Power Electronics

EEE 4101
DC-DC Converters
(Choppers)

Sarah Cynthia Gomes

Lecturer
Department of Electrical and
Electronic Engineering
University of Dhaka
Buk (Step-Down) Converter
𝑽𝒔 𝒐𝒓 𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒔𝒆
𝑻

𝒕𝒐𝒏
𝒕𝒐𝒇𝒇 𝒕
(𝒂)
𝒊𝑳 𝑰𝒎𝒂𝒙

𝑰𝒂
∆𝑰 Steady state current of L
𝑰𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝒕
An LC filter is connected at the load terminal, where C and L (𝒃)
𝒊𝒄 𝑰𝒎𝒂𝒙 − 𝑰𝒂
smooth out the output ripple voltage and current by reducing
the dv/dt and di/dt respectively. The value of inductance will (𝒄)
affect the continuity of the current. 𝒕
𝑰𝒎𝒊𝒏 − 𝑰𝒂
Dm acts like a free wheeling diode and makes a path for the 𝒗𝒄 𝐨𝐫 𝒗𝒐 𝑽𝒎𝒂𝒙
inductor to de-energize.
∆𝑽𝒄
𝑽𝒂
The IGBT is switched on and off at regular intervals as shown
in figure (a). Hence, the load remains connected to the input 𝑽𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝒕
(𝒅)
voltage 𝑠 when Q1 is on. 𝒊𝒐
Here, the duty cycle can be given as- 𝑰𝒂

t on 𝒕
k= (𝒆)
T 𝒌𝑻 𝑻
Or, t on = kT 𝑴𝒐𝒅𝒆 𝟏 𝑴𝒐𝒅𝒆 𝟐
and, t off = T − kT = T(1 − k) Sarah C. Gomes
Buk (Step-Down) Converter

When Q1 is ON at t=0, Steady state current of L

the inductor charges up. During the on period of the transistor,

the current reaches its peak value when iL = Imax .
Here, the inductor current gets divided into capacitor and load
currents as ic and io respectively.
So, iL = ic + io

Here we are considering the load current io to be always

constant and has the value i0 = I𝑎

Capacitor only charges up or the current only flows through the

capacitor when the inductor current is greater than the average
inductor current Ia .

So, ic = Imax − Ia  peak charging current of C

ic = 0  when iL = io = Ia Sarah C. Gomes
Buk (Step-Down) Converter

When Q1 is OFF at t= t on = 𝑘𝑇,

the inductor discharges through the freewheeling diode, maintaining a

constant current at the load. Here, when the inductor current becomes
lower than Ia , the capacitor starts discharging and maintains a constant
current at the output.

So, ic = Imin − Ia  peak discharging current of C

ic = 0  when iL = io = Ia

• The inductor current reaches its minimum at t=t off = T(1 − k)

Hence, the inductor ripple current can be given as ∆I = Imax −Imin

• Similarly the voltage across the capacitor (load voltage) becomes

maximum when ic = 0 during on state of Q1 and minimum when
ic = 0 during off state of Q1.
Hence, the change of load voltage is ∆Vc = Vmax − Vmin

• The average output voltage is Va Sarah C. Gomes

Buk (Step-Down) Converter
In general, the voltage across the inductor –

During t on , we have assumed the current to increase linearly.

Hence,
𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝐼𝑚𝑖𝑛

𝑡𝑜𝑛

Or, 𝑡𝑜𝑛

During t off , we have assumed the current to fall linearly.

Hence,
𝑡𝑜𝑓𝑓

Or, 𝑡𝑜𝑓𝑓

From rquations (1) and (3), we get:

𝑡𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑜𝑓𝑓
Sarah C. Gomes
Buk (Step-Down) Converter
therefore, the average output voltage is-
𝑡𝑜𝑛
𝑎 = 𝑠 =𝑘 𝑠
𝑇
Peak-to-peak inductor ripple current

1
We know, 𝑇= = 𝑡𝑜𝑛 + 𝑡𝑜𝑓𝑓 =
𝑓

Or,

Peak-to-peak load/capacitor ripple voltage

𝑡𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑜𝑓𝑓 𝑇
Here, the capacitor charges for + = 𝒕𝒐𝒏
2 2 2 𝟐
𝒕𝒐𝒇𝒇
𝟐
Hence, charge stored in capacitor = area of the shaded
1 𝑇 ∆𝐼 𝑇∆𝐼 ∆𝐼
region, ∆𝑄𝑐 = . = =
2 2 2 8 8𝑓

∆𝑄𝑐 ∆𝐼
Again we know, ∆𝑄𝑐 = ∆ 𝑐 ⇒ ∆ 𝑐 = =
𝐶 8𝑓𝐶
Peak to peak ripple voltage Sarah C. Gomes
Buk (Step-Down) Converter
Substituting the value of ∆𝐼 –

Value of Inductance Affects the Continuity of the Current

Higher value of inductance implies greater time constant (𝜏 = 𝐿/𝑅) and hence greater discharging period. If the time period of
the chopper is smaller (higher frequency) than the discharging period, then the current remains continuous. However, if L is
reduced, inductor discharges faster (less than the time period) and current starts to become discontinuous. The value of
inductance for which the current remains on the verge of continuous/ discontinuous is known as the critical inductance, 𝑳𝑪 .
𝒊𝑳

𝑳 > 𝑳𝒄
(a) When L>Lc, current is continuous because chopper
period is less than the discharging period.
𝒕
𝒊𝑳 𝑻
𝑳𝒄 (b) When L=Lc, current is still continuous because
chopper period is now equal to the discharging period.
However, inductance below this level will result in
𝒕 discontinuity.
𝒊𝑳
𝑻
𝑳 < 𝑳𝒄 (c) When L<Lc, current is completely discontinuous
because chopper period is more than the discharging
𝒕 period.
𝑻 Sarah C. Gomes
Buk (Step-Down) Converter

Condition for Continuous Inductor Current

1
Let 𝐼 = 𝐼𝑎 is the average inductor current, which is equal to ∆𝐼
2
Therefore, ∆𝐼 = 2𝐼
Or,
Resistive load

Or,
Critical value of inductance

Condition for Continuous Capacitor Voltage

1
Let 𝑎 is the average capacitor or load voltage, which is equal to ∆ 𝑐
2
Therefore, ∆ 𝑐=2 𝑎

Or,

Or, Critical value of capacitance

Sarah C. Gomes
Buk (Step-Down) Converter - Example

Here, the required average output voltage is Va = 5 V and

the peak-to-peak output ripple voltage is 20 mV. The
switching frequency is 25 kHz. If the peak-to-peak ripple
current of inductor is limited to 0.8 A.
12V R=500Ω
Determine- (a) duty cycle, (b) the filter inductance, (c)
the filter capacitor, and (d) the critical values of L and C.

Sarah C. Gomes
Buk (Step-Down) Converter - Example

Homework

Here, the required average output voltage is

Va = 16 V and the peak-to-peak output
ripple voltage is has to be less than 1%. The
switching frequency is 25 kHz.
48V R=10Ω
Determine- the critical value of L.

If L is chosen 2times of the critical value,

calculate – Imin, Imax and the value of
capacitance.
Sarah C. Gomes