Journal of Engineering and Technology

ISSN 2180-3811 eISSN 2289-814X https://jet.utem.edu.my/jet/index

PERFORMANCE INVESTIGATION OF A BOOST

CONVERTER DRIVING A SEPARATELY EXCITED
DC MOTOR USING RC FILTER
H. M. Usman*1,2, G. A. Olarinoye1, S. Saminu3, M. S. Yahaya4 and
M. Mahmud1
1 Department of Electrical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,

Nigeria.
2 Department of Electrical Engineering, Mewar University, Chittorgarh,

Rajathan, India.
3 Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

4 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mewar University, Chittorgarh,

Rajathan, India.
*corresponding: [email protected]

Article history:
Abstract— Because boost converter
Received Date: 12
circuits allow for precise speed regulation,
February 2024
frequent starting, flexible speed control,
Revised Date: 5
and support for stopping and reversing
May 2024
operations, they are becoming more and
Accepted Date: 24
more common in industrial and electrical
May 2024
systems for powering DC motors.
However, because these converters are
Keywords: Boost made of non-linear devices, they
Converter, introduced harmonic distortions that
Harmonic lowered the system's power quality and
Distortion, decreased the performance of the DC
1
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corresponding institution licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-
NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

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 Journal of Engineering and Technology

MATLAB/Simulink, motor that was connected to them. This

RC Filter, paper presents a low-cost and effective
Separately Excited boost chopper circuit that drives a
DC Motor separately excited DC motor by combining
it with an RC filter. Matlab/Simulink was
used to simulate an RC filter model based
on a boost converter that has a 120 V input
DC voltage, a 50% duty ratio, and a 50 kHz
switching frequency. The separately
excited DC motor is powered by the boost
converter's average output voltage and
current. The RC filter significantly reduced
total harmonic distortion (THD) from 37%
to 11.8%. In addition to harmonic
mitigation, this study investigated the
efficiency of a separately excited DC
motor, and a significant improvement in
the motor’s efficiency from 74.42% without
the filter to 91.42% with it was observed.
This research underscores the
effectiveness of integrating an RC filter
with a boost chopper circuit to enhance
power quality and optimize the
performance of a DC motor system.

I. Introduction use DC-DC power converters

A wide range of devices, [1]. Separately excited direct
including DC motor drives and current (DC) motors are widely
power supplies for laptops, used in many industrial domains,
desktop computers, office when the DC motor is running,
equipment, spacecraft power the load torque and network
systems, and voltage may cause the real speed
telecommunications equipment, and current to become unstable

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[2]-[3]. Controlling the speed separately excited DC motor

and current of the DC motor is speed control system with a
therefore a crucial area of chopper circuit and two distinct
research. While there are a few control loops, or a speed
techniques to regulate and controller and a current
improve individually stimulated controller. [2] Proposed method
DC motor performance, using a of speed control for a separately
Boost Converter circuit is the excited DC motor fed by a
most widely used method. This chopper circuit, the circuit
study investigates how to provides a variable voltage to
improve the DC Motor's the motor's armature so that the
performance when powered by required speed can be reached
the boost converter by utilizing using a PI controller. DC-DC
an efficient filtering circuit. converter with PID controller
There are several works and aimed to keep voltage and
investigations that proposed current constant, the
their techniques on filter, boost proportional Kp, integral Ki and
converter and separately excited derivative Kd were set by
DC motor speed control, starting choosing appropriate resistor R
with R. Nagarajan et. al [2] that and capacitor C [7], moreover,
utilized a neural net controller improvement and management
and a proportional integral (PI) of the speed of a separately
controller to control the speed of excited DC motor with an
the DC motor [4], furthermore a IGBT-based chopper by altering
different approach to modelling the field flux and armature
pulse width modulated (PWM) voltage was studied by George
dc/dc converters with basic [8]. In order to reduce the size
converter units (BCUs) and and expense of the current
focused on applying this passive EMI filters and to
suggested method to simplify attenuate common mode
the modelling of quasi-resonant conducted noise in the DC/DC
converters and multi-resonant converter's input bus, [9]
converters [5]. Authors in [6] proposed an approach that
proposed and put into use a combines passive and active
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electromagnetic interference state error [17]-[18]. The DC

