Study on Modeling of High Frequency Power Pulse Transformer
Haoyu Li, Member, IEEE, Xianglin Bai, and Jianqiang Wu
The Department of Electrical and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province,
150001, China
Abstract—Based on analyzing the physical structure and
operational characteristics of high-frequency power pulse
transformer, both the sub-circuit model and numerical model
are presented. In the sub-circuit model, the distributed
capacitances among transformer windings are reduced to
concentration parameter components. It improves the
practicability. In the numerical model, the piecewise modeling
method is adopted because pulse transformer’s equivalent
parameters affect the model’s characteristic differently on
pulse’s three parts, i.e. rising edge, falling edge, and action
period. This method speeds up the simulation greatly. It is
proved that the two models are precise and speediness, by
analyzing simulation applications.
I. INTRODUCTION
W ith the fast development of the power electronic circuit
topology and the power device, the research goes to be
more high-frequency, more low-loss, more
high-power-density, high-voltage, and high-power. In order
to get the different voltage levels, the pulse transformer is
always used to transform the PWM signal in all type of the
isolated converter, such as flyback, forward, and bridge
converter, etc. It differs from the general power transformer.
Because the PWM signal includes abundant harmonics
components, the distributed parameters in pulse transformer
influent the transmission of power signal more.
The accurate and fast modeling method is the theoretical
basis for designing and making high-frequency power pulse
transformer, it is simultaneously an important research
direction in power electronics subject. In power electronic
circuit, models of all components are classified as three kinds:
sub-circuit model, numerical model, and physical model.
When pulse transformer runs at high frequency, its windings
and magnetic core are strong non-linear parts and many
distributed parameters exist, therefore, its physical model is
very difficult to make [1]. The other two modeling methods
are discussed and investigated in this paper.
Since 1980s, many scholars at home and abroad researched
the modeling method of transformer and pulse transformer.
Especially the last ten years, lots of development works were
Manuscript received October 30, 2007. This work was supported by
Heilongjiang Province Key Technologies R&D Program (No. GC05A315)
Li Haoyu is with the Department of Electrical and Engineering, Harbin
Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150001. (phone:
86-451-86413602; e-mail: lihy@ hit.edu.cn).
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carried through on physical modeling [1], sub-circuit
modeling [2, 3], and numerical modeling [4, 5]. Based on
simulation software Matlab, characteristics of single phase
transformer were investigated and its sub-circuit model was
made in [6]. In [7], the pulse transformer voltage transient
characteristics were studied, and the results of tests and
simulation are very good. But, it is observed that those
scholars were concerned about the high-voltage power
frequency transformer. Few references about high-frequency
pulse transformer are found. In this paper, it will be
researched in depth with the purpose of its sub-circuit model
and numerical model.
II. SUB-CIRCUIT MODEL
High-frequency power pulse transformer differs from ideal
transformer, because it is always working under from several
kilohertz up to megahertz frequency, the distributed
parameters, such as parasitic capacitances among windings
and core, must be considered. As in Fig.1, 2-windings
transformer is taken as an example. These parasitic
capacitances can be split into 4 types: C 10 – between primary
winding and core, C20 – between secondary winding and core;
C12 – between primary and secondary winding; C11 – in
primary winding; C22 – in secondary winding.
u1 u2
Fig.1. Distributed capacitances in 2-windings pulse transformer
It is very complicated to analyze the circuit with distributed
parameters. In order to simplify the problem, concentration
parameter capacitances are adopted to substitute the
distributed capacitances in sub-circuit model. The distributed
capacitances in windings (C11, C22) and between primary and
secondary winding (C12) are very small and can usually be
ignored. Based on these hypotheses, we can get the accurate
sub-circuit model, as in Fig.2. Therein, R1and R2 – direct
