Chapter 5. The Discontinuous Conduction Mode

Chapter 5.
The Discontinuous Conduction Mode
5.1. Origin of the discontinuous conduction mode, and

mode boundary
5.2. Analysis of the conversion ratio M(D,K)
5.3. Boost converter example
5.4. Summary of results and key points
Fundamentals of Power Electronics
Chapter 5: Discontinuous conduction mode
Introduction to
Discontinuous Conduction Mode (DCM)
Occurs because switching ripple in inductor current or capacitor voltage

causes polarity of applied switch current or voltage to reverse, such
that the current- or voltage-unidirectional assumptions made in realizing
the switch are violated.
Commonly occurs in dc-dc converters and rectifiers, having singlequadrant switches. May also occur in converters having two-quadrant
switches.
Typical example: dc-dc converter operating at light load (small load
current). Sometimes, dc-dc converters and rectifiers are purposely
designed to operate in DCM at all loads.
Properties of converters change radically when DCM is entered:
M becomes load-dependent
Output impedance is increased
Dynamics are altered
Control of output voltage may be lost when load is removed
5.1. Origin of the discontinuous conduction

mode, and mode boundary
Buck converter example, with single-quadrant switches
L
Q1
continuous conduction mode (CCM)
iL(t)
Vg
D1
iD(t)
iL(t)
iL
Minimum diode current is (I iL)

Dc component I = V/R
Current ripple is
(V V)
Vg DD'Ts
iL = g
DTs =
2L
2L
0
conducting
devices:
DTs
Ts
D1
Q1
t
Q1
iD(t)
I
iL
Note that I depends on load, but iL

does not.
0
DTs
Ts
Reduction of load current

Increase R, until I = iL
CCM-DCM boundary
L
Q1
iL(t)
iL(t)
Vg
D1
iD(t)
iL
0

Current ripple is
(V V)
Vg DD'Ts
iL = g
DTs =
2L
2L
conducting
devices:
Ts
D1
Q1
t
Q1
iD(t)

does not.
DTs
iL
0
DTs
Ts
Further reduce load current

Increase R some more, such that I < iL
L
Q1
iL(t)
iL(t)
Vg
D1
Discontinuous conduction mode
iD(t)

Current ripple is
(V V)
Vg DD'Ts
iL = g
DTs =
2L
2L
0
conducting
devices:
Ts
D2Ts
D1
D3Ts
Q1
iD(t)

does not.
The load current continues to be
positive and non-zero.
DTs
D1Ts
Q1
DTs
Ts
D2Ts
Mode boundary
I > iL for CCM
I < iL for DCM
Insert buck converter expressions for I and iL :
DVg DD'TsVg
<
R
2L
Simplify:
2L < D'
RTs
This expression is of the form
where
K < K crit(D)
for DCM
K = 2L and K crit(D) = D'
RTs
K and Kcrit vs. D

for K < 1:
for K > 1:
K < Kcrit:
DCM
Kc (
rit D) =
1
K > Kcrit:
CCM
K > Kcrit:
CCM
K = 2L/RTs
Kc (
rit D) =
1D
K = 2L/RTs
0
0
0
Critical load resistance Rcrit
Solve Kcrit equation for load resistance R:
where
R < Rcrit(D)
for CCM
for DCM
R > Rcrit(D)
Rcrit(D) = 2L
D'Ts
Summary: mode boundary

K > K crit(D)
K < K crit(D)
or
or
R < Rcrit(D)
R > Rcrit(D)
for CCM
for DCM
Table 5.1. CCM-DCM mode boundaries for the buck, boost, and buck-boost converters
Converter
K crit(D)
max ( K crit )
0D1
Buck
(1 D)
Boost
D (1 D)2
1
4
27
(1 D)2
Buck-boost
R crit(D)
2L
(1 D)T s
2L
D (1 D) 2 T s
2L
(1 D) 2 T s
min ( Rcrit )
0D1
2 L
Ts
27 L
2 Ts
2 L
Ts
5.2.
Analysis of the conversion ratio M(D,K)
Analysis techniques for the discontinuous conduction mode:

