Synchronous Rectification for the Buck Converter

Many buck converters use a second MOSFET in place of the diode.

When S2 is on and S1 is off, current flows upward out of the drain of S2.
The advantage of this configuration is that the second MOSFET will have a
much lower voltage drop across it compared to a diode, resulting in higher
circuit efficiency.
This is especially important in low-voltage, high-current applications.
A Shottky diode would have a voltage of 0.3 to 0.4 V across it while
conducting,
whereas a MOSFET will have an extremely low voltage drop due to an RDSon
as low as single-digit milliohms.
This circuit has a control scheme known as synchronous switching, or
synchronous rectification.
The second MOSFET is known
as a synchronous rectifier.

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 1

6.4 DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Most buck converters are designed for continuous-current operation.
Choice of switching frequency and inductance to give continuous current.
High switching frequencies are desirable to reduce the size of both the
inductor and the capacitor.
Tradeoff for high switching frequencies is increased power loss in the
switches.
Increased power loss in the switches means that heat is produced.
This decreases the converter’s efficiency and may require a large heat sink,
offsetting the reduction in size of the inductor and capacitor.
Typical switching frequencies are above 20 kHz to avoid audio noise, and they
extend well into the 100s of kilohertz and into the megahertz range.
Some designers consider about 500 kHz to be the best compromise between
small component size and efficiency.

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 2

Other designers prefer to use lower switching frequencies of about 50
kHz to keep switching losses small, while still others prefer
frequencies larger than 1 MHz.
As switching devices improve, switching frequencies will increase.
For low-voltage, high-current applications, the synchronous rectification
scheme of Fig. 6-7 is preferred over using a diode for the second switch.
The voltage across the conducting MOSFET will be much less than that across
a diode, resulting in lower losses.
The inductor value should be larger than Lmin in Eq. (6-14) to ensure
continuous current operation.

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 3

Some designers select a value 25 percent larger than Lmin.
Other designers use different criteria, such as setting the inductor current
variation, ΔiL in Eq. (6-15), to a desired value, such as 40 percent of the
average inductor current.
A smaller ΔiL results in lower peak and rms inductor currents and a lower rms
capacitor current but requires a larger inductor.
The inductor wire must be rated at the rms current, and the core should not
saturate for peak inductor current.
The capacitor must be selected to limit the output ripple to the design
specifications, to withstand peak output voltage, and to carry the required rms
current.
The switch (usually a MOSFET with a low RDSon) and diode (or second
MOSFET (synchronous rectification) must withstand maximum voltage stress
when off and maximum current when on.
The temperature ratings must not be exceeded, often requiring a heat sink.
Assuming ideal switches and inductor in the initial design is usually reasonable.
The ESR of the capacitor should be included because it typically gives a more
significant output voltage ripple than the ideal device and greatly influences the
choice of capacitor size.
Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 4
Buck Converter Design 1
Design a buck converter to produce an output voltage of 18 V across a
10-Ω load resistor. The output voltage ripple must not exceed 0.5 percent.
The dc supply is 48 V. Design for continuous inductor current. Specify
the duty ratio, the switching frequency, the values of the inductor and
capacitor, the peak voltage rating of each device, and the rms current in
the inductor and capacitor. Assume ideal components.

The switching frequency and

inductor size must be selected for
continuous-current operation.

Let the switching frequency arbitrarily be 40 kHz, which is well above the
audio range and is low enough to keep switching losses small.

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 5

Let the inductor be 25 percent larger than the minimum to ensure that
inductor current is continuous.
Average

The inductor must be rated for rms current, which is computed as in

Chap. 2 (see Example 2-8). For the offset triangular wave,

The capacitor is selected using Eq. (6-20).

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 6

 rms capacitor current for the triangular waveform is
The maximum voltage across the switch and diode is Vs, or 48 V.
The inductor voltage when the switch is closed is

The inductor voltage when the switch is open is Vo =18 V. Therefore, the
inductor must withstand 30 V.
The capacitor must be rated for the 18-V output.

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 7

Buck Converter Design 2. High currents at low voltages.
Example 6_3
Design a buck converter that has an input voltage of 3.3 V and an output
voltage of 1.2 V. The output current varies between 4 and 6 A. The output
voltage ripple must not exceed 2 percent. Specify the inductor value such that
the peak-to-peak variation in inductor current does not exceed 40 percent of
the average value. Determine the required rms current rating of the inductor
and of the capacitor. Determine the maximum equivalent series resistance of
the capacitor.
Because of the low voltage and high output current in this application, the
synchronous rectification buck converter of Fig. 6-7 is used.
The duty ratio is determined from Eq. (6-9).

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 8

The switching frequency and inductor size must be selected for
continuous-current operation.
Let the switching frequency arbitrarily be 500 kHz to give a good tradeoff
between small component size and low switching losses.
The average inductor current is the same as the output current. Analyzing
the circuit for an output current of 4 A,

Analyzing the circuit for an output current of 6 A,

Since 0.636 μ H would be too small for the 4-A output,

use L=0.955 μH, which would be rounded to 1μH.

