AC source and load modeling in Simulink - Mini Project: Build & Apply

AC Source and Load Modeling

📖 Scenario: You are working on a simple electrical system simulation. You want to model an AC power source and a load connected to it. This will help you understand how voltage and current behave in an AC circuit.

🎯 Goal: Build a Simulink model that includes an AC voltage source and a resistive load. You will set up the source parameters, configure the load, and observe the output voltage and current waveforms.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create an AC voltage source block with specified amplitude and frequency

Add a resistive load block with a given resistance value

Connect the source and load correctly in the Simulink model

Configure simulation parameters to observe voltage and current

Display the voltage and current waveforms using Scope blocks

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Modeling AC sources and loads is essential in designing and analyzing electrical power systems, household appliances, and industrial equipment.

💼 Career

Electrical engineers and data scientists working with power systems use such models to simulate and optimize energy consumption and system stability.

1

Create the AC Voltage Source

In your Simulink model, add a Sine Wave block to represent the AC voltage source. Set the Amplitude parameter to 230 and the Frequency parameter to 50 (for 50 Hz).

Simulink

% Add a Sine Wave block and set Amplitude to 230 and Frequency to 50
% Your code here

Hint

Use the Sine Wave block from the Simulink Sources library. Double-click it to set Amplitude and Frequency.

2

Add a Resistive Load

Add a Resistor block from the Simscape Electrical library to your model. Set its resistance value to 10 ohms. This will act as the load connected to the AC source.

Simulink

% Add a Resistor block and set Resistance to 10 ohms
% Your code here

Hint

Find the Resistor block under Simscape > Electrical > Passive. Set the Resistance parameter to 10.

3

Connect the Source and Load

Connect the output of the AC Voltage Source block to the input of the Load Resistor block. Also, add Voltage Sensor and Current Sensor blocks to measure voltage across and current through the load.

Simulink

% Connect AC Voltage Source output to Load Resistor input
% Add Voltage Sensor and Current Sensor blocks connected to the Load Resistor
% Your code here

Hint

Use lines to connect the blocks. Place Voltage Sensor across the resistor and Current Sensor in series.

4

Display Voltage and Current Waveforms

Add two Scope blocks to your model. Connect one to the output of the Voltage Sensor and the other to the output of the Current Sensor. Run the simulation and observe the waveforms.

Simulink

% Add two Scope blocks
% Connect one to Voltage Sensor output
% Connect the other to Current Sensor output
% Run the simulation and observe waveforms
% Your code here

Hint

Use Scope blocks from Simulink > Sinks. Connect signals from sensors to Scopes.