Learning power electronics circuits through simulation is one of the best ways for an Undergraduate and Postgraduate student to understand the subject effectively. This article aims to provide a panoramic view of different software tools used for simulating electrical circuits and enable students to have the best choice among various tools. A simple buck converter is considered for illustration and is realized using multiple approaches using MATLAB, Scilab, and LTspice software tools. As MATLAB and LTSpice software tools provide the open loop characteristics of any physical system, a detailed analysis of frequency response for constant voltage operation (Gvd) and average current operations (Gid) for the converter is carried out. Though Scilab is open-source software it provides the same accuracy as that of a licensed tool, such as MATLAB. However, slowness in simulation is observed while simulating complex systems. For a quick insight into the frequency response, the LTspice software tool provides a high-speed response compared to MATLAB.

Energy Storage Systems (ESS) have increasingly come to occupy more space with the changing global energy landscape. One of the most important components of an ESS is the Energy Management System (EMS) or the Battery Management System (BMS). A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) can store a significant amount of energy for long periods of time. The BMS is responsible for the operational safety of the battery modules in the battery pack. The primary responsibility is to safeguard the battery. This is done essentially from the safety aspect as it is very important to ensure cell balancing and End-Of-Life (EOL). Also, since the system temperature has a direct bearing on the power consumption profile, it is imperative for the BMS to regulate the system temperature. The BMS condition monitoring of the battery pack can be summarized as State Of Charge (SOC), State Of Health (SOH), State Of Power (SOP), and State Of Energy (SOE).