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Buck Converter

Experiment Findings · May 2014

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.34846.33609

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 Experiment Report of Advanced Power
Electronics

APE 02

Buck Converter

Group No: 23
Group Members:
1. MohammadAli (206125)
2. Shiva Chaitanya Repalle (205895)
3. Abdul Wahab (205810)

Supervisor: Dr. Ing. Reinhard Dobbelin

 BUCK CONVERTER
The Buck Converter Principle:
A Buck Converter is a voltage step down and current step up converter, it is a DC-DC
converter. Buck converter is the most basic SMPS topology. It is widely used throughout the
industry to convert a higher input voltage into a lower output voltage. The buck converter
(voltage step-down converter) is a non-isolated converter.

The Buck Converter is used in SMPS circuits where the DC output voltage needs to be
lower than the DC input voltage. The DC input can be derived from rectified AC or from any DC
supply. It is useful where electrical isolation is not needed between the switching circuit and the
output, but where the input is from a rectified AC source, isolation between the AC source and the
rectifier could be provided by a mains isolating transformer. [1]

Operation of Buck Converter:

The basic operation of the buck converter has the current in an inductor controlled by two
switches (usually a transistor and a diode). In the idealised converter, all the components are
considered to be perfect. Specifically, the switch and the diode have zero voltage drop when on
and zero current flow when off and the inductor has zero series resistance. Further, it is assumed
that the input and output voltages do not change over the course of a cycle (this would imply the
output capacitance as being infinite).

1. Buck Converter:

Fig 1: Basic model of Buck converter [2]

Consideration based on the following assumptions:

1. U1- > 0, Constant (Load: Voltage Source or RC – Perfect capacitive smoothing or DC

motor – Constant Rotational Speed).
2. Uz > U1-, Constant (Buck Converter).
3. T1, D2 - Ideal Switches.
4. iL1(t)≠0, Continuous Conduction Mode (CCM). [2]
Modes of Operation:

The dc-dc converters can have two distinct modes of operation: Continuous conduction mode
(CCM) and discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). In practice, a converter may operate in both
modes, which have significantly different characteristics. Therefore, a converter and its control
should be designed based on both modes of operation. However, for this course we only consider
the dc-dc converters operated in CCM (Buck Converter).

Fig 1.1: Circuit Diagram of Buck Converter [2]

1.1: The Measured Switching Frequency:

The output Dc voltage (U1-) can be changed by adjusting the switching frequency value (fT).

Periodic clocking of T1:

1. T1 switched on – (conducting) in interval t0≤t<t2.

2. T1 switched-off (non-conducting) in interval t2≤t< t4.
− − z
3. Duty cycle: � = = = , (only under steady state condition)
4− P +

Where TP = f , TP is the cycle duration of the clock.

T

The value of TP = 456 µs

Therefore, f = = ≈ . kHz
P μ

1.2: Control Mode of Buck Converter:

By changing the On and Off state of the transistor, the output voltage differs (changes),
and to obtain the exact appropriate ratio, PWM (Pulse width Modulation) techniques is used.
Here, the cycle duration of the clock (Tp) is attained to be constant and the transistor conduction
interval is changed (t − t ). The components are stressed most when the load current is high.
Hence the converter operates in CCM and further considerations will be done with respect to it.
[3]
2. The Current and Voltage Waveforms:

2.1: Parameters:

 Input voltage: Uz = 40V

 Duration of the transistor conduction interval: t0 - t2 = 150µs
 Load current: IL  0.4 A

2.2: Waveforms:

2.2.1: Transistor current and voltage:

Transistor Current vs Time

0.6

0.5

0.4
Current (Ampere)

0.3

0.2

0.1

-0.1
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Time (sec) -4
x 10

Transistor Votltage vs Time

45

40

35

30
Voltage (Volt)

25

20

15

10

0
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Time (sec) -4
x 10

Fig 2.2 (a): Transistor current and voltage

The Conduction interval of the transistor is 150µs.From the above graph, within the conduction
interval 0 to 0.2 ms the transistor current is same as the current flowing through the inductor.
Therefore, the transistor current exponentially increases to a certain limit and then suddenly
begins to decrease. So, the current through the inductor is given by,

Uz R
( − e− L )
iL t =
RL
As well as within the conduction interval 0 to 20 ms, the voltage across the transistor is zero for
small duration. Therefore, the decrease of voltage is very large. Because of this, a steep slope in
the voltage will occur across the transistor due to the non-ideal switching-off behaviour of the
freewheeling diode, which is the reason for the spike in transistor current at the start of conduction
interval.
. Circuit topology has snubber circuit in parallel to transistor for its protection. Snubber circuit is
the arrangement of diode in parallel with resistor which is then in series with capacitor. Capacitor
present in this circuit does not allow the voltage to drop to zero during the conduction mode, as
shown in the figure.

So, at the end of the conduction interval, when the transistor is switched off, the voltage across the
inductor (the back e.m.f.) is now in reverse polarity to the voltage across the inductor during the
‘on’ period, and sufficient stored energy is available in the collapsing magnetic field to keep
current flowing for at least part of the time the transistor switch is open. Therefore the current
through the transistor decreases suddenly. [4]

2.2.2: Transistor current and Freewheeling diode voltage:

Free wheeling diode voltage vs Time

5

-5

-10
Voltage (Volts)

-15

-20

-25

-30

-35

-40
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Time (sec) -4
x 10
 Transistor Current vs Time
0.6

0.5

0.4

Current (Ampere)
0.3

0.2

0.1

-0.1
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Time (sec) -4
x 10

Fig 2.2 (b): Transistor current and freewheeling diode voltage

The switching transistor between the input and output of the Buck Converter continually switches
on and off at high frequency. To maintain a continuous output, the circuit uses the energy stored
in the inductor L during the on periods of the switching transistor, to continue supplying the load
during the off periods. The circuit operation depends on what is sometimes also called a Flywheel
Circuit. This is because the circuit acts rather like a mechanical flywheel that, given regularly
spaced pulses of energy keeps spinning smoothly (outputting energy) at a steady rate.

