Analysis of DC–DC converters as critical components for maritime DC grid simulation

The level of simulation detail accounts for system stability and dynamic response performance and is key to optimize between simulation accuracy and complexity. This study investigate its impact in shipboard DC grids focusing on power electronic converters as a critical component. A DC–DC forward converter model was analyzed with varying levels of complexity incorporating parasitic elements and compared to empirical data recorded at 100 kHz from a real DC–DC converter. The comparison was made regarding their time domain response to a load steps and their frequency domain characteristics. Results indicate that key characteristics like settling time and steady-state behavior can be accurately represented at moderate complexity, whereas capturing full system dynamics in time as well as frequency domain requires coupled hardware and digital simulations (Hardware-in-the-loop - HiL) due to component intricacies and parameter uncertainties. • Critical component identification aids balancing complexity and model accuracy • Simulation complexity trade-off: Improved practicality and efficiency • Comparison of real world DC–DC converter measurements and different simulations