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 9

Inductor rms current is determined from
(see Chap. 2)

From Eq. (6-15), the variation in inductor current is 1.6 A for each output
current
------ Eq. (6-15)

Using the 6-A output current, the inductor

must be rated for an rms current of
Note that the average inductor current would be a good approximation to the
rms current since the variation is relatively small.
Using L=1 μH in Eq. (6-20), the minimum capacitance is determined as

15.9

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 10

The allowable output voltage ripple of 2 percent is (0.02)(1.2)=24 mV.
The maximum ESR is computed from Eq. (6-23).

At this point, the designer would search manufacturer’s specifications for a

capacitor having 15-mΩ ESR.
The capacitor may have to be much larger than the calculated value of 15.9 μF
to meet the ESR requirement.
Peak capacitor current is ΔiL / 2 = 0.8 A,
and rms capacitor current for the triangular waveform is 0.8 / √3= 0.46 A.

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 11

6.5 THE BOOST CONVERTER
The boost converter is shown in Fig. 6-8.
This is another switching converter that operates by periodically opening and
closing an electronic switch.
It is called a boost converter because the output voltage is larger than the
input.

BOOST
Fig. 6-8

BUCK

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 12

 Voltage and Current Relationships
The analysis assumes the following:
1. Steady-state conditions exist.
2. The switching period is T, and the switch is closed for time DT and open
for (1- D)T.
3. The inductor current is continuous (always positive).
4. The capacitor is very large, and the output voltage is held constant at
voltage Vo.
5. The components are ideal.
The analysis proceeds by examining the inductor voltage and current for the
switch closed and again for the switch open.

BOOST

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 13

Analysis for the Switch Closed When the switch is closed, the diode
is reverse biased.
Kirchhoff’s voltage law around the path containing the source, inductor, and
closed switch is

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 14

 - +

The rate of change of

inductor current is constant

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 15

Analysis for the Switch Open When the switch is opened, the
inductor current cannot change instantaneously,
so the diode becomes forward-biased to provide a path for inductor current.
Assuming that the output
voltage Vo is a constant, the
voltage across the inductor - +
is

The rate of change of inductor current is

constant
- +

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 16

For steady-state operation, the net change in inductor current must be
zero. Using Eqs. (6-25) and (6-26),

Also, the average inductor voltage must be zero for periodic operation.
Expressing the average inductor voltage over one switching period,

Equation (6-27) shows that if the switch is always open and D is zero, the
output voltage is the same as the input.
As the duty ratio is increased, the denominator of Eq. (6-27) becomes smaller,
resulting in a larger output voltage.
The boost converter produces an output voltage that is greater than or equal to
the input voltage.
However, the output voltage cannot be less than
the input, as was the case with the buck converter.

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 17

As the duty ratio of the switch approaches 1, the output voltage goes to
infinity according to Eq. (6-27).
However, Eq. (6-27) is based on ideal components.
Real components that have losses will prevent such an occurrence, as shown
later in this section. input power

(1/R)

Boundary between continuous and discontinuous inductor current

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 18

Output Voltage Ripple. The peak-to-peak output voltage ripple can be
calculated from the capacitor current waveform, shown in Fig. 6-9d.
The change in capacitor charge can be calculated from

ripple voltage

Fig. 6-9d

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 19

Boost Converter Design 1 (EXAMPLE 6-4)
Design a boost converter that will have an output of 30 V from a 12-V
source. Design for continuous inductor current and an output ripple voltage
of less than one percent. The load is a resistance of 50 Ω. Assume ideal
components for this design.
If the switching frequency is selected at 25 kHz
To provide a margin to
ensure continuous
current, let L=120μ H.

Minimum capacitance for output ripple voltage = 1 percent

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 20

Boost Converter Design 2 (EXAMPLE 6-5)
A boost converter is required to have an output voltage of 8 V and supply a
load current of 1 A. The input voltage varies from 2.7 to 4.2 V. A control
circuit adjusts the duty ratio to keep the output voltage constant. Select the
switching frequency. Determine a value for the inductor such that the variation
in inductor current is no more than 40 percent of the average inductor current
for all operating conditions. Determine a value of an ideal capacitor such that
the output voltage ripple is no more than 2 percent. Determine the maximum
capacitor equivalent series resistance for a 2 percent ripple.
Somewhat arbitrarily, choose 200 kHz for the switching frequency.
For Vs = 2.7 V, the duty ratio is determined from Eq. (6-27).

Average inductor current is determined from Eq. (6-28).

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 21

The variation in inductor current to meet the 40 percent specification is
then
Repeating the calculations for Vs = 4.2V,

The variation in inductor current is

The inductor must be 13.1 μH to
satisfy the specifications for the total
range of input voltages.

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 22

The peak-to-peak variation in capacitor current is the same as
maximum inductor current. The average inductor current varies from

The variation in inductor current is 0.762 A for Vs= 4.2 A, but it must be
recalculated for Vs= 2.7 V using the 13.1-μH value selected, yielding

The output voltage ripple due to the capacitor ESR must be no more than
(0.02)(8)=0.16 V.

In practice, a capacitor that has an ESR of 48 mΩ or less could have a

capacitance value much larger than the 20.7 μF calculated.

Power Electronics by D. W. Hart Chapter 06 23