current resistance of primary and secondary winding, Ls1and
Ls2 – leakage inductance of primary and secondary winding,
Lm and RT - excitation inductance and its equivalent
resistance, those circuit parameters with superscript
apostrophe mean relevant ones converted from secondary windings’ distributed capacitances and load in parallel. As
side to primary side. Because the input signal of pulse leakage inductance connects with load in series, the rising
transformer is equivalent to direct current during its action edge of output voltage on load does not be vertical ascent but
period, pulse source Us is shown as capital symbol. has a certain slope. At the same time, output voltage may
bring resonance because the distributed capacitances exist.
The oscillation influences running of the pulse transformer
because the operating wave of transformer will distort.
So, to get the numerical model of rising edge, it is assumed:
a. Exciting inductance of transformer is much greater than
leakage inductance, so its shunting action is ignored. In fact,
Fig.2. Sub-circuit model of pulse transformer
the leak inductance coefficient of pulse transformer
It is obvious that the sophisticated sub-circuit model (σ=Ls/Lm=0.01-0.001) accords with this presupposition.
behaves as a 6-order differential equation during the system b. The load R2 and its reflected value R2’ are linear, and
simulation. Its computation speed is very slow. Therefore, for their values have no relation to load voltage.
the sake of speeding up the simulation process and keeping Based on the two presuppositions above, exciting
the simulation precision, the equivalent circuit of pulse inductance can be ignored at pulse’s rising edge period. The
transformer should be simplified more. Generally, we can model of pulse transformer at this moment is shown in Fig.4.
combine the internal resistance of pulse source and the
primary side resistance of pulse transformer, combine the
leakage inductance of transformer windings and lead u1 u 2'
inductance, combine the capacitance of primary winding and
the lead capacitance of primary side, and combine the
capacitance of secondary winding and the lead capacitance of
secondary side. At the same time, we can merge the Fig.4. Model of pulse transformer at rising edge
capacitances between primary winding and secondary From Fig.4, we can get its state equation:
Ls L
winding into secondary side circuit if transformation ratio is R1C1 + Ls C2' 2 ' R1C1 + R1C2' + s' (1)
R1C1 Ls C2' d 3u2' R2' d u2 R2 du2' Us
greater than 1, as Fig.3 (a). In contrast, we can merge those R
+
R1
+
R1
+ u2' =
R
dt3 dt 2 dt
capacitances into primary side circuit if transformation ratio 1 + 1' 1+ ' 1+ ' 1 + 1'
R2 R2 R2 R2
is less than 1, as Fig.3 (b).
If we set:
t = t Ls (C1 + C 2' ) = tTG C1
x=
C1 + C 2'
1 Ls r
u1 u 2' u1 u 2' g = =
R1 + R2' C1 + C 2 R1 + R2'
R2' u2'
a= u=
R1 + R2' aU s
(a) ratio is greater than 1 (b) ratio is less than 1 Therein, — High-frequency time constant
TG = Ls (C1 + C 2' )
Fig.3. Simplified sub-circuit model of pulse transformer
The simulation results show that the simplification will not in transformer model
bring the distinct error. Ls — Wave impedance in transformer model
r=
C1 + C 2'
III. NUMERICAL MODEL Put these variables into (1), we can get
When we simulate the power electronic system using the a (1 - a ) x(1 - x) d 3 u d 2u
+ [(1 - a ) x + (1 - x)a ] 2 + a [
1 - a g du
+ ] +u =1
(2)
pulse transformer sub-circuit as in Fig.2 or Fig.3, the process g dt 3
dt g a dt
must be very slow, though Fig.3 reduce order from 6-order to Obviously, equation (2) shows that capacitances C1 and
4-order. The operating pulse is made of rising edge, falling C should joint to transformer’s primary side or secondary
'
2
edge, and pulse action period. Through analysis, we find that side respectively if variable x equals to 0 or 1. It is similar to
the circuit parameters in Fig.3 play variant roles in these three the booster transformer or reducing transformer in Fig.3.
periods. So, we consider to adopt piecewise modeling method Equation (2) can be expressed as (3) under these two
to build transformer numerical model. This method can conditions.
simplify the model and speed up the simulation process. The d 2u du (3)
+ 2d +u =1
following is these modeling processes. dt 2 dt
Therein,
A. Modeling of pulse’s rising edge a 1-a g When x=0
d = ( + ) t = t aLs C 2'
When pulse transformer works with steep pulse, its 2 g a
exciting inductance can be regarded as open circuit at the
initial time of pulse rising edge because it connects the