(EMI) filtering technologies. motor drive in hybrid electric
The performance of a vehicles (HEVs) with intricate
nonlinear autoregressive moving control systems was examined
average controller and the and simulated in a variety of
conventional traditional torque scenarios. A converter's
controller were evaluated for the built-in passive filter was
purpose of controlling the speed intended to reduce harmonic
of SEDM [10], likewise in [11] distortion, and a power capacitor
authors demonstrated how the bank was specifically included
converter regulation and input to offset any voltage loss [19]-
filter interact with each other [21]. Two common issues that
and proposed a way to stabilize LCL-filtered voltage source
the filter, converter, and control converters deal with are active
system [12]. Moreover, [13] damping and harmonic
designed and assessed a boost correction, in order to handle
chopper with a high conversion them comprehensively [22]
efficiency, low weight, and suggested using a virtual RC
volume for the HFC hybrid damper in tandem with the
railway system. Shaoru Zhang et. passive filter capacitor. The
al [14] proposed high gain DC- developed and designed process
DC converter is designed to that allows tuning through
enhance the converter's resistor trimming alone was
performance, also [15] proposed, along with a
investigated Photovoltaic (PV) methodical RC-active network
as the feed source for the Boost synthesis process for the
converter the idea of a brushless realization of second-order
DC (BLCD) mixer grinder transfer functions, additionally
motor was put into practice. [8] [23]. A circuit design approach
achieved a PID controller that that makes it possible to
allows for more accurate and implement broadly
efficient speed control of a DC programmable high-frequency
motor with reduced noise, active RC filters in CMOS
overshoot, and improved steady- technology [24].
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Most of the works focused on addressed. Therefore, this study

speed control of DC motor with aimed to contribute to
Boost converter employing addressing the aforementioned
different types of control system issues.
such as proportional integral PI,
proportional integral differential II. Materials and Methods
PID fuzzy logic controllers for In this study MATLAB was
efficient and reliable operation, used in designing and simulation
others addressed the harmonic of boost converter incorporating
mitigation of the converter by LC filter that drives separately
implementation of filter. Few excited DC motor. The
works integrate both in procedures followed are;
achieving efficient results.  Modelling of boost converter
However, evaluation of the circuit
performance of DC motor with  Modelling of RC filter circuit
respect to the filter type is yet to  Modelling of separately
be addressed, also investigation excited DC motor
of different types filtering circuit  Integrating the above model
of boost converter that feeds DC together
motors is also important and  Simulation of the complete
improvement of the model
performance of boost converter  Efficiency evaluation of the
and DC motor output in the most DC motor
cost-effective way is another
challenge that need to be

Boost Separately
DC source RC Filter excited
converter
DC motor

Reference PWM
Figure 1: Block diagram of Boost Converter with RC filter feeding separately
excited DC motor

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 Boost converters are DC-DC applications, this integrated
converters that use PWM technique ensures accurate and
controllers, power switches, consistent motor speed control.
diodes, inductors, and capacitors
to raise the input voltage to a A. Modelling of Boost
higher output voltage. They Converter Circuit
have phases of charging and The circuit for the boost
discharging, where the capacitor converter circuit shown in
voltage rises during charging Figure 2 deviates from
and the inductor retains energy. traditional designs in that it
The diode allows the stored employs a novel method for
energy to be released while handling harmonic reduction.
discharging, increasing output Unlike traditional boost
voltage. The output quality is converters, which consider the
enhanced by adding an RC filter, resistor only as a load element,
which smoothens the voltage this model introduces a novel
waveform and lowers ripples. A configuration that uses both
separately excited DC motor is resistance and capacitance to
powered by this filtered voltage, form an RC filter. This deviation
and it is managed by varying the from the norm highlights a
duty cycle of the PWM deliberate strategy to address
controller to efficiently control harmonic distortions in the
the average output voltage and output voltage.
motor speed. For a variety of

Figure 2: Boost converter with RC filter model

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 The RC filter, which in this where:
case is made up of a capacitor D = Duty ratio
(C) and a resistor (R), is essential Vin = Voltage input
because it works together to Vout = Converter voltage output
lower the output voltage's L = Inductor, C = Capacitor
harmonic content. In this design, R = Resistance, f = frequency
the resistor works in tandem Vtrans = Transistor voltage
with the capacitor to reduce VD = Diode voltage
voltage fluctuations, as opposed I = Source current
to traditional designs where the 𝛥𝐼 = Ripple current which must
resistor serves as the only load. not exceed 20% to 30% of the
The equations used in this model average output current (Io)
are as follows. 𝛥𝑉 = Ripple voltage which
must not exceed 20% to 40% of
Output voltage equation of the average output
converter,
𝑉 = −𝑉 (1) The equations of motor are
given below,
𝑉 = (2)
𝑅 𝐼 +𝐿 +𝐸 =𝑉 (7)

