Role of Simulation Technology for the Progress in Power Devices and Their Applications

The modern power electronics era started with the commercialization of the silicon-controlled rectifier in 1957, since when power electronics systems have been installed in a wide range of applications from appliances to traction and utility systems as the technology has advanced. Meanwhile, simulation tools have played an important role in the research and development of power semiconductors and power electronics systems. As power devices and power electronics become increasingly important technologies in today's electric society, it is worth examining the overall integration of power electronics design. This paper reviews the history of simulation technology with reference to power device modeling and discusses the future of power electronics system design.