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 a 1-a g By the initial conditions, at t=0,
d = ( + )
2 1-a g a t = t (1 - a ) Ls C1
When x=1 u2' (0) = uLm =
U s R2'
The solution of (3) is shown in (4) at different value of d . R1 + R2'
ì -dt d
sin 1 - d 2t + cos 1 - d 2t ) d <1
The equations can be solved, and the solution is the
ï1 - e ( (4) numerical model of pulse’s action period:
ïï 1 - d 2

u = í1 - e -dt (1 + t ) d =1 -
1

ï u 2' = aEe TD (5)

d
ï1 - e -dt ( sh d 2 - 1t + ch d 2 - 1t ) d >1
îï 1-d 2 Therein, a = R /( R1 + R ) — voltage transmission coefficient
'
2
'
2

The numerical model of pulse transformer’s rising edge is TD = Lm ( R1 + R2' ) /( R1 R2' ) — time constant of transformer
expressed in (4), and from it, we can get the typical equivalent circuit, i.e. low-frequency time constant
dimensionless curve of the formation process of pulse’s rising Equation (5) shows that the voltage on R2' falls
edge, as in Fig.5. exponentially along with time. Furthermore, the smaller time
u
1.2
d = 0.5
0.6
constant is, the faster speed of voltage drops.
0.7
1

C. Modeling of pulse’s falling edge

0.8
1
1. 1 As pulse ends, the equivalent circuit of pulse transformer is
1 .2
0.6 1 .3
shown in Fig.7. At this point, pulse source is disconnected.
Because Ls , Lm , C1 , and C2 store certain electric energy or
0.4 '

0.2
magnetic energy, the sophisticated surge must appear. And
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
t because there are many effective reactive components, the
Fig.5 Dimensionless curve of pulse rising edge with linear load oscillatory process needs to be described by high-order
From Fig.5, we know that the monodrome functional differential equation; its solution is very difficult to obtain.
relationship of output-voltage’s relative value u and relative Therefore, we must simplify the question properly, and the
time t are fixed by the parameter d . d reflects all kinds of oscillatory circuit will be equivalent to two loops.
relations among Ls , C1 , C2' , R1 , and R2' in transformer Ls

equivalent circuit. So, the solution can be expressed as the

general curves. The curves will guide the designing and
RT u1 C1 Lm C2' R2' u 2'
making of pulse transformer.
B. Modeling of pulse’s action period
In Fig.3, voltage of the exciting inductance Lm will tend to
zero under DC working condition. So, the secondary side Fig.7. Model of pulse transformer at falling edge
voltage of transformer will trail off slowly after pulse’s rising Loop 1:
edge procedure is over, but voltage of the equivalent The energy stored in Ls will cause oscillation in the loop of
capacitance holds the line. Because the exciting inductance is Ls, C1, and C2’. Because the voltage of C1, and C2’ are
much greater than relevant leakage inductance, and the equivalent, they should not discharge through Ls, but through
exciting inductance connects the load in parallel, and the the exciting inductance Lm, resistance RT, and R2’. As RT is
leakage inductance connects the load in series, the very great and usually R2’ is inductive load, the capacitances
capacitance voltage and the inductance current come to stable mainly discharge through Lm. The oscillatory loop is shown in
value after pulse’s rising edge, moreover, they have little Fig.8.(a), and the output voltage is u21’. Therein, R=RT//R2’,
mutation in pulse’s action period. As the result, the influence C=C1+C2’.
of C1, C2, and Ls can be ignored when we model the forming
process of the action period. It is shown in Fig.6:
u1 u1

u1 u 2'

(a) (b) (c)

Fig.8. The decomposition charts of falling edge model

Fig.6. Model of pulse transformer on pulse action period Loop 2:

From Fig.4, we can get the state equations: Another oscillatory circuit comes into being as a result of
ì ' diLm leakage inductance Ls. It is shown in Fig.8.(b). Because the
ïu2 = Lm
í dt impedances of R1 and R2’ are far greater than the capacitive
ïU = u ' + (i + i ' ) R
î s 2 Lm 2 1

