Simulation inputs
Enter all model values. The calculator evaluates each interval and combines the results.
Formula used
The profile changes baseline input power at each time interval. Efficiency and fixed operating loss then determine useful net power.
How to use this calculator
- Select electrical, mechanical, or thermal power.
- Enter the values used by your selected source model.
- Set duration and time step for the planned operating period.
- Choose a profile, then enter cycle, variation, and duty settings.
- Add efficiency and fixed loss estimates from reliable equipment data.
- Run the simulation and review average power, peak power, energy, and losses.
- Download interval data for additional comparison or reporting.
Example data
| Input | Example value | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Source model | Electrical | Uses voltage, current, and power factor. |
| Voltage and current | 230 V and 5 A | Creates a 1,035 W baseline at 0.90 power factor. |
| Duration and step | 3,600 s and 60 s | Builds sixty one-minute intervals. |
| Profile settings | Sine, 300 s, 20% | Represents smoothly varying demand. |
| Efficiency and loss | 90% and 15 W | Estimates delivered power after conversion effects. |
Power simulation for changing systems
Why Time Simulation Improves Power Estimates
A single power reading can hide important operating changes. Real systems rarely remain perfectly steady. Loads may rise, fall, pulse, or cycle. Motors speed up and slow down. Pumps meet changing pressure. Electrical devices switch between standby and active states. A time simulation evaluates many small intervals. It then combines those intervals into useful energy and demand values. This approach supports better equipment selection. It also makes losses easier to understand.
Choose the Correct Source Model
The electrical model begins with voltage, current, and power factor. It estimates input power as their product. The mechanical model uses force and velocity. It suits moving belts, lifts, vehicles, and actuators. The thermal model uses mass flow, specific heat, and temperature change. It is useful for fluids, heaters, heat exchangers, and cooling loops. Select the model matching the energy entering your system. Use consistent units before starting the simulation.
Represent Changing Operating Conditions
The profile setting controls how input power changes during time. A steady profile keeps demand constant. A sinusoidal profile changes smoothly around the baseline. It can represent rhythmic loading or rotating equipment variation. A pulse profile alternates between on and off states. Its duty cycle controls the active portion. The cycle period determines how often each pattern repeats. Longer simulations can reveal effects that a brief snapshot misses.
Include Efficiency and Fixed Losses
Efficiency converts source power into usable delivered power. A motor, converter, or heater never transfers every input watt. The calculator applies the selected percentage at every time step. Fixed losses are then removed from delivered power. These losses can represent fans, controls, bearings, or standby electronics. Do not use unrealistic efficiency values. Small errors become important across long durations. Check manufacturer data when reliable figures are available.
Read the Main Results Carefully
Average power shows the typical demand over the entire run. Peak power identifies the highest simulated requirement. Total energy reports accumulated watt-hours and kilowatt-hours. Input energy reflects energy before efficiency and fixed losses. Net energy reflects usable output after those effects. The load factor compares average power with peak power. A low load factor may indicate short bursts. A high load factor suggests steadier operation.
Improve Assumptions Through Testing
Run several scenarios rather than trusting one input set. Test minimum, expected, and maximum operating conditions. Reduce the time step when the profile changes quickly. Use a larger step only for gradual behavior. Compare output with meter readings when possible. Record units with every result. The CSV export helps review interval data in spreadsheets. The printable summary helps document design choices. Simulation is a planning tool, not a replacement for safety checks.
Use measured values whenever possible. Estimates are most reliable when inputs mirror actual conditions. Document assumptions, sampling intervals, calibration limits, and unusual operating events. This record makes later revisions faster and helps teams compare alternatives with greater confidence.
Frequently asked questions
1. What does the simulator calculate?
It calculates interval power, average demand, peak demand, losses, and accumulated energy. It evaluates the selected source formula repeatedly across the chosen duration.
2. Which model should I select?
Choose electrical for voltage and current, mechanical for force and velocity, or thermal for flowing fluid temperature change. Use the model closest to the energy entering your equipment.
3. Why does the calculator need a time step?
The time step divides the operating period into small calculations. Shorter steps capture quicker changes. Longer steps reduce detail but can be suitable for slow, steady loads.
4. What is a sinusoidal profile?
A sinusoidal profile moves smoothly above and below the baseline. It can approximate periodic demand from rotating machines, cyclical processes, or regularly changing environmental conditions.
5. How does pulse mode work?
Pulse mode turns the simulated load on for the selected duty cycle and off afterward. During active intervals, load variation increases the baseline by the chosen percentage.
6. Why can net power become zero?
Net power becomes zero when converted source power cannot cover fixed operating loss. This can happen during low-load periods, low efficiency, or pulse intervals that are off.
7. Does this calculator measure real power?
No. It provides an engineering estimate from your assumptions. Confirm important design, billing, or safety decisions with suitable meters, specifications, and qualified technical review.
8. What does load factor show?
Load factor compares average net power with peak net power. A lower percentage indicates brief peaks. A higher percentage indicates demand that remains closer to its maximum.
9. Can I use temperature rise in Celsius?
Yes. A temperature difference in degrees Celsius has the same numerical size as a difference in kelvin. Use a mass flow rate in kilograms per second.
10. How should I choose efficiency?
Use measured performance or manufacturer data at a similar operating condition. When data is uncertain, run several efficiency values to create a realistic operating range.
11. What are the CSV and PDF options for?
The CSV file contains interval results for spreadsheet review. The PDF option uses your browser print dialog, where you can save a clean summary as a PDF.