POWER

POWER ELECTRONICS
ELECTRONICS

DC-DC CONVERTERS
Dr. Adel Gastli
Email: adel@gastli.net
http://adel.gastli.net

Learning Objectives
To learn the switching technique for
dc-dc conversion and types of dc-dc
converters
To study the operation of dc-dc
converters
To understand the performance
parameters of dc-dc converters.
To learn the techniques of analysis
and design of dc-dc converters
Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

CONTENTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Introduction
Buck Converter
Boost Converter
Buck-Boost Converter
uk Converter
Two Quadrant Converters
Full Bridge Converter
Summary

Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

INTRODUCTION
Step-down (Buck) converter: where the
output voltage of the converter is lower
than the input voltage.
Step-up (Boost) converter: where the
output voltage is higher than the input
voltage.
Step-down/step-up (Buck-Boost)
converter.
Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

BUCK CONVERTER
Voltage step-down and current step-up
converter.
1- Continuous conduction mode (CCM)
Is

Vs

S
Vs

+
-

Io

Vo
-

Vo

ON

Io

OFF

ON

ton

ton

Is
Mode 1
Mode 2

Typical converter topology and waveforms

Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

Vs
Vo

ON

Io

OFF

ON

ton

ton

Is

Vs

Va = F (ton , f )
Dr. Adel Gastli

Va ton
=
= ton f
k=
Vs T

Duty ratio (0-1)

or
turn ratio of equivalent
transformer

Va
ton

ton
Va = Vs
= kVs
T

DC-DC Converters

Constant frequency operation

Variable frequency operation
6

Va = F (ton , f s )
ton

Is a linear function

is the on pulse width.

Controlling ton is known as PWM control

fs is the switching frequency.

PWM control is more popular
Dr. Adel Gastli

V0 rms

DC-DC Converters

1
=
T

1
Pi =
T

kT

kT

v02dt = kVs

1
v0 idt =
T

kT

Vs
Vs
R
=
Ri = =
I a kVs / R k
V
kV
Ia = a = s
R
R
Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

Rms value of
output voltage

v02
Vs2
dt = k
R
R

Input
power

Effective input
resistance seen from
the source
Vs

+
-

Ri
8

 Neglecting power losses in the circuit

elements:

Vs I s = Va I a

I a Vs 1
=
=
I s Va k

Dr. Adel Gastli

Ia Is
Step-up
action in
current

DC-DC Converters

Example
f = 5 kHz ( switching frequency )
Vs = 12 V ; Va = 5 V ; ton = ?
Solution

T =

1 1
= = 0.2 ms
f
5

ton
5
Va =
Vs = k Vs = 12k = 5 k =
= 0.417
T
12
ton = 0.417 0.2 = 0.0834 ms
(Study also example 5.1)
Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

10

Low Current Ripple

Is

Vs

Io

V1

V1

S
Vs

+
-

Mode 1

di
L 0 = Vs Va
dt

Mode 2

I0max
I0min

ON

I
Continuous conduction

Is

di0
= Va
dt

Va
(T ton )
L
Peak-to-peak
ripple current
I =

T
1 ton

+
Ia =
i
dt
i
dt
L
L
ton
T 0
Dr. Adel Gastli

OFF

ton

Va +_

ON

DC-DC Converters

11

Io
Iomax

Iomin

ton

I =

Va
V
T (1 k ) = s Tk (1 k )
L
L

Independent of the magnitude of load current

Its a function of ton and T, and L
Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

12

(Page 187)

Low Voltage Ripple

Is

V1

Vs

Io

V1

S
Vs

+
-

Vo

iL
ic

Assumptions:
voltage ripple Vo is a small
percentage of dc voltage Vo
ripple current through inductor
flows into filter capacitor and not
R.
Dr. Adel Gastli

ON

OFF

ON

charge

discharge

io

Vo

V0

kT

DC-DC Converters

13

The average capacitor charge current, which

flows into for ton/2 + toff/2=T/2 is

I
4

IC =

The capacitor charge Qc is

Qc = I C

T IT
=
2
8

The capacitor voltage variation is V0

Qc IT
V0 = Vc =
=
C
8C
Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

14

Remember

Qc IT
=
V0 =
C
8C

f =

1
T

fC =

I =

V0T
(1 k )
L
2

T2
2 fC
V0
(1 k ) =
(1 k )
=

V0
8LC
2 f

1
2 LC

Independent of load resistance R and

load current Io

Low value of fC/f will provide low voltage

ripple.

