An Open Processor-in-the-Loop Framework for Power Converter Control

Controllers for modern power converters are complex embedded systems. Processor-in-the-loop (PiL) schemes are one way to test and verify the behavior of the controller when executed on the target hardware. PiL schemes can be employed at low cost and can be used to verify if control algorithms are executed correctly and in real-time. Although PiL is often supported by power electronics simulation tools, the range of supported controllers is limited. This paper proposes a framework where PiL schemes can be implemented for a wide range of software tools and controllers. The framework is implemented as a C library with external interfaces that are made configurable and can be adapted to different devices and simulation tools. The C library is open-source and available online. To demonstrate the framework, a PiL scheme is implemented with PLECS as the software tool and a Zynq-7000 system-on-a-chip as the controller.