Power Electronics

The Boost (Step-Up) Converter

Dr. Firas Obeidat

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 Table of contents

• The Boost (Step-Up) Converter

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Dr. Firas Obeidat Faculty of Engineering Philadelphia University
 The Boost (Step-Up) Converter
 It is called a boost converter because
the output voltage is larger than the
input.

Analysis for the Switch Closed

When the switch is closed, the diode is

reverse biased. Kirchhoff’s voltage law
around the path containing the source,
inductor, and closed switch is

The rate of change of current is a constant, so

the current increases linearly while the switch
is closed. The change in inductor current is
computed from
or
𝐷𝑇
𝑉𝑠 𝑉𝑠
(∆𝑖𝐿 )𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑 = 𝑑𝑡 = 𝐷𝑇 (1)
𝐿 𝐿
0
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 The Boost (Step-Up) Converter
Analysis for the Switch opened

When the switch is opened, the inductor current

cannot change instantaneously, so the diode
becomes forward-biased to provide a path for
inductor current. Assuming that the output voltage
Vo is a constant, the voltage across the inductor is

The rate of change of inductor current is a constant,

so the current must change linearly while the switch
is open. The change in inductor current while the
switch is open is
or

(1−𝐷)𝑇
𝑉𝑠 − 𝑉𝑜 𝑉𝑠 − 𝑉𝑜
(∆𝑖𝐿 )𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑑 = 𝑑𝑡 = (1 − 𝐷)𝑇 (2)
𝐿 𝐿
0
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 The Boost (Step-Up) Converter
For steady-state operation, the net change in inductor current must be zero.
Using equations 1&2

vbe Ts

Ton Toff
t

(3) iL

Io

If the switch is always open and D is zero, the t

iS
output voltage is the same as the input. As the
duty ratio is increased, the denominator of
t
equation 3 becomes smaller, resulting in a larger iD

output voltage. The boost converter produces an

output voltage that is greater than or equal to the t

input voltage. However, the output voltage cannot Vl

be less than the input.

Vin t
The average current in the inductor is determined Vo  Vin

by recognizing that the average power supplied by

the source must be the same as the average power
absorbed by the load resistor. Output power is
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Dr. Firas Obeidat Faculty of Engineering Philadelphia University
 The Boost (Step-Up) Converter

Input power is VsIs=VsIL. Equating input and output powers and using eq. 3

𝑉𝑜 2 [𝑉𝑠 (1 − 𝐷)]2 𝑉𝑠 2
𝑉𝑠 𝐼𝐿 = = =
𝑅 𝑅 (1 − 𝐷)2 𝑅

(4)

Maximum and minimum inductor currents are determined by using the average
value and the change in current from eq. 1.

(5)
(6)

Since Imin=0 is the boundary between continuous and discontinuous current,

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 The Boost (Step-Up) Converter
The minimum combination of inductance and switching frequency for
continuous current in the boost converter is

(7)

The peak-to-peak output voltage ripple can be calculated from the capacitor
current waveform. The change in capacitor charge can be calculated from

An expression for ripple voltage is then

expressing capacitance in terms of output

voltage ripple yields

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 The Boost (Step-Up) Converter
Example: Design a boost converter that will have an output of 30V from a 12-V
source. Design for continuous inductor current and an output ripple voltage of
less than one percent. The load is a resistance of 50. and the switching
frequency is 25kHz.

To provide a margin to ensure continuous current, let L=120 μH.

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