When the diode is conducting during the off time of the transistor, the voltage across the diode is
equal to the forward voltage drop of the diode and the current through the transistor is zero. (Since
no energy dissipation or transfer of energy takes place from source to load, vice versa).

2.2.3: Load current and load resistor voltage:

Load Resistor Voltage vs Time

35

30

25
Voltage (Volts)

20

15

10

0
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Time (sec) -4
x 10
 Load Current vs Time
0.65

0.6

0.55

0.5

Current (Ampere)
0.45

0.4

0.35

0.3

0.25

0.2

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Time (sec) -4
x 10

Fig 2.3 (c): Load current and Load resistor voltage

During the conduction interval of the transistor, the load current increases exponentially because
the load current is same as the current passing through the inductor. The equation is given by,

Uz R
( − e− L ) iL t =
RL
During the conduction interval of the transistor, when the transistor is switched on, the current
through the load resistor starts to increase. But due to the presence of parasitic inductance and
capacitances, there is a spike in the load resistor voltage waveform. Similarly due to the parasitic
inductance, the value of inductive component changes from positive to negative during the end of
conduction interval of transistor. Thus there is a negative spike in the load resistor voltage
waveform at the end of conduction interval of the transistor

2.2.4: Load current and load circuit voltage:

Load Circuit Current vs Time

0.65

0.6

0.55

0.5
Current (Ampere)

0.45

0.4

0.35

0.3

0.25

0.2

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Time (sec) -4
x 10
 Load Circuit Voltage vs Time
45

40

35

30

Voltage (Volts)
25

20

15

10

-5
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Time (sec) -4
x 10

Fig 2.4 (d): Load current and Load circuit voltage

By applying the (Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law) to the Buck converter circuit, the equation is :
diL
u + = uL +−L
dt
Where,
uL1+ = UZ, during the conduction interval of the transistor
uL1+ = 0, during off time of the transistor.
During the conduction interval of the transistor, the load current increases exponentially because
the load current is same as the current through the inductor.
When the transistor is switched off, the inductor discharges and polarity of voltage across the
inductor reverses making freewheeling diode forward biased. Diode starts conducting during the
off time of the transistor, keeping the load current continues to flow and decreasing exponentially.
At the end of one cycle, the transistor switched on again and the current increases exponentially.

3. Current & Voltage Waveforms:

The following measurements have to be carried out to investigate the output characteristics of the
Buck converter and to determine its Power parameters. We use the following parameter
adjustments:

1. Duration of the transistor conduction intervals: 100μs, 200μs, 400μs.

2. Selection of at least 10 operation points by means of variation of load resistance.
3. Maximum load current is limited to 1.5A.
3.1: Load voltage UL1+ as function of load current IL:

The figure shows that, for the same value of load current as the duty cycle increases, the
value of load voltage increases. The duty cycle increases means that the conduction interval of
Transistor increases, which increases the average value of load circuit voltage UL1+.

Load Voltage vs Load Current for 100µs, 200µs, 400µs

40

35

100µs
30 200µs
400µs
Load Voltage (V)

25

20

15

10

5
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6
Load Current (A)

Fig 3.1: Load voltage vs Load current (100µs, 200µs, 400µs)

3.2: Input power Pin as function of output power Pout:

The figure shows that, the input power (Pin) increases linearly with the output power (Pout).

The formula for input power is, Pin = Is1×Uz

The formula for output power is, Pout = IL×U1-

From the figure we can see that, as the conduction interval of the transistor increases, the average
value of the load voltage increases, which in turn increases the output power. When the Duty
cycle increases the values of the Input power and Output power also increases.
 Fig (3.2): Input power Vs Output power (100µs, 200µs, 400µs).

3.3: Efficiency  as function of output power Pout:

Efficiency of the buck converter is given by,

�
�= × %
��

From the above equation, we can see that efficiency is calculated by comparing input power and
output power. Efficiency increases as the duty cycle increases. For low value of duty cycle,
efficiency is very less for low output power and it increases when output power is increased. As
we know that Pin = Pout + Ploss by increasing the input power, output power would be increased and
also the Ploss would also increase but in a very small amount regarding to output power. So
increasing input power would increase output power, and efficiency also increases (as the
efficiency is dependent upon Input power and Output power) from the above formula.
 Efficiency (%) vs Output Power for 100µs, 200µs, 400µs
100

90
100µs
200µs
80
400µs
70
Efficiency ( % )
60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Output Power (Watt)

Fig (3.3): Efficiency (%) vs. Output power (100µs, 200µs, and 400µs).

Bibliography:

1. Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_converter.
2. Power Electronics.pdf & Pre lab Assignment.pdf – OVGU (EEIT Dept).
3. Muhammad H. Rashid – “Power Electronics, circuits, devices, and applications”.(second
edition).
4. www.learnabout-electronics.org
5. Jens Ejury – “Buck converter design”, (second edition)

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