Inductor volt-second balance
vL = 1
Ts
Ts
vL(t) dt = 0
0
Capacitor charge balance
iC
= 1
Ts
Ts
iC(t) dt = 0
0
Small ripple approximation sometimes applies:

v(t) V
because v << V
i(t) I is a poor approximation when i > I
Converter steady-state equations obtained via charge balance on

each capacitor and volt-second balance on each inductor. Use care in
applying small ripple approximation.
10
Example: Analysis of
DCM buck converter M(D,K)
L
iL(t)
+ vL(t)
subinterval 1
Vg
iC(t)
v(t)
Q1
iL(t)
+
iL(t)
Vg
D1
C
iD(t)
subinterval 2
+ vL(t)
Vg
iC(t)
v(t)
iL(t)
L
+ vL(t)
subinterval 3
Vg
iC(t)
R
v(t)
11
Subinterval 1
iL(t)
vL(t) = Vg v(t)
iC(t) = iL(t) v(t) / R
L
+ vL(t)
Vg
Small ripple approximation

for v(t) (but not for i(t)!):
iC(t)
R
v(t)
vL(t) Vg V
iC(t) iL(t) V / R
12
Subinterval 2
iL(t)
vL(t) = v(t)
+ vL(t)
Vg

for v(t) but not for i(t):
iC(t)
R
v(t)
vL(t) V
iC(t) iL(t) V / R
13
Subinterval 3
iL(t)
vL = 0, iL = 0
L
+ vL(t)
Vg
Small ripple approximation:
iC(t)
R
v(t)
vL(t) = 0
iC(t) = V / R
14

vL(t)
Vg V
D1Ts
D2Ts
D3Ts
0
Ts
Volt-second balance:
vL(t) = D1(Vg V) + D2( V) + D3(0) = 0

Solve for V:
V = Vg
D1
D1 + D2
note that D2 is unknown
15

L
node equation:
iL(t)
iL(t) = iC(t) + V / R
v(t)/R
+
iC(t)
capacitor charge balance:
iC = 0
v(t)
hence
iL = V / R
must compute dc
component of inductor
current and equate to load
current (for this buck
converter example)
iL(t)
Vg V
L
<iL> = I
V
L
DTs
D1Ts
16
ipk
Ts
D2Ts
D3Ts
Inductor current waveform

peak current:
iL(t)
Vg V
iL(D1Ts) = i pk =
D 1T s
L
average current:
iL = 1
Ts
Vg V
L
<iL> = I
ipk
V
L
Ts
iL(t) dt
0
DTs
D1Ts
Ts
D 2T s
D3 Ts
triangle area formula:

Ts
0
iL(t) dt = 1 i pk (D1 + D2)Ts

2
iL = (Vg V)
equate dc component to dc load current:
V = D1Ts (D + D ) (V V)
1
2
g
R
2L
D 1T s
(D1 + D2)
2L
17
Solution for V
Two equations and two unknowns (V and D2):
V = Vg
D1
D1 + D2
V = D1Ts (D + D ) (V V)
1
2
g
R
2L
(from inductor volt-second balance)
(from capacitor charge balance)
Eliminate D2 , solve for V :
V =
2
Vg 1 + 1 + 4K / D 21
where
K = 2L / RTs
valid for K < K crit
18
Buck converter M(D,K)

1.0
K = 0.01
M(D,K)
0.8
K = 0.1
0.6
K = 0.5
0.4
M=
K1
0.2
1+
2
1 + 4K / D 2
for K > K crit

for K < K crit
0.0
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
19
5.3. Boost converter example

D1 i (t)
D
i(t)
+ vL(t)
Vg
iC(t)
Q1
v(t)
Mode boundary:
Previous CCM soln:
I > iL for CCM

I < iL for DCM
I=
20
Vg
D' 2 R
iL =
Vg
DTs
2L
Mode boundary
Vg
DTsVg
>
2L
D' 2R
2L > DD' 2
RTs
where
4
Kcrit ( 13 ) = 27
0.15
for CCM
Kcrit(D)
for CCM
0.1
K > K crit(D)
for CCM
for DCM
K < K crit(D)
K = 2L
and K crit(D) = DD' 2
RTs
0.05
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
21
Mode boundary
CCM
0.15
where
K > K crit(D)
for CCM
for DCM
K < K crit(D)
K = 2L
and K crit(D) = DD' 2
RTs
DCM
K < Kcrit
CCM
K > Kcrit
0.1
(D)
K crit
0.05
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
D
22
Conversion ratio: DCM boost

