Prof. Dr.

VIJIT
DC-DC Converters Part 1

Conventional
+ VCE - iL iL

+ +
+ RL + RL
VO VO
VS VS
- -
- -

linear
Low efficiency

Transistor operates in active mode

 iL iL

+ +
+ +
VS
RL vO
-
VS
RL vO
-
Switching
- -

(a) (b)

vO High efficiency
VS

Transistor operates
Closed Open
0
DT T t in saturation and
(1-D)T
(c)
cut-off regions

1
T
1
DT ........(1)
Vo =  vo ( t )dt =  V dt = V D
s s
T 0 T 0

ton ton
D= = = ton f ........(2)
ton + toff T
Buck Converter VL
iC iR
iL

VS VD VO

(a)
VL = VS − VO

VS VD = VS VO

(b)
VL = −VO

iL

VS VD = 0 VO

(c)

Figure 6.3
(a) Buck dc-dc converter.
(b) Equivalent for switch closed.
(c) Equivalent for switch open
 Properties in steady state

1. The inductor current is periodic:

i L ( t + T ) = i L ( t ) ...(3)

2.The average inductor voltage is zero.

t +T
1
VL = 
T t
v L (  )d  = 0 ...(4)

3.The average capacitor current is Zero:

t +T
1
Ic =
T 
t
ic (  )d  = 0 ...(5)
 4.The power supplied by the source is the same as the
power delivered to the load.
Ps = Po ideal
…..(6)
Ps = Po + losses nonideal

Assumptions for Analysis

1. Steady state condition
2. The inductor current is continuous(always positive).
3. The capacitor is very large. The output voltage is
constant at Vo
4. The switching period is T: The switch is closed for
time DT and open for time (1-D)T.
5. The components are ideal.
 Analysis for switch closed (see Fig.6.3(b).

di
v L = Vs − Vo = L
dt
Rearranging,
di L Vs − Vo
= Switch closed
dt L
Since the derivative of the current is a positive
constant, the current increases linearly.
di L i L i L Vs − Vo
= = =
dt t DT L ….(7)
Vs − Vo
( i L )closed = ( )DT
L
 di L
Analysis for switch open v L = −Vo = L
dt
VL
VS − VO

−VO

iL
I max
IR iL
I min
t
DT T

iC

t iL

Figure 6.4 Buck converter waveforms.

(a) Inductor voltage.
(b) Inductor current.
(c) Capacitor current
 Rearranging

di L −Vo
= (switch open)
dt L
Since the derivative of the current in the
inductor is a negative constant, the current
decreases linearly.

di L i L i L −Vo
= = =
dt t ( 1 − D )T L
−Vo …(8)
( i L )open = ( )( 1 − D )T
L
The net change in inductor current over one period is
zero.
( iL )open + ( iL )closed = 0

Using Eqs. (7) and(8)

Vs − Vo Vo
( )DT − ( )( 1 − D )T = 0
L L

Vo = Vs D …..(9)
The average inductor voltage is

VL = (Vs − Vo )DT + ( −Vo )( 1 − D )T = 0

 Vo
IL = IR = …..(10)
R
From (7) and (8)
i L
I max = I L +
2
Vo 1  Vo   1 (1 − D )
= +  ( 1 − D )T  = Vo  +  ….(11)
R 2 L  R 2 Lf 
i L
I min = I L −
2
Vo 1  Vo   1 (1 − D )
= −  ( 1 − D )T  = Vo  −  …..(12)
R 2 L   R 2 Lf 
I min = 0 Is the boundary between continuous
and discontinuous inductor current

 1 (1 − D )
I min = 0 = Vo  − 
R 2 Lf 
( 1 − D )R
( Lf )min = ….(13)
2
( 1 − D )R
Lmin = ….(14)
2f
Output voltage ripple

iC

iL
Q
2
t
T
2
ic = i L − i R (a )
vO

VO VO

t
(b)

Figure 6.5 Buck converter waveforms.

