5APA0 Power Electronics

Instruction 2 - Dc-dc converters 1

Exercise 2.1 (Question 2.1 [Mohan, 2003])

The datasheet of a switching device specifies the following switching times corresponding to the linearised
characteristics shown in Figure 1(b) for clamped-inductive switching:
tri = 100 ns tfv = 50 ns trv = 100 ns tfi = 200 ns
Calculate and plot the switching power loss as a function of frequency in a range of 25 − 100 kHz,
assuming Vd = 300 V and Iout = 4 A in the circuit of Figure 1(a).

Figure 1: Generic-switch switching characteristics (linearized): (a) simplified clamped-inductive-switching

circuit, (b) switch waveforms, (c) instantaneous switch power loss.

1
Exercise 2.2 (Question 2.2 [Mohan, 2003])
Consider the resistive-switching circuit shown in Figure 2. Vd = 300 V, fs = 100 kHz and R = 75 Ω, so
that the on-state current is the same as in Exercise 2.1. Assume the switch turn-on time to be the sum
of tri and tf v in Exercise 2.1. Similarly, assume the turn-off time to be the sum of trv and tfi .

Figure 2

Assuming linear voltage- and current-switching characteristics, plot the switch voltage and current
and the switching power loss as a function of time. Compare the average power loss with that in Exercise
2.1.

Exercise 2.3 (Question 3.8 [Mohan, 2003])

Some of the exercises in this course are combined with a simulation file in LTspice. The software can
be found on the website of Linear Technology (www.linear.com) and is free to use. The simulation files
can be used to check your calculations and to get a better understanding of the various power-electronics
topologies. This exercise is meant as an introduction to the software.
Open the simulation file P2 3.asc in LTspice. An input voltage of a repetitive waveform with Ts = 6 µs
and Ton = 4 µs is filtered and then applied across the load resistance. Consider the system to be in steady
state. It is given that L = 5 µH. Calculate the expected output voltage and compare your result with
the simulation. Is it the same?

Exercise 2.4
A step-down dc-dc converter (Fig. 3) is to be analyzed. The switching frequency fs = 50 kHz. The input
voltage Vd = 48 V. The output filter inductance L = 0.1 mH. The output capacitor C is large; assume
no ripple in the output voltage. Rated output characteristics are: Vo,rated = 20 V and Io,rated = 25 A.

a) Calculate the output power Po,rated and the equivalent load resistance Rrated for rated operation.
(Po,rated = 500 W, Rrated = 0.8 Ω)

b) Schematically draw the voltage across the inductor, and the current through it. From the volt-
second balance, find the rated duty ratio Drated . (Drated = 0.417)

c) Calculate the maximum and minimum value of the current and indicate them in your drawing.
(IL,max = 26.2 A, IL,min = 23.8 A)

d) Draw the switch and diode current, iT and iD

e) Calculate the RMS value of IT . Suppose that the switch has a small series resistance RT = 10 mΩ.
What are the conduction losses in the switch? Assume that RT has negligible influence on the
steady state voltages and currents. (IT,RMS = 16.1 A, PT = 2.6 W)

Exercise 2.5
The step-up converter of figure 4 works at a switching frequency fs = 350 kHz and duty ratio D = 0.7.
the input voltage is Vd = 15 V, the inductance is L = 56 µH and the load resistance is equal to R = 70 Ω.

a) Schematically draw the inductor voltage vL , the inductor current iL and the diode current iD .
Indicate the average inductor current IL .

2
 L

+ iT iL +
vd iD C R vo
- -

Figure 3: Buck converter

b) Find the output voltage Vo from the Volt-second balance, and calculate Io and the peak-to-peak
inductor current ripple ∆iL . (Vo = 50 V, Io = 0.71 A, ∆iL = 0.54 A)
RT
c) From the definition of the average value ID = T1 0 iD dt, find a relation between ID and IL . Use
this to find IL . Check the obtained value by means of the input and output power of the converter.
(IL = 2.4 A)

+ iL iD +
vd C R vo
- -

Figure 4: Boost converter

Exercise 2.6
If the output current of the converter of Exercise 2.4 is decreased too much, its operating mode will
change. In this question the change of this operating mode is investigated.
a) Keep the duty ratio found in Exercise 2.4 constant and increase the load resistance. For operation
at the boundary to discontinuous conduction (boundary conduction mode), schematically plot the
inductor current iL .

b) Find the load current IoB , voltage VoB , power PoB and equivalent load resistance RB at the boundary
to discontinuous conduction (subscript B). (IoB = 1.2 A; VoB = 20 V, PoB = 23.3 W, RB = 17.1 Ω)
c) Indicate the average value of the inductor current ILB , the peak value iLB,peak , and the switch on
and off times ton and toff in your drawing.
d) Still keep the duty ratio constant and increase the load resistance until the output current is equal to
Io = 0.5 A. Find the load voltage Vo and power Po for this operating point. (Vo = 30 V, Po = 15 W)
e) For the operation of Io = 0.5 A, plot the inductor current iL and inductor voltage vL , and calculate
∆1 Ts , ∆2 Ts and iL,max . (∆1 Ts = 5 µs, ∆2 Ts = 6.66 µs, iL,max = 1.5 A)
Note: Do the simulation P2 6.asc to verify the calculations and try to understand why the simulation
results are different.

Exercise 2.7 (Question 7.01 [Mohan, 2003])

In a step-down converter, consider all components to be ideal. Let vo = Vo be held constant at 5 V
by controlling the switch duty ratio D. Calculate the minimum inductance L required to keep the
converter operation in a continuous-conduction mode under all conditions if Vd is 10 − 40 V, Po ≥ 5 W,
and fs = 50 kHz. Check whether you obtain the same result when using the simulation file P2 7.asc.
(L ≥ 43.75 µH)