Tutorials

This tutorial introduces the basic concepts of PLECS Blockset by having the user build up a simple passive network and a buck converter circuit in a PLECS Circuit block within a Simulink model. The instructions explain how to use the component libraries to model a system in the PLECS workspace, as well as how to interconnect components and parameterize them. Then a simulation can be run and resulting schematics and waveforms are provided for comparison. A further iteration demonstrates that the PLECS environment can be directly interfaced to the Simulink one so that the complete model can be comprised of blocks in both. The user will also learn how to create a subsystem for organizing the model, implement controls for a multi-domain system, and use the Probe block to monitor component signals as an alternative to using meters and sensors.

This tutorial instructs the user on how to use the thermal modeling features of PLECS to create a combined electrical-thermal simulation of a buck converter. A thermal simulation in PLECS comprises both losses from semiconductors and the thermal circuit to model the propagation of heat flow. In this tutorial we analyze the behavior of the MOSFET junction temperature, individual and total losses of the switches, and the overall system efficiency.

This tutorial explains how to use the mechanical modeling features of PLECS to create a combined electro-mechanical system representing an electric vehicle propelled by an electric motor. The user will get familiar with the PLECS Mechanical domain's Rotational and Translational libraries consisting of Sources, Components, and Sensors subcategories for modeling mechanical dynamics and measuring mechanical variables of interest such as speed, position, and force/torque. After developing a mechanical model for the motor and rotating driveline, the user will build a translational vehicle model to observe the effects of a lumped vehicular system experiencing a road load force and tire frictional force.

This tutorial explains how to create a custom component and component mask using the example of a photovoltaic (PV) string. Masking a subsystem allows users to define a custom interface for a Subsystem block that hides the underlying schematic, making it appear as a single component with its own icon and parameter window. This tutorial also gives a brief introduction to the programming language Lua that is used to implement dynamic component masks.

The C-Script block is a versatile tool in the PLECS component library that can be used for implementing custom controllers and components. The advanced capabilities of the C programming language combined with the flexible sample time settings in the C-Script block allow almost any custom component model, from a simple mathematical function to a complex state machine, to be implemented. The C-Script block can also simplify the workflow when writing C code for DSP controllers since the code can be reused for the DSP. In this tutorial the user will learn how the C-Script block interfaces with the simulation engine through function calls and the different time settings available in the C-Script block. Exercises include using the C-Script block for implementing a mathematical function and for implementing both a continuous and discrete PI controller.

The PLECS DLL block is useful for testing custom C control code with a PLECS model. Compared with the C-Script block, C control code can be included in a model via the DLL block without having to conform to the function structure of the C-Script block and the control code can be written using the same file structure that is used for the DSP control code. In this tutorial you will learn how to link a DLL file that implements a digital PI controller to a PLECS model. This involves creating an embedded project in an IDE, writing the control logic, compiling the code and generating the DLL, and debugging the file while it is running in a PLECS model.

The XML-RPC interface of PLECS Standalone allows you to send and receive data to and from PLECS Standalone using an external program. Many programming languages such as Python, Java, C++, or Ruby offer standard XML-RPC Libraries to set up an XML-RPC client. In this tutorial Python 3 is used to launch PLECS simulations and retrieve the simulation results to be post-processed. In this tutorial you will learn:

- how the XML-RPC interface is embedded into PLECS Standalone and the simulation workflow.
- how to design a simple current control scheme using the Python Control System Library.
- how to use the XML-RPC interface to interact with PLECS (starting a simulation and reading back data).

Please note that PLECS Blockset does not have a built-in XML-RPC interface.