Inductor equation,
× At steady state condition,
𝐿= (3)
×∆ Equation (7) becomes
𝑉 =𝐸+𝐼 𝑅 (8)
Capacitor equation, 𝐸 = 𝐾𝜔 (9)
×
𝐶= (4) 𝑉 = (10)
×∆

Efficiency equation of converter, By equating (7), (8) and (9)

( )
𝜂= = = = 𝐸 + 𝐼 𝑅 = 𝐾𝜔 + 𝐼
( )
(5) (11)
By simplification,
𝜔 = −𝐼 𝑅 (12)
Filter equation,
= (6)
( )

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where: 𝐼 = Average output current

D = duty ratio 𝛥𝑉 = Ripple voltage must not
Vin = Voltage input exceed 20% to 40% of average
Vout = Converter voltage output output voltage
L = Inductor, C = Capacitor Ia = Armature current
f = frequency Va = Armature voltage
𝜔 = Speed of the motor in rpm Ra = Armature resistance
Ia = Armature current K = Motor constant
Ra = Armature resistance E = Back emf
Pin = Power input to DC motor R = filter resistance
Pout = Output power of the motor
Vtrans = Transistor voltage

Figure 4: Boost converter with RC filter feeding separately excited DC motor

Table 1: Input parameter of the simulation

Symbols Parameters Specification
Vin Voltage input 70 V
L Inductance of converter 1.0 mH
D Duty cycle 50 %
C Capacitance of converter 0.5 𝜇𝐹
fs Switching frequency 50 kHz
Vtrans Transistor voltage 0.6 V
VD Diode Voltage 0.2 V
R Filter resistance 5. 0 Ω
C0 Filter capacitance 1.0 𝜇𝐹
Vf Field voltage 120 V

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Following the execution of technique. The PWM generator

simulations and their was use in generating pulse
observation through a SCOPE, a which switch ON and OFF the
number of parameters as switch.
tabulated in Table 1 were
collected and examined. A. Simulation Results
The square function that is
III. Results and Discussion used to generate a PWM signal
The simulation model of that represents the ON and OFF
chopper circuit with RC filter states of the switch is shown in
driven separately excited DC Figure 5. This PWM signal is
motor was developed using used by the Boost Converter
MATLAB/Simulink package. Simulation Function to compute
The supply voltage was applied the input and output voltage and
to the chopper circuit; however, current over time. For PWM
the operation of the circuit relies generation in this study, a
solidly on switching of IJBT and frequency of 50 KHz and a duty
this was achieved using PWM cycle of 50% were used.

Figure 5: Pulse width modulation MATLAB

Regulated average voltage input with minimal harmonic

output of 130.2V from 70V distortion was observed in
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Figure 6. When the simulation undergone total harmonic

was run without filter, 112.06V distortions (THD) reduction
voltage was obtained. The from 37% to 11.8%.
voltage waveform has

Figure 6: Chopper Circuit Output Voltage with RC filter driven separately excited
DC Motor

Efficiency of the motor is, Pout = Output power of the motor

𝛾= (13) 𝑇 = Load torque
𝜔 = speed of the motor
𝑃 =𝑉 𝐼 (14)
By substituting the values of the
where:
simulated result in Equation (13)
Pin = Power input to the DC
and (14)
motor from the converter
𝑃 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑅𝐶 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟 =
Vout = Average voltage output of
𝑉 𝐼 = 112.06𝑉 ×
the converter
40.31A = 4517.139VA
Vin = Average output current of
the converter
𝑃 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑅𝐶 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟 =
𝛾 = Efficiency of the separately
excited DC motor 𝑇 𝜔 = 29.0 × 1107 × =
3361.818W
𝑃 =𝑇𝜔 (15)
where: Now efficiency without RC
filter,
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. Now efficiency with RC filter,

𝛾 = = 0.7442
. .
= 74.42% 𝛾 = = 0.9142 =
.
91.42%
𝑃 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑅𝐶 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟 =
𝑉 𝐼 = 130.2𝑉 × 36.09A = B. Discussion
4698.918VA The outcomes derived from the
simulations are concisely
𝑃 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑅𝐶 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 𝑇 𝜔 = summarized in Table 2. Table 2
35 × 1172 × = presents a comprehensive
compilation of the obtained
4295.604watt
results. This table effectively
encapsulates all pertinent
information garnered throughout
the investigation.

