Q.1 A DC/DC converter should be designed for an electric vehicle.

The DC/DC
converter should convert the voltage from the battery pack at 48 V to supply the 12 V
loads (Radio, horn, accessories, etc..). The load needs an output current of 5 A. (Hint:
the load can be represented as a resistance).
a) Draw a schematic of the DC/DC converter that you suggest for this application.
b) Specify the duty ratio of the converter.
c) Suggest a switching frequency of the converter.
d) Design the switching inductor such that the current is continuous and the inductor
current ripple is less than 30% of the average inductor current.
e) Design the output capacitor such that the output voltage ripple is less than 5%.
f) What are the peak voltage and current values of your switches (Mosfet and Diode)?
Comment from your simulation result.

Solution:
We are using Buck converter, in order to solve this problem. And we are going to design and
simulate this Buck converter to verify our result by using MATLAB Simulink.
Buck Converter or Step-down Converter:
A buck converter is a type of DC-DC power converter that is used to step down a DC voltage
from a higher level to a lower level. It is also known as a step-down converter.
The operation of a buck converter involves switching the input voltage on and off at a high
frequency, typically in the range of 100 kHz to several MHz, using a switch such as a
MOSFET or a transistor. This switching action causes the voltage to be chopped up into a
series of pulses, which are then smoothed out by an inductor and a capacitor to produce a
steady output voltage.

Figure-01
The buck converter is commonly used in various applications, such as in battery-powered
devices, voltage regulators, and LED drivers, to name a few. The main advantage of a buck
converter is that it can efficiently convert a high voltage to a lower voltage, while minimizing
power loss and maximizing power transfer efficiency. Additionally, it is relatively simple and
inexpensive to implement, making it a popular choice in many electronic devices.

a) Schematic of the Buck Converter or Step-down Converter:

Figure-02

The basic components of a buck converter circuit are:

 Input Voltage Source (Vin): This is the DC voltage source that needs to be stepped
down.
 Switch: This is typically a MOSFET or a transistor that switches the input voltage on
and off at a high frequency.
 Inductor: This component stores energy during the on-time of the switch and releases
it during the off-time, smoothing out the output voltage.
 Capacitor: This component filters out any remaining ripple voltage from the output.
 Output load: This is the device or circuit that is powered by the buck converter.
Buck Converter in Operational Mode:
During the on-time of the switch, the input voltage is applied to the inductor, causing it to
store energy. During the off-time, the switch is turned off, and the inductor releases the stored
energy to the output load through the capacitor, producing a steady output voltage that is
lower than the input voltage. The duty cycle of the switch determines the output voltage, with
a higher duty cycle resulting in a lower output voltage.
On State Operation:

Figure-03

OFF State Operation:

Figure-04
b) Specify the duty ratio of the converter.

Given,

Vout = 12V
Vin = 48V
Iout = 5A

So, the output load Resistance,

Vout 12
R L= = =2.4 ohm
Iout 5

We know that, the duty cycle of Buck converter is;

Vout
=D
Vin
12
D= =0.25
48

c) Suggest a switching frequency of the converter.

In general, the frequency of the buck converter should be chosen based on the specific
requirements of the application, such as the desired efficiency, size, and cost. It is also
important to consider other factors such as electromagnetic interference (EMI),
switching losses, and thermal management when choosing the frequency of the buck
converter.
 Typical frequencies for low-frequency buck converters are in the range of 20
kHz to 1 MHz.
 Typical frequencies for high-frequency buck converters are in the range of 1
MHz to 10 MHz.
In this problem, we use Switching frequency (fs) = 50KHz

d) Design the switching inductor such that the current is continuous and the
inductor current ripple is less than 30% of the average inductor current.

We know that, for inductor current to be continuous, the minimum value of inductor
current should be greater than zero:

So, we know the formula, in order to design inductor for a specific percentage of
current ripple:

L= ( Vout
)
f s∙ ∆ I L
(1−D )
 Where,
∆ I L=Current ripple ∈Inductor

f s=Switching frequency=50 KHz

Average Inductor current is I L =I c + I R

Since, avg. current in capacitor must be zero,

I L =I R

I L =I R =I out =5 A

So, ∆ I L=0.3 × 5=1.5 A

Now,

L= ( 50000×
12
1.5 )
( 1−0.25 )

L=0.12 mH

e) Design the output capacitor such that the output voltage ripple is less than 5%.

We know the formula, in order to design Capacitor for a specific percentage of

current ripple:

( )
(1−D )
C=
2
8 Lf s ∙
∆ V out
V out ( )
Where,
∆ V out =Voltage ripple ∈Capacitor

Now,

C=
( ( 1−0.25 )
−3 2
8 × 0.12× 10 × ( 50000 ) ∙ ( 0.05 ) )
C=6.249 μF ≅ 6.25 μF
 f) What are the peak voltage and current values of your switches (Mosfet and
Diode)? Comment from your simulation result.

Simulink Model of Buck Converter:

Figure-05
i. PWM Generator (DC-DC):
ii. Step block use for Duty cycle:

iii. Dc Input Voltage source:

iv. Mosfet as Switch:

v. Diode:
vi. Inductor:
vii. Capacitor:
 viii. Load Resistance:

Simulation Result:

Figure-06
Observation:

Figure-07

From Figure-07, we observed that:

The peak voltage of Mosfet ≅ +48V
The peak voltage of Diode ≅ -48V

Figure-08
From Figure-08, we observe that:
The Peak current of Mosfet and Diode is ≈ 5.532 A .