Switch mode dc-dc converters

Some switch mode dc-dc converters have internal isolation transformers while some others
do not. To retain the uniformity of their analysis, we treat all the converters discussed below
without isolation transformers. The effect of having an isolation transformer can be treated
separately.

There are several types of dc-dc converters.

1. Buck (Step-down) converter
2. Boost (Step-up) converter
3. Buck-Boost converter
4. Cuk converter
5. Full bridge converter

Buck Converter:

This is used to obtain regulated and adjustable dc voltage of a value less than its input dc
voltage.
The signal that controls the state of the switch is generated in the controller. Normally it uses
constant Ts and variable D.
Filter capacitor C is chosen to be large so that average vo ; Vo , i.e., constant voltage output.
The can be two modes of operation depending on the value of I o .
1. Continuous conduction mode mode in which iL is continuous.
2. Discontinuous conduction mode mode in which iL is discontinuous.

(a). Continuous conduction mode

iL ic I o
il avg ic avg I o
{
0

iL avg I o
voi vL vo
voi avg vL avg vo avg
123
0

voi avg Vo
Using ( vL )avg = 0
Vd Vo DTs Vo 1 D Ts 0
Ts
Vo DVd
Vo
i.e, D
Vd
Assuming converter is loss free,
Input dc power = Output dc power
Vd I d Vo I o
I o Vd

I d Vo
Io 1

Id D
Peak-peak ripple in iL is,
di
L L Vo , during switching off period of (1-D)Ts
dt
V 1 D Ts
iL pk-pk= o
L

(b). Discontinuous conduction mode

For voltages, voi avg Vo
Vd DTs Vo 1 D Ts Ts
Vo
Ts
Vo D
1
Vd D
For current
iL avg I o
iL max . D Ts
Io
2Ts
D
iL max Io
2
During Ts ,
di
vL L L
dt
( i )
Vo L L ,max
Ts
TsVo
iL ,max
L
T V D
s o . Io
L 2
T V D
Io s o (2)
2L

Let consider the boundary operation between the continuous and discontinuous modes.
During 1 D Ts ,
di
vL L L
dt
( iL ,max )
Vo L
(1 D)Ts
(1 D)TsVo
iL ,max
L
Output current on the boundary between the two modes,
I OB (iL ) avg
1
iL ,max
2
(1 D)TsVO
I OB (3)
2L

Further simplification of Eqs. (1), (2) and (3) can be carried out for two cases.

Case 1: Constant Vo and variable Vd

In this case, we want to maintain Vo at a constant value by altering D when Vd is varied.

Then the Eq. (3) gives the boundary I o directly,
TV
I OB I OB ,max (1 D) where I OB ,max s o
2L

From Eqs. (1) and (2)

 Vd
1
D Vo
(1)
Vd
1 D
Vo
Substituting and ( D ) in Eq. (2)
TsVo Vd Vd
Io D 1 D
2L V
14 2 43
o V
{
IOB ,max
1 4o 2 43
D

I o / I OB ,max
D
Vd
Vd
1
Vo Vo
This equation gives D vs I o curves for different Vd values.

Example:
A buck converter with series inductance of 100 H required to produce 20V dc output and
100W power. It is operated at 20 kHz. If the input voltage is 30V, what will be the duty
factor?

Ripple in vo :
For large filter capacitors, ripple in vo can be ignored. Small capacitors if used can give some
ripples.
Ripple in vo in the continuous conduction mode:
During (1 D)Ts ,
vL Vo
diL
L Vo
dt
iL , pk pk
L Vo
(1 D)Ts
T V (1 D )
iL , pk pk s o
L
Voltage ripple,

Q
vo
C
iL , pk pk Ts
.
1 2 2

2 C
TsVo (1 D)Ts

8LC
 vo Ts 2 (1 D )

Vo 8 LC

Case 2: Constant Vd and variable Vo

I OB , I o and Vo are given by Eqs. (1), (2) and (3) in the discontinuous mode as
Vo D
(1)
Vd D 1
TsVo
Io ( D 1 )1 (2)
2L
TV
I OB s o (1 D) (3)
2L
From (3)
T DV TV
I OB s d (1 D ) s d (1 D) D
2L 2L
I OB 4 I OB ,max (1 D) D
TsVd
where I Ob ,max
8L
From Eqs (1) and (2), eliminating 1 and substituting, we get
Vo D2

Vd 1 Io
D 2
4 I OB ,max