ELEC4240/9240 Power Electronics

Lecture 12 DC-DC Buck Converter

• for variable dc-voltage from a fixed dc supply
• for fixed dc-voltage from a fixed dc supply

Vsense
Vd DC-DC Vo
Converter

Vref + vc

−
Controller

Figure 12.1 The basic buck converter

V̂ST
vc

ton toff ton toff

Ts
Vd
Vo

1
Switching frequency, fs =
Ts
ton v
Duty cycle, D = = c
Ts VˆST
Figure 12.2 PWM, switching and output voltage waveforms.

Lecture 12 - DC-DC Buck Converter 12-1 F. Rahman

ELEC4240/9240 Power Electronics

T L

Vd D C Vo Load

Controller

(a)

D C Vo Load
Vd

Controller

Figure 12.3(b) Two Buck converter configurations

Vo

0 fs 2fs 3fs 4fs 5fs

Figure 12.4 Frequency spectrum of vo

The impedance of the capacitor C for fs must be small compared to the impedance
of the load.

Available circuits (toplogy)

1. Step-down (buck) Converter

2. Step-up (Boost) Converter
3. Step-down / step-up (buck-boost) Converter
4. Cuk converter
5. Full-bridge converter

Lecture 12 - DC-DC Buck Converter 12-2 F. Rahman

ELEC4240/9240 Power Electronics

The Step-down (Buck) Converter

id

L iL io
Vd +
+ vL −
voi
D C vo Vo R
−
(Load)

Figure 14.5 Te basic buck converter topology

During 0 < t < ton, voltage across the inductor L is Vd - Vo; iL rises to ILmax. During
ton < t < Ts, voltage across the inductor L is -Vo, and iL falls to ILmin. In the steady-
state, the inductor current must return to ILmin at the end of the switching period Ts,
and the integral of the inductor voltage (i.e., the dc voltage supported across the
inductor) must be zero. In the following we assume that the output voltage ripple is
negligible.
vL
Vd - Vo

0
t

−Vo
Vd
Vo
IL = Io
iL
0
ton t off t

L iL L iL

+ vL - + + vL - +
Vd C R Vd R
Vo C Vo
− −

Figure 14.6 Buck converter waveforms and circuit states

Lecture 12 - DC-DC Buck Converter 12-3 F. Rahman
ELEC4240/9240 Power Electronics
The voltage across the inductor L is
diL
vL = L ……………………………………………………… (12.1)
dt

Over one switching period Ts,

Ts iL ( Ts )

∫0
v L dt = L ∫iL ( 0 )
diL = 0 …………………………………………. (12.2)

Ton Ts
∴ ∫ 0
(Vd − Vo ) dt + ∫ton
−Vo dt = 0 ………………………………… (12.3)

∴ (Vd − V0 )ton = V0 ( Ts − ton ) ………………………………………. (12.4)

V0 ton
∴ = =D …………………………………………………. (12.5)
Vd Ts

Also, Pd = P0 or Vd I d = V0 I0 ………………………………………… (12.6)

V0 I d
∴ = = D …………………………………………………… (12.7)
Vd I0

Boundary between Continuous-Discontinuous Conduction

vL
Vd - V0
iLmax
ILB = IoB

0 Ts
iL

-V0

ton = DTs (1-D)Ts

Figure 12.7 Inductor voltage and current waveforms; just continuous operation.
1 1 Vd − V0
I LB = iL max = ton = I oB ……………………………… (12.8)
2 2 L

DTs DTs T V D (1 − D )
= (Vd − V0 ) = (Vd − DVd ) = s d ……. (12.9)
2L 2L 2L

Lecture 12 - DC-DC Buck Converter 12-4 F. Rahman

ELEC4240/9240 Power Electronics

ILB becomes maximum when D = 0.5 (this is found by differentiating ILB with
respect to D and equating the derivative to zero). For D = 0.5,
TsVd
I LB max = ……………………. (12.10)
8L

And I LB = 4I LBmax D( 1 − D ) ……………………… (12.11)

ILB locus
Vo/Vd

1.0

0.75

0.5

0.25

ILBmax Io

Figure 12.8 Converter characteristics with duty-cycle and load

During normal operation, ILB should be smaller than the lowest load current, so that
the converter operates in continuous conduction mode (i.e., in the linear mode with
Vo = DVd). The minimum inductance L and the switching frequency fs for this
condition of operation are obtained from the following consideration:
Ts i( Ts )
vL
From ∫0 L
dt =
∫
i( 0 )
di = 0 ………………………………………… (12.12)

Vd − Vo V
DTs − o ( 1 − D )Ts = 0 ……………………………….. (12.13)
L L

The first term in (13) is ∆iL (rise) and the second term is ∆iL (fall).
For a given load resistance R,

Vo ∆iL Vo Vo
iL max = + = + (1 − D ) Ts …………………………(12.14)
R 2 R 2L

Vo ∆iL Vo Vo
and iL min = − = − (1 − D ) Ts ……………………. (12.15)
R 2 R 2L
Lecture 12 - DC-DC Buck Converter 12-5 F. Rahman
ELEC4240/9240 Power Electronics
At the boundary of continuous-discontinuous conduction,

iLmin = 0, so that

(1 − D ) R
( Lf s )min = ………………………………………….. (12.16)
2

Hence, for continuous conduction,

(1 − D ) R
Lf s ≥ ……………………………………………… (12.17)
2

Operation in the discontinuous conduction mode

With constant Vd
In many applications, the output dc voltage is variable while the input dc voltage is
maintained constant. If I o < I LB , then i L is discontinuous.

vL Vd − V0 iL

A B

DTs ∆1 T s ∆2 T s
Ts

− V0

Figure 12.9 vL and iL waveforms with discontinuous conduction.