Table 2: Results obtained after the simulation

Output variables Symbols Chopper without Chopper with
filter RC filter
Average output voltage Vo 112.06 V 130.02 V
Average output current Io 40.31A 36.09 A
Total Harmonic THD 37 % 11.8 %
Distortion
Efficiency of the motor 𝛾 74.42 % 91.42 %
Speed of the motor Wm 1107 rpm 1172 rpm
Load torque TL 29.0 Nm2 35.0 Nm2
Electrical torque Te 5.295 Nm2 8.137 Nm2
Armature current Ia 38.21 A 35.63 A
Field current If 0.8532 A 0.8532 A

Table 2 offers a comprehensive shows a significant rise from

evaluation of the system's 112.06V to 130.02V as depicted
operation both with and without in Figure 6. This improvement
the RC filter in the chopper indicates more stable and
circuit. First, with the RC filter, regulated voltage, which is
the average output voltage (Vo) important for reliable operation
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of the DC motor. Conversely the motor's speed (Wm)

Figure 7, the average output increases noticeably, going from
current (Io) drops with the RC 1107 rpm to 1172 rpm as shown
filter from 40.31A to 36.09A, in Figure 8. This improvement is
demonstrating ripples reduction indicative of better speed
which improved the system stability and regulation, which is
efficiency and current control. important for applications
Meanwhile, with the RC filter, requiring accurate motor control.

Figure 7: Output current of the chopper circuit with RC filter MATLAB (Simulink)

Figure 8: Speed of DC Motor Response when fed by Chopper Circuit with RC

Filter

Furthermore, the load torque Additionally, with the RC filter,

(TL) increases from 29.0Nm2 to the electrical torque (Te)
35.0Nm2 upon installation of the increases significantly from
RC filter, suggesting the 5.295 Nm2 to 8.137 Nm2,
improvement in torque delivery indicating better torque output
and system resilience. and motor performance as
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Figure 9 depicted. As a result of Interestingly, whether the RC

the RC filter, the average filter is present or not, there is no
armature current (Ia) drops from effect on the field current (If),
38.21A to 35.63A, indicating which stays constant at 0.8532A
better current control and system as shown in Figure 11.
efficiency as shown in Figure 10.

Figure 9: Electrical Torque of DC Motor when fed by Chopper Circuit with RC

Filter

Figure 10: Armature Current of the DC Motor when fed by Chopper Circuit with
RC Filter

Figure 11: Field Current of DC Motor when fed by Chopper Circuit with RC Filter
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A significant improvement is distortion (THD) dropped

observed in the total harmonic dramatically, from 37% to
distortion (THD), which 11.8%. Furthermore, the motor's
decreases substantially from efficiency increased
37% to 11.8% with the RC filter. significantly with the RC filter,
This reduction underscores the going from 74.42% without it to
effectiveness of the filter in 91.42% with it. This
mitigating harmonic accomplishment highlights how
components, contributing to well an effective filter can be
improved power quality and integrated into the converter to
reduced electrical noise. further enhance system
Furthermore, the efficiency of performance. Notably, the
the motor (γ) experiences a investigation did not look at the
remarkable increase from responses of different DC
74.42% to 91.42% with the RC motors, different filters, or other
filter, highlighting enhanced converter configurations leaving
energy conversion efficiency gaps for further research to be
and minimized losses within the conducted.
system.
V. Acknowledgement
IV. Conclusion The Department of Electrical
The low-cost, high-efficiency Engineering at Ahmadu Bello
boost chopper circuit coupled University in Zaria, Nigeria, is
with RC filter that drives acknowledged by the authors for
separately excited DC motor its support of this work, which
was effectively designed and includes high-performance
developed and the simulation computing systems and
model was presented. With less resources.
harmonic content, this
combination produced VI. References
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