This paper presents a method for sampling the analog variables and running the controller in multi-cell converters with a frequency higher than the switching frequency. First we introduce the multi-cell converters and highlight their similarities. Next we describe the devised method and explain the strategy to avoid simultaneous sampling and switching event. Experimental measurements illustrate the result that can be reached with the proposed concept.

The AVL E-STORAGE BTE is a high-voltage power supply which is designed for characterization and verification of electric driveline components in the automotive, off-highway, marine and aviation industries. It is able to provide a voltage-range from 8V to 800V with a power output up to 250kW. Due to its dynamic performance an ultra-high speed, ultra-low latency Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) real-time emulator for Power Electronics is needed. In our HIL setup, HIL602, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) based system is used to emulate power electronics and interact with the Power Controller Unit (PCU) as well as the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). The PLC handles information from user commands, controls digital inputs/outputs and executes a state machine, whereas the PCU contains controller boards for interaction with the mains rectifier (MR) and step-down converter (STDC). The AVL E-Storage power electronics model is built, compiled and simulated using its mathematical representation in HIL software, where the analog/digital I/Os are controlled. Automating the HIL testing is crucial because it helps to reduce costs, to detect possible errors in the early development stage and it provides a real-time fault-tolerant operation. This paper presents an approach to test the functionality of E-Storage Battery Tester & Emulator (BTE) System's PCU- and PLC-Software in automated tests.

This paper evaluates the feasibility of applying the Lin-Kernighan algorithm to the problem of optimizing cutting and welding paths. A methodology was developed to solve this problem that is based on modifying the coordinate data presented to the Lin-Kernighan algorithm and to interpret the results of this optimization to ensure the problem constraints are followed. The efficiency of the method is tested on several sample problems with very promising results. In all cases, the method is able to find at least a near-optimal tour and was able to reduce the total cutting and air distance of an industrial problem by more than 12%. The solution is applicable to any problem that needs to determine the shortest path between individual shapes on a sheet.