(Vd − V0 )DTs − V0 ∆1Ts = 0 (12.18)

Vo D
∴ = (12.18a)
Vd D + ∆1

where D + ∆1 < 1

V0
Now iL max = ∆1Ts (12.18b)
L

 DTs ∆T 
and I 0 = iL max + iL max 1 s  / Ts
 2 2 

Lecture 12 - DC-DC Buck Converter 12-6 F. Rahman

ELEC4240/9240 Power Electronics

( D + ∆1 )
= iL max
2
V0 D + ∆1
= ∆1Ts (using 18b) (12.19)
L 2
Vd D D + ∆1
= × ∆1Ts × (using 18a)
L D + ∆1 2

Vd
= Ts D∆1 (12.20)
2L

= 4I LB max D∆1 (using 10) (12.21)

I0
∴ ∆1 = (12.22)
4 I LB max D

V0 D2
∴ = (using 18a) (12.23)
Vd D 2 + 1 ( I / I
0 LB max )
4

Vo
Vd ILB locus Vd = constant

Vo
1.0 D = 1.0

0.75 D = 0.75

0.5 D = 0.5

0.25 D = 0.25

I LBmax Io

Figure 14.10 Converter characteristics with discontinuous conduction.

Note that V0 falls sharply with load when the inductor current is discontinuous.
Note also that with discontinuous conduction, the Vo/Vd ratio becomes higher than
D, implying loss of voltage gain of the converter.

Lecture 12 - DC-DC Buck Converter 12-7 F. Rahman

ELEC4240/9240 Power Electronics
Converter gain with continuous and discontinue conduction (Vd = constant).

The gain Gc of the converter is normally expressed as

dVo
Gc = (12.24)
dD

Gc remains constant (= D) when the inductor current is continuous. It falls as the

inductor current becomes more and more discontinuous.

Gc D

Disc. cond. Cont. conduction

IoB Io

Figure 12.11 Variation of converter gain with cont & disc conduction.

Operation in the discontinuous conduction mode

With constant Vo

In many applications, such as power supplies, Vo is kept constant (by regulating

the duty cycle D), when Vd varies over some range. From (12.9), at the boundary
of continuous-discontinuous conduction,

TsVd D ( 1 − D ) TsVo ( 1 − D )
I LB = = (12.25)
2L 2L

The average inductor current at the boundary of continuous-discontinuous

conduction varies linearly with D as indicated by the dotted line of figure 12.12. It
is maximum for D = 0 and zero for D = 1.

TsVo
I LB max = (12.26)
2L

Lecture 12 - DC-DC Buck Converter 12-8 F. Rahman

ELEC4240/9240 Power Electronics

D Vo = constant
Vd/Vo = 1.0
1.0
Vd/Vo = 1.25
0.75
Vd/Vo = 2
0.5
Vd/Vo = 4
0.25

ILBmax Io or IL

Figure 12.12 Converter duty-cycle and load characteristic for constant Vo and
variable Vd in continuous and discontinuous conduction.

From (12.18) and (12.19), both of which are valid whether Vd or Vo are kept
constant, and (12.25), it can be shown that when Vo is kept constant,

Vo I o / I LB max
D= (12.27)
Vd 1 − Vo / Vd

Figure 12.12 also indicates the range of variation of D required to keep Vo constant
for a given Vd, when the inductor current becomes discontinuous.

Lecture 12 - DC-DC Buck Converter 12-9 F. Rahman

ELEC4240/9240 Power Electronics

Output voltage ripple of the buck converter (approximate analysis)

Assuming continuous conduction

I L max
∆IL/2 ∆Q V0
I0 =
R

0
Ts/2
Ts

Figure 12.13. Inductor current waveform

IL=I0 & Ic=0 ∴ iLripple = ic (12.28)

∆Q 1 1 ∆ I L Ts ∆ I LTs
∴ ∆V0 = = = (12.29)
C C2 2 2 8C

V0
∆IL = ( 1 − D )Ts (12.30)
L

Ts V0
∴ ∆V0 = ( 1 − D )Ts (12.31)
8C L

V0 ( 1 − D ) Ts2
= (12.32)
8 LC

∆Vo ( 1 − D ) Ts2
∴ = …………………………. (12.33)
Vo 8 LC

2
π2 f 
= (1 − D )  c  (12.34)
2  fs 

1
where f c = , the cut-off frequency of the LC filter.
2π LC

Therefore, it is desirable to have fs >> fc !

Lecture 12 - DC-DC Buck Converter 12-10 F. Rahman
ELEC4240/9240 Power Electronics

Design considerations of the buck converter

• High fs reduces the sizes of L and C.

• The core of inductor L not to saturate for iLmax.

• L to maintain continuous conduction for the lowest load current.

∆V0
• C to limit , typically, to less than 1%.
V0

Lecture 12 - DC-DC Buck Converter 12-11 F. Rahman