Three-dimensional animations of power-electronics circuits visualize voltage and current

Abstract

3D circuit animations can be highly effective to understand and to visualize the interactions of components, voltages and currents in power electronics. With modern computer hardware and software tools, animations can be readily produced, and have been used to demonstrate power electronic circuit behavior. We introduce a new circuit animation system and the ideas behind it to the power electronics community. This animation system, offers potentially important advantages in showing the interactions of components, voltages, and currents in power-electronics circuits. We apply it to develop animations of rectifiers and DC/DC converters, and we report experience using them in a power electronics course.