(a) Capacitor current.
(b) Capacitor ripple voltage.
While the capacitor current is positive, the capacitor
is charging. From the definition of capacitance,

Q = CVo
Q = C Vo
Q
Vo =
C
1 T i L T i L
Q = ( )( )=
2 2 2 8
T Vo Vo ( 1 − D )
Vo = ( 1 − D )T = 2
8C L 8 LCf
….(15)
The ripple as a function of the output voltage is

Vo ( 1 − D ) …..(16)
=
Vo 8 LCf 2
Since the converter components are assumed
to be ideal,
Ps = Po
Vs I s = Vo I o
Vo Is
=
Vs Io
The buck converter is equivalent to a dc transformer
Example 1 buck converter

The buck dc-dc converter of Fig6.3(a) has

the following parameters

Vs = 50V
D = 0.4
L = 400  H
C = 100  F
f = 20kHz
R = 20
Solution (a) The inductor current is assumed
to be constant and the output
voltage is calculated from (9)
Vo = Vs D = ( 50 )( 0.4 ) = 20V
(b)Maximum and minimum inductor currents are
computed from (11) and (12):

 1 (1 − D ) 1 ( 1 − 0.4 ) 
I max = Vo  +  = 20  + −6 3
 R 2 Lf   20 2( 400 )( 10 ) 20( 10 ) 
1.5
= 1+ = 1.75 A
2
  1 (1 − D ) 1 ( 1 − 0.4 ) 
I min = Vo  −  = 20  − 6 3
 R 2 Lf   20 2( 400 )( 10 ) 20 ( 10 ) 
1.5
= 1− = 0.25 A
2

The average inductor current is 1A. Note that

the minimum current is positive, thus the
assumption is valid.
(c) The output voltage ripple is
computed from (16)
Vo ( 1 − D ) ( 1 − 0.4 )
= 2
= −6 −6 2
V 8 LCf 8( 400 )( 10 ) ( 100 )( 10 ) ( 20000 )
= 0.00469 = 0.469%
 Example2 Buck converter design

Design buck converter to produce an output voltage

of 18V across the 10 ohm load resistance. The output
voltage ripple must not exceed 0.5% The DC input is
48V. Design the continuous inductor current. Specify
the duty ratio, the size of the inductor and capacitor,
the peak voltage rating of each device, and the rms
current in the inductor and capacitor.

Solution The duty ratio for continuous current

operation is determined from (9)
Vo 18
D= = = 0.375
Vs 48
 The switching frequency and inductor size must be
selected for continuous current operation. Let the
switching frequency arbitrarily be 40kHz which is
well above the audio range and is low enough to
keep switching losses small. The minimum inductor
size is determined from (14);

( 1 − D )R ( 1 − 0.375 )10
Lmin = = = 78 H
2f 2( 40000 )
Let the inductor be 25% larger than the minimum to
ensure the inductor current is continuous.

L = 1.25 Lmin = ( 1.25 )( 78  H ) = 97.5  H

 Average inductor current and the change in current
are determined from (10) and (7).
Vo 18
IL = = = 1.8 A
R 10
Vs − Vo ( 48 − 18 ) 1
( iL ) = ( )DT = −6
( 0.375 )( ) = 2.88 A
L ( 97.5 )( 10 ) 40000

The maximum and minimum currents are

determined from(11) and (12).
i L
I max = I L + = 1.8 + 1.44 = 3.24 A
2
i L
I min = I L − = 1.8 − 1.44 = 0.36 A
2
 The inductor must be rated for rms current.
For triangle wave

iL / 2 1.44
I L,rms = I + (
2
L ) = 1.8 + (
2 2
) = 1.98 A
2

3 3

The capacitor is selected from(16)

1− D 1 − 0.375
C= = = 100  F
Vo 2
−6
8( 97.5 )( 10 ) ( 0.005 )( 40000 )2
8 L( )f
Vo
i L =1.44A
Peak capacitor current is
2
1.44
And the rms capacitor current is 3 = 0.83 A
The maximum voltage across the switch
and diode is Vs = 48V.
The inductor voltage when the switch is closed
is Vs − Vo = 48 − 18 = 30V .

The inductor voltage when the switch is

open is Vo = 18V .

Thefore the inductor must withstand 30 V.

The capacitor must be rated for the 18 V
output.
The BOOST CONVERTER
iD
vL

iL iC
VS VO
The output voltage is
(a) larger than the input.
vL = VS

iL

VS VO

(b)
vL = VS − VO

iL

VS VO

(c)

Figure 6.6 The boost converter.