V0 = Vc =
Dr. Adel Gastli

Vs (1 k )k
8 LCf 2

DC-DC Converters

15

The condition for critical

continuous inductor current
and capacitor voltage is
satisfied when:
I

IL =

Vs

V1 ON

ON

IL
v0

OFF

V0

kT

V0T
2kVs
(1 k ) = 2 I L = 2 I a =
I =
LC
R
(1 k ) R
LC =
2f
Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

Critical
inductance
16

Vs
If VC is the average capacitor V1 ON
OFF
voltage, the ripple voltage
I
IL
VC =2Va:

Va (1 k )
= 2Va
2
8 LCC f
(1 k )
CC =
16 Lf 2
Dr. Adel Gastli

Va

ON

V0

kT

Critical
capacitor

DC-DC Converters

17

Example: Finding the values of LC

filter for the Buck Converter
Vs=12V. The required average output voltage
is Va=5V at R=500 and the peak-to-peak
output ripple voltage is 20mV. The switching
frequency is 25kHz. If the peak-to-peak ripple
current of inductor is limited to 0.8A,
determine:
a)
b)
c)
d)
Dr. Adel Gastli

Duty cycle, k
Filter inductance, L
Filter capacitor, C
Critical values of L and C.
DC-DC Converters

18

Solution
Vs = 12V, VC = 20mV, I = 0.8A, f = 25kHz,Va = 5V

Va
5
=
= 0.4167 = 41.67%
a) k =
Vs 12

V0T
b) I =
(1 k )
L
V0
5(1 0.4167 )
(1 k ) =
L=
= 145.83H
fI
25000 0.8
Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

19

IT
c) V0 =
8C
I
0.8
C =
=
3
3
8 fV0 8 25 10 20 10
= 200F
d)

1 k
(1 0.4167)
LC =
R=
500 = 5.83mH
2f
2 25000

1 k
(1 0.4167)
=
CC =
= 0.4F
2
2
3
16 Lf
16 5.83 10 (25000)
Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

20

Is

Switch Stress

V1

Io

Vo

S
Vs

Peak voltage stress on the switch:

+
-

Vsw max = Vs V1min = Vs

Peak current stress through the switch:

I sw max

1
Vs
= I a + I max = I a +
2
8 fL
k=0.5

Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

21

2- Discontinuous conduction mode (DCM)

i0

I =

ton
1

k=
I =
Dr. Adel Gastli

Vs Va
V
1 = a 2
L
L

1
Va
k
=
=
Vs 1 + 2 1 k3

1
T

, k3 =

3
T

and 1 + 2 + 3 = T

VT k
Va
VT
2 = a (1 k3 k ) = s
(1 k3 k )
L 1 k3
L
L
DC-DC Converters

22

i0
0

1 1 + 2
I
T
2
1 T 3
= I
2
T
1
= I (1 k3 )
2

Ia

Ia =
3

VsT
Ia =
k (1 k3 k )
2L

Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

23

Example
A dc-dc converter converts a source of 48V to
12V. The converter components are R=10,
L=5mH, and f=40kHz. Plot the output voltage and
current waveforms and determine:
1. The mode of operation.
2. The amount of current ripple.
3. The filter capacitor value if the voltage ripple is
to be less than 1% of the output voltage.
4. The inductor for which the converter would just
enter in the discontinuous conduction mode.
Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

24

1- mode of operation
Va
I VsTs
=
k (1 k ) = 0.0225 A;
k= ;
2
2L
Vs

Va 12
I
=
= 1.2 A >>
CCM
Ia =
2
R 10
2- current ripple

VaT
I =
(1 k ) = 0.045A
L
3- filter capacitor for V0/V0=1%

V0
2
= 0.01 =
V0
2
Dr. Adel Gastli

fC =

fc
40,000 (1 0.25) f c = 2.079kHz

DC-DC Converters

1
2 LC

C=

25

1
= 1.17 F
2 2
4 f c L

4- Critical filter inductance for DCM

VsT
k (1 k ) = 0.094mH
DCM LC =
2Ia

(Study also example 5.5 )

Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

26

Features of a buck converter

Limitations
Input current is normally
It requires only one
discontinuous and a
transistor
smoothing input filter is
Is simple
required.
Has high efficiency
It provides one polarity of
(greater than 90%)
output voltage and
di/dt of the load current unidirectional output
is limited by inductor
current.
It requires a protection
circuit in case of possible
short circuit across the
diode path.

