Post Graduation Program in

Electrical Engineering - PPGEE

Power Converters

1
 Power Converters

Lecture 9: DC-DC
Conceito: O que é Converters
?

2
 Basic Concepts
General purpose:
The purpose of a DC-DC converter is to supply a regulated DC
output voltage to a variable-load resistance from a fluctuating
DC input voltage.
Common applications:
Computers, medical instrumentation, communication devices,
television receivers, and battery chargers.
Operation concept:
The output voltage in DC-DC converters is generally controlled
using a switching concept.
Early DC-DC converters were known as choppers (SCRs)
Modern DC-DC converters classified as switch mode power
supplies (SMPS). 3
 Basic Concepts
Switching concept:

The regulation of the average output

voltage in a DC-DC converter is a
function of the on-time ton of the
switch, the pulse width, and the
switching frequency fs.

Pulse width modulation (PWM) is the most widely used method of

controlling the output voltage.
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 Basic Concepts
PWM concept:

In the PWM switching at

constant frequency, the
switch control signal is
generated by comparing
a signal-level control
voltage with a repetitive
waveform.

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 Basic Concepts
PWM concept:
The output voltage control depends on the duty ratio D.

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 Basic Concepts
PWM concept (math point of view):

T ton Ts
1 s 1 1
V0( avg )   v0  t  dt  0 0   Ts
v t dt   v t  dt
0
Ts 0 Ts ton

ton Ts ton
1 1 Vi Vi
V0( avg ) 
Ts 0 Vi dt  Ts t 0dt  Ts  ton
Ts
on t 0

V0( avg )  Vi D

variable

circuit specification 7
 Basic Concepts
PWM versus FM:

T->cte
ton->cte
ton->variable
T->variable

Frequency Modulation Pulse Width Modulation

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 Basic Circuits
Pulsating waveforms & Filters:

The output voltage

fluctuates between zero
and Vd, which is not
accepted in several
applications.

It can be very much

diminished by using
low-pass filters.

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Basic Circuits
PWM spectrum:

Low pass filter

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 Basic Circuits
DC characteristic:

Insertion of low-
pass filter to
remove switching
harmonics and pass
only dc.

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 Basic Concepts
DC-DC conversion: Change and control voltage magnitude

Vd V0

M = V0 / Vd CCM

Voltage Gain depends on the operation mode

DCM 12
 Basic Concepts
Continuous & discontinuous current modes:
DC-DC converters operate in one of two modes depending on
the characteristics of the output current:
- Continuous Current Conduction (CCM);
- Discontinuous Current Conduction (DCM).

The continuous-conduction mode is defined by continuous

inductor current (greater than zero) over the entire switching
period, whereas the discontinuous conduction mode is defined
by discontinuous inductor current (equal to zero) during any
portion of the switching period. Each mode is discussed in
relationship to the buck and boost converters in subsequent
sections.

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Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (buck):

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 Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (buck):
Steady state;
inductor current flows
continuously.
Ts ton Ts

 v  t  dt   v t  dt   v t  dt  0
0
L
0
L
ton
L

ton Ts

 V
0
d  Vo  dt   Vo  t  dt  0
ton

Vd  Vo  ton  Vo Ts  ton   0

Vo ton
 D
Vd Ts
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 Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (buck):

Neglecting the losses.

Pi  Po
Vd I d  Vo I o

I d Vo
 D
I o Vd

Voltage step-down
Current step-up.

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 Basic Concepts
Continuous & discontinuous current modes:
DC-DC converters operate in one of two modes depending on
the characteristics of the output current:
- Continuous Current Conduction (CCM);
- Discontinuous Current Conduction (DCM).

The continuous-conduction mode is defined by continuous

inductor current (greater than zero) over the entire switching
period, whereas the discontinuous conduction mode is defined
by discontinuous inductor current (equal to zero) during any
portion of the switching period. Each mode is discussed in
relationship to the buck and boost converters in subsequent
sections.

17
 Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (buck):
Boundary definition:

Being at the boundary between CCM and DCM, the

inductor current iL goes to zero at the end of the period.
T
1 s 1 1 1 
I LB   iL dt   area    base  hight  
Ts 0 Ts Ts 2 
iL
I Lpeak
I LB 
1
2Ts
 I Lpeak  Ts   I Lpeak
1
2
Triangle area.

I LB I Lpeak  ?
t 18
Ts
 Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (buck):
Boundary definition:
From the converter circuit
 Vd  V0 
I Lpeak  iL  t  ton     ton  *
 L 
Replacing Vo in function of Vd in (*)
iL
 Vd   DVd   DTsVd
I Lpeak
I Lpeak   DTs  1  D 
 L  L
TsVd
I Lpeak  D 1  D 
L
t 1 TsVd
ton I LB  D 1  D 
2 L 19
Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (buck):
Boundary definition:

I LB  IOB TsVd
But
I LB  I OB  D 1  D 
2L

constants
variable

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 Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (buck):
Boundary definition (Alternatively):
From the converter circuit (the same)
 Vd  V0 
I Lpeak  iL  t  ton     ton
 L 
Replacing Vd in function of Vo in (*)
iL
 Vo 
I Lpeak  D  Vo  TsVo
I Lpeak   s
DT  1  D 
 L  L
 
t 1 TsVo
ton I LB  1  D 
2 L 21
Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (buck):
Boundary definition (Alternatively):

