential for efficient evaluation.
Control & Protection
C block and DLL block
DSIM provides C block and dynamic link libraries (DLL) for users to easily integrate custom control algorithms. Users can develop and test control algorithms in a simulation environment. Once verified, these algorithms can be easily ported to physical controllers. This migration process typically requires only minor adjustments to the code to accommodate the specific hardware characteristics of the physical controller.
Frequency (AC) Sweep
In large systems, it is difficult to deduce system stability through theory. DSIM provides a frequency sweep tool, AC sweep, which allows the simulation speed of DSIM to be used for automated fast frequency sweep and efficient analysis of system stability.
With AC Sweep Frequency Analysis, the frequency response of a circuit or a control loop can be obtained. A key feature of the AC Sweep Frequency Analysis in DSIM is that, if a circuit is switch-mode, the frequency response can be acquired in its original switch-mode form, rather than relying on an average model.
More DSIM Applications
Microgrids
The current meta for the simulation and design of microgrids requires the use of expensive real-time hardware or the use of average models. Both approaches require compromise and abstraction from the desired system. Real-time simulation hardware is expensive and limits things like switching speed, the number of switches, machine models, etc. to maintain real-time fidelity. The offline approach with average models or simplified sub-systems can hide fundamental underlying issues.
The largest microgrid simulated with DSIM so far has been a 1200 switch 10 unit microgrid where the inverters were defined as cascaded H-bridge MMCs. 150ms of simulation with DSIM took 2 minutes 22 seconds, the same system in PSIM would have taken 138 days (4.6 months).
Motor Drives
Motor drives are typically long simulations. A motor drive system has two significantly different time constraints: short electrical time constant and long mechanical time constant.
The frequency of the motor drive, defining the electrical/ mechanical frequency relationship, combined with the switching speed requires a small timestep and long simulations for the motor to reach the desired torque and shaft speeds. With efficiency boost and power handling boost provided by multi-level inverters, the number of switches required to simulate is also increasing. Add in other factors and some software reach simulation lengths into hours.
DSIM is able to solve multi-time-scale systems efficiently, greatly reducing simulation time and effort.
High Frequency Converters
Since DSIM can easily handle many hundreds to thousands of switches, it makes sense that it can also easily handle very fast switching. With GaN and SiC devices pushing switching speeds in the 10s or 100s of MHz, even simple converters can take a very long time to simulate with traditional tools. Adding in a physical switch model with traditional tools will just slow things down further. Get results in a few minutes by using the DSIM tool.
User-defined Control and Automation
DSIM provides functions such as C blocks and DLL blocks that allow users to implement any control algorithms. In addition, with the built-in scripting function automate the simulation process by running hundreds of simulations automatically, with various parameters and operating conditions.
See the example. A C block enables users to input C code directly without the need for compilation. A C interpreter engine will interpret and execute the C code at runtime. This feature simplifies the process of writing custom C code.
API for MATLAB
DSIM provides Application Programming Interface (API) functions that can be accessed through MATLAB, covering various stages such as circuit modification, simulation control, and data post-processing. These interface functions enable users to leverage MATLAB's M language for tasks such as parameter design, multi-scenario testing, and the development of custom features.
For more information, please refer to "Tutorial - DSIM API Document (MATLAB)".
API for C/C++
Easily conduct simulations by writing custom functions and programs. The API supports various functions such as schematic operations, simulation control, and data processing. Through the provided interface functions, users can leverage DSIM for parameter design, multi-scenario testing, and the integration of various custom features.
For more information, please refer to "Tutorial - DSIM API Document (C_C++)".
DSIM versions
DSIM offers three powerful options:
DSIM Lite
– Only ideal switches
– Limit of 15 switches
– C block, API, or co-simulation with Simulink
not included
– Limits to scripting functions
DSIM Pro
– Includes non-ideal switches (switching transient simulation)
- Includes c block, API & co-simulation
– Limit increase to 50 switches
DSIM Enterprise
– Unlimited
– No restrictions
More DSIM Applications
Power Systems
Distributed microgrid,
Grid-connected inverter,
DC distribution system,
Flexible AC transmission,
Reactive power compensation,
Harmonic energy control,
Power electronics transformer
Education & Research
Course on power electronics,
Research on power device,
Optimization of circuit,
Analysis of Topology,
Control algorithm simulation
Power Supply
Communication power supply,
Data center power supply,
Wireless power transmission,
High frequency power amplifier EMC analysis
Motor Drives
Frequency control, Rail transit system, Electric vehicle, Ship towing system,
Servo control, Metallurgy and mining, Offshore oil field
Aerospace
Multi-electric aircraft,
Radar navigation,
Rocket power supply,
Satellite power supply,
Electromagnetic emission
Renewable Energy
PV and wind power,
Energy storage,
Fuel cell,
Wave power generation
Who is behind DSIM?
DSIM is a simulation software that was specifically designed for power electronics. The developers of this amazingly fast simulation tool are members of collaborative teams at Tsinghua University and DSIM Technology Co.