Chopper circuit switching device simulation using device characteristics

The requirement for a new simulation techinque for chopper circuits first occured in a research program involving battery powered invalid vehicles. The power levels and supply voltages encountered in this application are very much smaller than in all other industrial or traction applications. The mechanical power required to propel the vehicle over any given load cycle is dependent on the driving strategy and the terrain. A software package, vehicle power requirements (VPR), has been developed to evaluate the power requirements in complex load cycles. Details of both the driving strategy and the terrain are used as inputs to the VPR package. The outputs from the VPR package are the output power which is required from the drive motor and its operating speed