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reactance of C1、C2’, Fig.8.(b) can be reduced to Fig.8.(c). Its
output voltage is expressed as u22’.
Because Lm >> Ls , the oscillatory process in Fig.8.(a) is far
slower than in Fig.8.(c), and its output voltage u21’ is far
greater than u22’ in Fig.8.(c). So, at the moment of modeling
pulse’s falling edge, we only consider Fig.8.(a), its state
equation is expressed in (6).
d 2 u 21
' '
1 du 21 u' (6)
+ + 21 = 0 Fig.10. Simulating waveform of sub-circuit model
dt 2 RC dt Lm C
If the voltage drop of the pulse’s action period is ignored, TABLE.I
that is to say that the initial condition is u21' (0) = U s , the COMPARE OF SUB-CIRCUIT MODEL AND NUMERICAL MODEL
numerical model of pulse’s falling edge is show in (7). Sub-circuit model `Numerical model
d Simulation Us: 100V/50kHz;
ì -dt Us: 100V/50kHz;
ïe (cos 1 - d t - sin 1 - d 2t ) d <1
2
(7) parameters
Ls=40μH;
Rising edge:
ï 1 - d 2
TG=2.83μs; α=1; ρ=4.47; γ=0.46×
'
u21 =í C1=100pF;
ïe -dt (ch 1 - d 2t - d sh 1 - d 2t ) d >1 ’
C2 =100pF;
10-3; δ=0.23×10-3
ïî 1-d 2 Pulse’s action period:
Lm=2mH;
Lm=2mH; R1=0.6Ω; R2’=10kΩ
' t Lm R1=0.6Ω;
u21 t= Falling edge:
u= d= C R2’=10kΩ
aU s ， LmC
2R Lm=2mH; R=0.8Ω; C=200pF
Therein, ， Time 10ms 10ms
According to (7), the termination procedure of pulse can be Step size 10ns 10ns
regarded as two processes. One is attenuation of positive Processing 5.17s 0.85s
voltage to zero, and the other is attenuation of negative time
voltage to zero. With increase of the transformer load, the The simulating waveform of numerical model is shown in
quantity of the attenuation of negative voltage increases and Fig.11. It is observed that the oscillation damping decreases
the reverse pulse will appear on the stage of falling edge. In than that in the sub-circuit model because the simplification is
Fig.9, the relation curve of the voltage on falling edge, adopted on the rising and falling edges. But, the oscillation
contra-time t , and d is shown. frequency keeps in line basically, and the simulating
u
d1 = 0
precision is acceptable. The simulation is very fast, and the
processing time is only 0.85s.
0.5
0.6
0.7
1.1
2
1.2

t
Fig.9. Influence of exciting inductance on falling edge Fig.11. Simulating waveform of numerical model

IV. COMPARISON OF THE TWO MODELING METHODS V. CONCLUSION

Based on the two models above, two kinds of simulation
are carried through. The simulation software is OrCAD10.5
of Cadence, and the computer uses Intel Centrino T7300 CPU.
The results and simulation parameters are shown in Table.I.
The simulating waveform of the output voltage of pulse
transformer sub-circuit model is shown in Fig.10. It is
obvious that the different-frequency oscillations appear on
both the rising and falling edges, and the top of pulse declines
a little. The result of sub-circuit model simulation is very
accurate, but the processing time is 5.17s while the simulating
time is 10ms. The simulating speed is slower than that in the
numerical model.
1) In the process of sub-circuit modeling for
high-frequency-power-pulse transformer, the distributed
capacitances in windings and magnetic core can be
equivalent to concentrative capacitances. The
simplification influences the simulating precision little,
but the simulating speed is fairly slow.
2) In the process of numerical modeling, it is split into three
segments, i.e. rising edge, falling edge, and action period,
and in every segment, the model parameters affect model
characteristic differently. The model’s order is lowered
and the simulating speed is improved greatly.
3) In the process of numerical modeling, the relationship of
pulse’s three segments and transformer’s physical
parameters is analyzed in details. It will guide the
designing and making of the pulse transformer.
4) By the simulating tests, two models of pulse transformer

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 are proved. As a result, the waveforms of the two models
are presented.

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