(a) Circuit.
(b) Equivalent for the switch closed.
(c) Equivalent for the switch open
Assumptions for analysis

1. Steady state conditions exist.

2. The inductor current is continuous(always
positive).
3. The capacitor is very large. The output voltage
is constant at Vo (low ripple)
4. The switching period is T: The switch is closed
for time DT and open for time (1-D)T.
5. The components are ideal.
Analysis for switch closed (see Fig.6.6(b).
di L
v L = Vs = L
dt
di L
=
Vs …(18)
dt L

The rate of change of current is a constant so

the current increases linearly.

i L i L Vs
= =
t DT L
Vs
( i L )closed = ( )DT …(19)
L
 vL iD
VS I max

Closed Open I min

t
DT T

VS − VO t
DT T

(a) (c)

iL iC
I
I max
L
iL
I min
t
VO Q DT T
t −
DT T R

(b) (d)

Figure 6.7 Boost converter waveforms.

(a) Inductor voltage.
(b) Inductor current.
(c) Diode current.
(d) Capacitor current.
Analysis for switch open. see Figure 6.6 (c)
di L
v L = Vs − Vo = L
dt
di L Vs − Vo
=
dt L

The rate of change of current is a constant so

the current must change linearly (decrease).
i L i L Vs − Vo
= =
t ( 1 − D )T L
Vs − Vo
( i L )open = ( )( 1 − DT ….(20)
L
For steady state operation , the net change in
inductor current is zero.

( iL )open + ( iL )closed = 0

Using Eqs. (19) and(20)

Vs Vs − Vo
( )DT + ( )( 1 − D )T = 0
L L
Vs ( D + 1 − D ) − Vo ( 1 − D ) = 0
Vs
V0 = ……(21)
1− D
The average inductor voltage must be zero over a
period.
VL = (Vs DT ) + (Vs − Vo )( 1 − D )T = 0

The power supplied by the source must be the

same as the power absorbed by the load
resistor.
2
V
Po = o
R
Vs I s = Vo I o
Using (21) yields
2
 Vs 
Vo2  1 − D  Vs2
Vs I L = = =
R R (1− D ) R
2

Vs
IL = …..(22)
(1− D ) R2

i L Vs Vs DT
I max = I L + = + …..(23)
2 (1− D ) R
2
2L
i L Vs Vs DT …..(24)
I min = I L − = −
2 (1− D ) R2
2L
 The boundary between continuous and
discontinuous inductor current is determined from
Vs Vs DT
I min =0= −
(1− D ) R
2
2L

Vs Vs DT Vs D
or = =
(1− D ) R
2
2L 2 Lf
The minimum combination of inductance and switching
frequency for continuous current in the boost converter
therefore
D( 1 − D ) R
2
….(25)
( Lf )min =
2
 D( 1 − D ) R
2
Lmin = ….(26)
2f

Output voltage ripple

From Fig.6.8(d)

Vo
Q = ( )DT = C Vo
R
Vo DT Vo D
Vo = =
RC RCf
Vo D
= …(27)
Vo RCf
 Example3 Boost converter design
Design boost converter that will have output voltage
of 30 V from a 12 V source. Design for continuous
inductor current and output ripple voltage of 1%. A
load is resistance of 50 ohm. Assume ideal
components for this design.
Solution First, determine the duty ratio from (21).
Vs 12
D = 1− = 1− = 0.6
Vo 30
If the switching frequency is selected at 25kHz to
be above audio frequency range then the minimum
inductance for continuous current is determine
from(26)
 D( 1 − D )2 R 0.6( 1 − 0.6 )2 50
Lmin = = 3
= 96  H
2f 2( 25 )( 10 )
To provide a margin to ensure continuous
current, let L=120  H

Using (22) to (24)

Vs 12
IL = = = 1.5 A
( 1 − D ) R ( 1 − 0.6 ) 50
2 2

i L Vs DT ( 12 )( 0.6 )
= = 3 −6
= 1.2 A
2 2L 2( 25 )( 10 ) ( 120 )( 10 )
i L
I max = I L + = 1.5 + 1.2 = 2.7 A
2
i L
I min = I L − = 1.5 − 1.2 = 0.3 A
2
Output ripple voltage is determined from (27).

Vo D
=  1%
Vo RCf
D 0.6
C= = = 48  F
Rf ( Vo / Vo ) ( 50 )( 25 )( 10 ) ( 0.01 )
3