L
i(t)
+ vL(t)
subinterval 1
Vg
iC(t)
C
v(t)
i(t)
D1 i (t)
D
L
+ vL(t)
Vg
i(t)
iC(t)
Q1
+ vL(t)
subinterval 2
R
Vg
v(t)
iC(t)
C
v(t)
i(t)
L
+ vL(t)
subinterval 3
Vg
iC(t)
C
v(t)
23
Subinterval 1
i(t)
vL(t) = Vg
iC(t) = v(t) / R
+ vL(t)
+
Vg

for v(t) (but not for i(t)!):
iC(t)
C
v(t)
vL(t) Vg
iC(t) V / R
0 < t < D1Ts
24
Subinterval 2
i(t)
vL(t) = Vg v(t)
iC(t) = i(t) v(t) / R
L
+ vL(t)
Vg

for v(t) but not for i(t):
v(t)
vL(t) Vg V
iC(t) i(t) V / R
iC(t)
D1Ts < t < (D1 +D2)Ts
25
Subinterval 3
i(t)
vL = 0, i = 0
iC(t) = v(t) / R
L
+ vL(t)
Vg
Small ripple approximation:
v(t)
vL(t) = 0
iC(t) = V / R
iC(t)
(D1 +D2)Ts < t < Ts
26

vL(t)
Vg
D1Ts
D2Ts
D3Ts
0
Ts
Vg V
Volt-second balance:
D1Vg + D2(Vg V) + D3(0) = 0
Solve for V:
D + D2
V= 1
Vg
D2
note that D2 is unknown
27

node equation:
D1 i (t)
D
iD(t) = iC(t) + v(t) / R
capacitor charge balance:
iC(t)
iC = 0
hence
v(t)
iD = V / R
must compute dc component of diode

current and equate to load current
(for this boost converter example)
28
Inductor and diode current waveforms

i(t)
peak current:
Vg
i pk =
DT
L 1 s
L
Vg V
L
average diode current:
iD
= 1
Ts
Ts
iD(t) dt
triangle area formula:

Ts
ipk
Vg
DTs
D 1T s
iD(t)
Ts
D2Ts
D3Ts
ipk
iD(t) dt = 1 i pk D2Ts
2
Vg V
L
<iD>
0
DTs
D1Ts
29
Ts
D2Ts
D3Ts
Equate diode current to load current
average diode current:

iD
V g D 1 D 2T s
1
1
=
i DT =
Ts 2 pk 2 s
2L
equate to dc load current:

V g D 1 D 2T s V
=
R
2L
30
Solution for V
Two equations and two unknowns (V and D2):
D + D2
(from inductor volt-second balance)
V= 1
Vg
D2
V g D 1 D 2T s V
=
R
2L
(from capacitor charge balance)
Eliminate D2 , solve for V. From volt-sec balance eqn:

Vg
D2 = D1
V Vg
Substitute into charge balance eqn, rearrange terms:
V 2gD 21
V VVg
=0
K
2
31
Solution for V
V 2gD 21
V VVg
=0
K
2
Use quadratic formula:
V = 1
Vg
1 + 4D 21 / K
2
Note that one root leads to positive V, while other leads to

negative V. Select positive root:
V = M(D ,K) = 1 +
1
Vg
where
valid for
1 + 4D 21 / K
2
K = 2L / RTs
K < Kcrit(D)
Transistor duty cycle D = interval 1 duty cycle D1

