EFFICIENT POWER SUPPLY DESIGN USING SIMPLORER/PEXPRT

摘要

Traditionally, power supply design has taken two approaches. The first approach is a fully custom power supply design that yields precisely what is needed for the program but at significant engineering development costs. The second is to use Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) modules ("bricks"). The selection of a custom design path is usually driven by significant technical requirements, space constraints or high volumes. The COTS path is driven more by quick-turn, low-risk, low volume demands or prototypes. However, COTS quickreaction prototypes often become "don't-change-the-design" deliverables down the road that aren't cost effective for production. Traditionally engineers use hand calculations and general purpose modeling and simulation tools, coupled with inefficient build and test methods in an attempt to optimize the efficiency, size and performance of the power supply. Advances in modeling tools specifically intended for power supply simulation permit much more accurate circuit simulations resulting in cheaper, smaller, and more efficient power supplies. These tools enable the creation of accurate models of magnetic components; minimizing losses and significantly reducing design cycle time. A more efficient power supply results in a smaller, lighter, and more reliable system. The improvements in system performance and the overall cost and design cycle reduction allow the custom design approach to be deployed over much smaller projects.