PEHIL: An Innovation by ITB Electrical Engineering Students for Safe and Efficient Power Electronics Simulation
By Shieva Amelia Savitri - Mahasiswa Meteorologi, 2021
Editor Anggun Nindita
BANDUNG, itb.ac.id – As part of the final project exhibition at Electrical Engineering Days (EE Days) 2025, three students from the Electrical Engineering program at ITB introduced an educational innovation designed as a learning aid in the field of power electronics. Their creation, called PEHIL (Power Electronics Hardware in the Loop), is a real-time simulation system that allows for the design, testing, and verification of power converter circuits in a virtual and interactive environment.
Developed by Kaila, George, and Desnanda, PEHIL was created in response to the need for practical, safe, and efficient tools for understanding power conversion systems. Direct testing on physical devices often carries risks, especially when the design is not yet perfected. By using a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) approach, PEHIL enables users to perform controlled simulations before testing on actual hardware. This tool is intended to support coursework in power electronics, especially in the field of electrical power engineering.
Teknologi Simulasi yang Realistis dan Efisien
PEHIL adapts the HIL approach, commonly used in industry to test control systems under near-real conditions. The process begins with designing the circuit using a schematic editor, then exporting the design in netlist format to be uploaded into the PEHIL application.
The system then converts the netlist into a mathematical model of the circuit. This model is uploaded to a System on Chip (SoC) via the "send" feature. Users can then copy control code from the provided template in the ESP32 code feature, paste it into the Arduino IDE, and upload it to the ESP32 microcontroller, which acts as the control center.
Once the code is running, control signals are sent through the ESP32’s GPIO pins and received by the ADC module on the SoC. The SoC computes the circuit’s behavior based on those signals. This process enables evaluation of the compatibility between control logic and circuit characteristics. If the two align, the system produces the expected output; otherwise, deviations occur.
The circuit’s response can be directly visualized via a digital oscilloscope, making the learning process more interactive and easier to grasp.
“We’re not just testing the circuit but also the control system. For instance, in testing a boost converter from 15 volts to 60 volts, a design error could result in an incorrect output and potentially damage physical components like capacitors. With this simulation, we ensure the system runs stably before real-world testing,” said Desnanda.
Supporting Learning and Design Development
As a learning medium, PEHIL offers several advantages, such as cost-efficiency, safe experimentation, and flexibility in testing. Students can simulate various designs without assembling physical components first, minimizing errors in the early design stages. The system is also reconfigurable, allowing users to instantly alter circuit configurations using LTSpice.
Kaila explained that PEHIL can be used to test various types of DC-DC power converters, including boost converters. In addition to checking output accuracy, users can also evaluate control system performance to ensure stable and target-matching output voltage.
“We hope PEHIL can be truly integrated into academic learning and provide real benefits for students,” Kaila stated.
Potential for Broader Development
Although designed for academic purposes, PEHIL holds potential for further development. HIL technology is widely used in industry but often involves high equipment costs. By adapting similar technology into a more affordable educational version, PEHIL bridges the gap between academic and professional practice.
“If continuously developed, I hope PEHIL can become a bridge between academia and the professional world, and open new opportunities for control and power technology development in Indonesia,” said George.
From the Classroom to Future Innovation
PEHIL is a concrete example that student final projects can produce innovative solutions that are not only academically relevant but also address practical challenges in engineering. With safe and realistic simulations, this tool supports hands-on learning and paves the way for more advanced power conversion and control technology development
Through PEHIL, Kaila, George, and Desnanda have demonstrated how student collaboration in developing technological solutions can make a tangible contribution to engineering education and national innovation advancement.
Reporter: Shieva Amelia Savitri (Meteorology, Class of 2021).