32
Boost converter characteristics

5
0.0
1
M(D,K)
K=
0
K=
5
0.0
M =
.1
1
1D
1+
for K > K crit
1 + 4D 2 / K
2
for K < K crit
4/2
Approximate M in DCM:
0
0
0.25
0.5
0.75
33
M1+ D
2
K
Summary of DCM characteristics
Table 5.2. S ummary of CCM-DCM characteristics for the buck, boost, and buck-boost converters
K crit (D)
Converter
Buck
(1 D)
Boost
D (1 D)2
(1 D)2
Buck-boost
with
DCM M(D,K)
2
1 + 1 + 4K / D 2
1 + 1 + 4D 2 / K
2
D
K
K = 2L / RT s.
DCM D2(D,K)
K M(D,K)
D
K M(D,K)
D
K
CCM M(D)
D
1
1D
D
1D
DCM occurs for K < K crit .
34
Summary of DCM characteristics
DCM
M(D,K)
st
DCM buck and boost

characteristics are
asymptotic to M = 1 and to
the DCM buck-boost
characteristic
1)
o
Bo
t(
os
o
k-b
1
K
c
Bu
DCM buck-boost
characteristic is linear
CCM and DCM

characteristics intersect at
mode boundary. Actual M
follows characteristic
having larger magnitude
Buck
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
DCM boost characteristic is

nearly linear
35
Summary of key points

1. The discontinuous conduction mode occurs in converters
containing current- or voltage-unidirectional switches, when the
inductor current or capacitor voltage ripple is large enough to
cause the switch current or voltage to reverse polarity.
2. Conditions for operation in the discontinuous conduction mode
can be found by determining when the inductor current or
capacitor voltage ripples and dc components cause the switch
on-state current or off-state voltage to reverse polarity.
3. The dc conversion ratio M of converters operating in the
discontinuous conduction mode can be found by application of
the principles of inductor volt-second and capacitor charge
balance.
36
Summary of key points

4. Extra care is required when applying the small-ripple
approximation. Some waveforms, such as the output voltage,
should have small ripple which can be neglected. Other
waveforms, such as one or more inductor currents, may have
large ripple that cannot be ignored.
5. The characteristics of a converter changes significantly when
the converter enters DCM. The output voltage becomes loaddependent, resulting in an increase in the converter output
impedance.
37

Chapter 5. The Discontinuous Conduction Mode

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Chapter 5. The Discontinuous Conduction Mode

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Chapter 5.

The Discontinuous Conduction Mode

5.1. Origin of the discontinuous conduction mode, and

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

Chapter 5: Discontinuous conduction mode

Occurs because switching ripple in inductor current or capacitor voltage

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

Chapter 5: Discontinuous conduction mode

5.1. Origin of the discontinuous conduction

continuous conduction mode (CCM)

Minimum diode current is (I iL)

Note that I depends on load, but iL

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

Chapter 5: Discontinuous conduction mode

Reduction of load current

Minimum diode current is (I iL)

Note that I depends on load, but iL

Chapter 5: Discontinuous conduction mode

Further reduce load current

Discontinuous conduction mode

Minimum diode current is (I iL)

Note that I depends on load, but iL

Chapter 5: Discontinuous conduction mode

This expression is of the form

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

Chapter 5: Discontinuous conduction mode

K and Kcrit vs. D

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

Chapter 5: Discontinuous conduction mode

Critical load resistance Rcrit

Solve Kcrit equation for load resistance R:

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

Chapter 5: Discontinuous conduction mode

Summary: mode boundary

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

Chapter 5: Discontinuous conduction mode

Analysis of the conversion ratio M(D,K)

Analysis techniques for the discontinuous conduction mode:

Capacitor charge balance

Small ripple approximation sometimes applies:

i(t) I is a poor approximation when i > I

Converter steady-state equations obtained via charge balance on

Chapter 5: Discontinuous conduction mode

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

Chapter 5: Discontinuous conduction mode

Small ripple approximation

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

Chapter 5: Discontinuous conduction mode

Small ripple approximation

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

Chapter 5: Discontinuous conduction mode

Small ripple approximation:

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

Chapter 5: Discontinuous conduction mode

Inductor volt-second balance

vL(t) = D1(Vg V) + D2( V) + D3(0) = 0

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

note that D2 is unknown

Chapter 5: Discontinuous conduction mode

Capacitor charge balance

capacitor charge balance:

Chapter 5: Discontinuous conduction mode

Inductor current waveform