Advantages

Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

27

BOOST CONVERTER
Voltage step-up and current step-down
converter.
1- Continuous conduction mode (CCM)
is

L
S

Vs

+
-

Vs

io
C

Vo

VL

OFF

ton (V -V )
s o

+
-

ON

is

ON

I
Continuous conduction

Mode 1
Mode 2

io

Typical converter circuit and waveforms

Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

28

is

io

S
Vs

+
-

Vo

Mode 1
Mode 2

Vs I s = V0 I 0

Dr. Adel Gastli

NOTE:

V0
1
=
Vs 1 k

Average voltage across inductor is 0

Vs ton + (Vs V0 )(T ton ) = 0

diL
= Vs
dt

ton V0
1
k= ;
=
Ts Vs 1 k

diL
= (Vs V0 )
dt

I 0 Vs
=
= 1 k
I s V0
DC-DC Converters

29

Forward voltage transfer ratio Vo/Vs

can be ideally infinity for k=1, however,
the parasitic capacitance across open
switch would bring it down.
Vo/Vs

Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

30

Low Current Ripple

is

io

S
Vs

+
-

Vo

+
-

Vs
Vs
I L = ton =
k
L
fL

di
L L = Vs
dt

Mode 1
Mode 2

Dr. Adel Gastli

diL
= (Vs V0 )
dt

f =

1
T

DC-DC Converters

31

Low Voltage Ripple

is

io

V1

S
Vs

V0

+
-

Capacitor
discharges
through the
load

Vo

Assumptions:
voltage ripple Vo is a
small percentage of dc
voltage Vo
R
ripple current through
diode flows into filter
capacitor and not R.

V0
ton

Low value of fC/f will provide low

voltage ripple.
Dr. Adel Gastli

Qc I 0ton
=
C
C
I 0k V0 k
=
=
fC R fC

V0 =

DC-DC Converters

V0 kf C
=
V0
f
1
fC =
RC
32

Switch Stress
Peak voltage stress on the switch:
Vsw max = V0

Peak current stress through the switch:

I sw max

Vs
1
= I 0 + I L max = I 0 +
2
2 fL
k=1

Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

33

2- Discontinuous conduction mode (DCM)

Average voltage across inductor is 0

Vs 1 + (Vs V0 ) 2 = 0

is
0

Ts

k=

1
T

VT
I = s k
L

V0 1 + 2
1 k3
=
=
Vs
2
1 k k3

, k3 =
I0 =

3
T

and 1 + 2 + 3 = T

1 2 VsT
I =
k (1 k k3 )
2
T
2L

Load current average value

Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

34

3- Condition for continuous inductor current

Average inductor current I L =

IL =

Ia

I
V
V
= s k = Ia = a
2 2 fLC
R

I
= Ia
2
Vs
Vs
k=
2 fLC
(1 k ) R

I
Limit for
Continuous
conduction

Dr. Adel Gastli

LC =

k (1 k ) R
2f

DC-DC Converters

35

4- Condition for continuous capacitor

voltage
Average capacitor voltage

V0

V0 =

V0
2

I 0k
= I0R
V0 =
2 fCC

V0
Limit for
Continuous
conduction

k
CC =
2 fR
(Study example 5.6 )
Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

36

BUCK-BOOST CONVERTERS
Voltage step-up and step-down converter.
Vs
is

vL

io

S
iL

+
-

ton

Vo

-V0

iL
is
i0

Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

37

1- Continuous conduction mode (CCM)

Vs

VL = Vs ton + ( V0 )(T ton ) = 0

vL
ton

-V0

V0
k
=
Vs 1 k

iL
is

I0 1 k
=
Is
k

Voltage step-up action: k>0.5

i0

Voltage step-down action: k<0.5

is
+
-

Dr. Adel Gastli

io

S
iL

L C

Vo

DC-DC Converters

I L =

Vs
V
ton = s k
L
fL
38

Switch Stress
Peak voltage stress on the switch:
Vsw max = Vs + V0

Peak current stress through the switch:

I sw max

Dr. Adel Gastli

1
Vs
= I 0 + I L max = I 0 +
2
2 fL

DC-DC Converters

39

3- Condition for continuous inductor current

Average inductor current I L = I a =

I
Va
kVs
=
= Ia =
IL =
R
2 2 fLC

Ia

kVs
Vs
k=
2 fLC
(1 k ) R

I
Limit for
Continuous
conduction

Dr. Adel Gastli

Vk
I
= s (Eq. 5.85)
2 fL
2

DC-DC Converters

LC =

(1 k ) R
2f

40

4- Condition for continuous capacitor

voltage
Average capacitor voltage

Iak
V0 Vc
=
=
V0 =
2
2
2 fC
(Eq. 5.87)

Iak
V0 =
= Ia R
2 fCC

V0

V0

Limit for
Continuous
conduction

CC =

k
2 fR

(Study example 5.7 )

Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

41

Comparison of Voltage ratio

The buck-boost can

reduce or increase the
voltage ratio with unit
gain for a duty ratio of
50%.
Dr. Adel Gastli

Voltage Ratio

Notice that only the buck

converter shows a linear
relationship between the
control (duty ratio) and
output voltage.