I LB  IOB TsVo
But
I LB  I OB  1  D 
2L

constants
variable
Vo
TsVo
2L

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 Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (buck):
Complete boundary definition:

I LB  IOB Ii  DI LB
TsVd TsVd 2
I OB1  D 1  D  I iB1  D 1  D 
2L 2L

TsVo TsVo
I OB 2  1  D  I iB 2  D 1  D 
2L 2L

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 Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (buck):
Complete boundary definition:

I LB  IOB

I OB1 MAX  
K1
2
f DMAX  
d
dD
f DMAX   0 
d
dD
 DMAX 1  DMAX   0

1 TsVd
 DMAX  I OB1 MAX  
2 8L
TsVd
I OB1  D 1  D 
2L

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 Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (buck):
Complete boundary definition:

I LB  IOB

IOB 2 MAX  
K2
2
f DMAX  
d
dD
f DMAX   0 
d
dD
1  DMAX   0

TsVo
 DMAX  0 I OB 2 MAX  
2L
TsVo
I OB 2  1  D 
2L

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 Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (buck):
Complete boundary definition:

Ii  DI LB

IiB1 MAX  
K1
2
f DMAX  
d
dD
f DMAX   0 
d
dD
 DMAX 1  DMAX   0
2

2 2 TsVd
 DMAX  I iB1 MAX  
3 27 L
TsVd 2
I iB1  D 1  D 
2L

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 Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (buck):
Complete boundary definition:

Ii  DI LB

IiB 2 MAX  
K2
2
f DMAX  
d
dD
f DMAX   0 
d
dD
 DMAX 1  DMAX   0

1 TsVd
 DMAX  I iB 2 MAX  
2 8L
TsVd
I iB 2  D 1  D 
2L

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 Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (buck):
Complete boundary definition:

At home:
To plot the four boundaries with MatLab or MathCAD.

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 Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (buck):
Steady state; inductor current discontinuous.

Thus, during the

operating condition
(with a given set of
values for Ts, Vd, Vo,
L and D), if the
average output
current become less
then ILB, iL become
discontinuous.

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 Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (buck):
Steady state; inductor current discontinuous.
Inductor energy balance
Ts

 v  t  dt  0
0
L

Vd  Vo  ton  Vo  1Ts   0

Vo D

Vd D  1
1  ???

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 Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (DCM):
iL

I Lpeak
I L avg  From the converter circuit
t V0
DTs 1Ts I Lpeak  iL Ts   iL  ton   1Ts
ton  2Ts Ts L
From the waveform Replacing ILpeak into IL(avg)
1 base.altura 
 D  1  V0
T
I L avg   I L avg  1 s
Ts 2 2 L
Solving for 1
1  D  1  Ts I Lpeak
I L avg   2 LI L avg 
Ts 2   D  1  1 31
V0Ts
 Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (DCM):
Since Vo D D  1 Vd Vd
    D  1  D
Vd D  1 D Vo Vo

Thus 2 LI L avg  2 LI L avg  Vd 2 LI L avg 

  D  1  1  D1 1 
VoTs VoTs Vo Vd Ts D

Now solving the voltage gain in DCM

Vo D Vo D Vo D2
  
Vd D  1 Vd  2 LI L avg   Vd  2 LI L avg  
D    D  
2

 Vd Ts D   Vd Ts 

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 Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (DCM):
Since Vo D2

I L ( avg )  IO ( avg ) Vd  2 LI o avg  
D  
2

 Vd Ts 
As we know (maximum value of the boundary)
TsVd
I OB1 MAX   for Vd constant
8L
Vo D2

Vd  I o avg  
D 
2

 4 I OB1 MAX  
  33
 Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (case 1):
Vo ton CCM gain for any case
 D
Vd Ts
TsVd CCM/DCM boundary for Vd constant
I OB1  D 1  D 
2L Variable in use: Io

TsVd Maximum value of boundary (Vd constant)

I OB1 MAX  
8L Variable in use: Io

Vo D2 DCM gain for (Vd constant)

 Variable in use: Io
Vd  I o avg  
D 
2

 4 I OB1 MAX  
 
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 Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (case 1):

Vo
D
Vd

Vo D2

Vd 1  I0 
D  
2

4  I LB max 

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 Basic Converters
Step-Down DC-DC Converter (case 2):
Vo ton CCM gain for any case
 D
Vd Ts
TsVo CCM/DCM boundary for Vo constant
I OB 2  1  D  Variable in use: Io
2L
TsVo Maximum value of boundary (Vo constant)
I OB 2 MAX  
2L Variable in use: Io

Vo DCM gain for (Vo constant)

 ??
Vd Variable in use: Io

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 Basic Converters
At home:
To develop the expressions for DCM gain:
(to plot with MatLab or MathCAD)
Vo DCM gain for (Vo constant)
?
Vd Variable in use: Io

Vo DCM gain for (Vd constant)

?
Vd Variable in use: Ii

Vo DCM gain for (Vo constant)

?
Vd Variable in use: Ii

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