Simulation with ideal switch models combined with measured loss data provides a good estimate of power loss

Ideally, converter losses should be determined without using an excessive amount of simulation time. State-of-the-art power semiconductor models provide good accuracy; unfortunately they often require a very long simulation time. This paper describes how to estimate power losses from simulation using ideal switches combined with measured power loss data. The semiconductor behavior is put into a look-up table, which replaces the advanced semiconductor models and shortens the simulation time. To extract switching and conduction losses, converter is simulated and the semiconductor power losses are estimated. Measurement results on a laboratory converter are compared with the estimated losses and a good agreement is shown. Using the ideal switch simulation and the post processing power estimation program, a ten to twenty fold increase in simulation speed is obtained, compared to simulations using advanced models of semiconductors.