DC-DC Converters

2
Buck-Boost

Boost
Buck

0
0

0.2

0.4 0.6 0.8

Duty Ratio

1
42

UK CONVERTERS
Voltage step-up and step-down converter. Dual
of buck-boost converter.
is

io
L1

S D

+
-

Vs

L2
Co
Vo

is

io

VC
Is

Dr. Adel Gastli

Vs

Vo

Io

DC-DC Converters

is

43

io

is

VC
Is

Vs

VC
Vo

Mode 1

Io

Mode 1

Mode 2

VC-Vo=Vs

Vs-VC=-Vo

VL1 = 0

is,io
Dr. Adel Gastli

-Vo

Vs

Vo

Io

Mode 2

Vs ton V0 (T ton ) = 0
V0
k
=
Vs 1 k

VL2

Is

VC = Vs + V0

Vs
VL1

io

Analysis is similar to that of a

buck-boost converter.

DC-DC Converters

44

TWO-QUADRANT CONVERTERS
Enables the return of energy back to the
source when the load does not need it.
(i.e. dynamic breaking of a dc motor)
Example: Buck Topology
is

L
io

S1
+
-

Vs

+
V_o R

S2

Two-quadrant buck converter topology

Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

CCM only

D1

+
-

L
io

S1

is
Vs

45

S2

D2

is
+
Vo _

+
-

D1

S1

io

Vs

S2

Mode -1

D1

is
+
-

Vs

Mode +1

S2

D2

L
io

S1
+
Vo _

+
-

Vs

S2

+
D2 Vo _

Mode +2

Mode -2
Dr. Adel Gastli

D1

is

L
io

S1

+
D2 Vo _

DC-DC Converters

46

is

v1

v1 L
io C

S1

+
-

I2

Vs

S2

+
V_o R

I0

io

S1 and S2 can not be both

ON at the same time.

D2

S1

0 D
1

S2

I1
is
0

Average value of output current can be positive or

negative depending on the switching sequence of
S1 and S2.
Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

47

FULL-BRIDGE CONVERTER
It is known as the four quadrant dc-dc converter.
Output voltage and current can have positive or
negative polarities and power flows in both directions.
Always operates in the CCM.
Example: Buck Topology
is
+
-

S1
Vs
S4

L
io

S2
+ V0

S3

Full bridge converter topology

Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

48

is

Bipolar switching

+
-

S1

D1

Vs
S4

L
io

D4

+ V0

S2

D2

S3

D3

Switches are turned ON-OFF exclusively in

pairs.
S1-S3 forms one pair and S2-S4 forms another
pair.
When S1-S3 is ON S2-S4 is OFF and vice versa.
This switching sequence is also referred as
PWM switching, and produces a bipolar voltage
waveform as shall be seen shortly.
Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

49
S1, S3

is
+
-

S1

Vs
S4

D1
D4

S2

L
io

+ V0

+
-

S1

Vs
S4

D1
D4

L
io

S3

D 1, D 3

D3
iL

+ V0

ton

Mode 4
is

ON

D2

S2

D2

S3

D3

S2

D2

S1, S3

Ts

D 2, D 4

S2, S4

I0
Mode 1

Mode 2

Mode 3

Mode 4

Vs V0

vL

Vs V0

Mode 1
is
+
-

S1

Vs
S4

D1
D4

L
io

+ V0

S3

D3

+
-

S1

Vs
S4

D1
D4

L
io

+ V0

S2

D2

S3

D3

Mode 3

Mode 2
Dr. Adel Gastli

is

DC-DC Converters

50

The average inductor voltage is zero

(Vs V0 )ton + ( Vs V0 )(T ton ) = 0 V0 = Vs (2k 1)

V0
= 2k 1
Vs

ton (t is ON time of S )
on
1
k=
T
V0
= [ 1 1] for k = [0 1]
Vs

The output current peak-to-peak ripple is

I 0 =

Vs V0
2V
ton = s k (1 k )
L
fL

Does not depend

on load resistance

Ripple frequency is f=1/T.

Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

51

SUMMARY
Buck, boost and buck-boost combination
converters have been analyzed in continuous and
discontinuous current conduction modes.
Voltage step-down converter is also a current
step-up converter and conversely, Voltage step-up
converter is also a current step-down converter.
Single-switch, two-switch and four-switch
topologies have been analyzed.
Analysis consisted of deriving control
characteristics and component stress calculations.
Dr. Adel Gastli

DC-DC Converters

52