SEMINAR PRESENTATION

THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A VARIABLE D.C

POWER SUPPLY UNIT
BY
ELOHO .O. CHRISTIAN
NUO/NAS/11/2175

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD

OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (B.SC) DEGREE IN ENEGY AND
PETROLEUM STUDIES

SUPERVISOR : PROF. E.N ANIEBONA

JUNE, 2015
• TITLE PAGE
• TABLEOF CONTENTS
• ABSTRACT
• INTRODUCTION
• AIM AND OBJECTIVES
• METHODOLOGY
• CONCLUSION
• REFERENCE
 ABSTRACT
The project carried out is on a d.c variable power supply unit with
+12V and a current rating of 1.0A. This is aimed at supplying
different equipment of various voltage rating (3.7V, 9V and 12V)
with just only one power supply source and also to be able to
supply power to those equipments which make use of D.C power.
The method employed in carrying out this work is design and
construction which is a development on some past projects and
materials which are fixed power supply or only positive power
supply. Simply putting it this is a good development and
modification
 INTRODUCTION
All circuits require some source of power to operate and the most convenient
source of such power in an ac wall outlet. Unfortunately, many electronic circuits
cannot make use of ac directly such as the mobile phone, laptop, radio, etc.
Instead, some way to convert the ac to dc is required. Sometimes, the source of
dc power for electronic equipment is a battery, but more usually, the power is
obtained from a unit that converts the normal single phase ac mains supply (240V
at 50Hz) to some different value of dc voltage.
The functions of the power supply are to provide necessary dc voltage and
current, with good stability and regulation. In other words it must provide a
stable dc output voltage, irrespective of changes in the mains input voltage and of
changes in the load current.
A further important requirement of a modern unit is that it should be able to limit
the available output current in the event of an overload (current limiting) and also
limit the maximum output voltage. Damage to sensitive components, such as IC,
in the instrument can easily occur if excessive voltage appears on the power
supply lines.
 INTRODUCTION CONT’D
In addition, since the most convenient and economical source of power is the
domestic ac supply, it is advantageous to convert ac to dc voltage. This process is
called rectification and is accomplished with the help of a
• Rectifier
• Filter and
• Voltage regulator unit
These elements put together constitute dc power supply.
The supply voltage should be a regulated power supply. That is, dc power supply
whose terminal voltage remains almost constant regardless of the amount of
current drawn from it unlike unregulated power supply whose dc terminal
voltage is affected significantly by the amount of load, as the load draws more
current, the dc terminal voltage becomes less.
An unregulated supply can be converted into regulated power supply by adding a
voltage regulating circuit to it.
 AIM AND OBJECTIVES
Aim
• The main aim of this study is to design and
construct a variable dc power supply unit.
0bjectives
• to identify the various power supplies available.
• To design a tri-level output power supply unit.
• To design the power supply in a way that it can
be varied.
 METHODOLOGY
The design process involves the selection of values of each component
used in the circuit with constraints of size, weight and cost.
The main purpose of this power supply is to convert a mains supply (220-
240V AC at 50Hz) to a D.C. voltage that is suitable for devices using d.C .
Voltage(3.7V,9v and 12V). It involves five basic stages via:
• Transformation: this is the increase or decrease in voltages of
alternating current in electric power applications.  
• Rectification: this is simply the conversion of alternating current (ac) to
direct current(dc) by employing diodes
• Smoothening (filtering): is the removal of fluctuations or pulsations
present in the output voltage supplied by the rectifier
• Regulation: this process involves keeping the voltage at a constant when
the input or load varies
 METHODOLOGY CONT’D
• Voltage variation: this process is used to provide different d.c voltages
needed by the electronic circuit, it consist of resistors arranged in series
across the output terminal of the voltage regulator
Components used in the construction of the variable d.c power supply unit
include the following :
• The high voltage suppressor: this component is used for suppressing high
voltage so as to prevent the whole circuit from being damaged by high
voltage e.g the metal oxide varistor
• The fuse
• Transformer: it either steps-up or steps-down the voltage of an AC circuit at
the cost or gain of current but in this design we are using a step down
transformer.
• Bridge rectifier: it is an electronic device, which converts an AC waveform to
a Pulsating DC waveform.
 METHODOLOGY CONT’D
• Capacitors which are simply storage devices.
• Voltage regulator: a device which compares the output voltage with
a precise reference voltage and adjusts the pass device to maintain a
constant output voltage. voltage regulator is designed to
automatically maintain a constant voltage level.
• The resistors : an electrical component that implements electrical
resistance as a circuit element. Resistors act to reduce current flow,
and, at the same time, act to lower voltage levels within circuits.
• Diodes convert electric current from AC to DC or from Alternating
Current to Direct Current.
• Voltage divider: are often used in circuits to generate a particular
voltage from a large fixed(or varying) voltage.
METHODOLOGY CONT’D
 CONCLUSION

Based on researches, it was observed that various

power supplies are available such as the fixed d.c
power supplies, the single output d.c power
supply, dual output variable d.c power supply unit
and the variable d.c power supply unit
Also with reference to research works, past
projects, materials and information gotten online,
and with some modification a variable dc output
power supply unit was designed
 REFERENCES
Harper C.AL Handbook of components for electronics,
(1977)
Christos C.H and jacob, M (1987) integrated electronics, analogue ad digital circuits and systems, U.S.A, Mc(imo
hill
 
Oakes, I.: Management of Electronics Assembly Design,
(1992).
First Edition, Reed International Book Page 1003

Jackson, K.G, and Feinberg R.: Dictionary of Electrical

Engineering (1981) Buffer Worth Publishers Ltd, Second Edition Page 107.

Malcolm, P.: Basic Electronics 91998)

Second Edition, Hodder and Stoughton, Page 411

Michael, T.: Electric Circuits Handbook, (1993)

Second Edition, Longman, Page 367.
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