2.2.

Inductor volt-second balance, capacitor charge balance, and the small ripple approximation
Actual output voltage waveform, buck converter
1

iL(t)

L + vL(t) iC(t) R + v(t)

Buck converter containing practical low-pass filter

Vg

Actual output voltage waveform

v(t) = V + vripple(t)

v(t)
V

Actual waveform v(t) = V + vripple(t)

dc component V
0

t
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Chapter 2: Principles of steady-state converter analysis

The small ripple approximation

v(t) Actual waveform v(t) = V + vripple(t)

v(t) = V + vripple(t)

dc component V
0

In a well-designed converter, the output voltage ripple is small. Hence, the waveforms can be easily determined by ignoring the ripple:

vripple < V
v(t) V

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

Chapter 2: Principles of steady-state converter analysis

Buck converter analysis: inductor current waveform

1

iL(t)

L + vL(t) iC(t) R + v(t)

original converter

Vg

switch in position 1
iL(t) L + vL(t) Vg + C iC(t) R v(t) +

switch in position 2
L + vL(t) Vg + iL(t) C + iC(t) R v(t)

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

Chapter 2: Principles of steady-state converter analysis

Inductor voltage and current Subinterval 1: switch in position 1

Inductor voltage
vL = Vg v(t)
Vg + iL(t) L + vL(t) iC(t) C R v(t) +

Small ripple approximation:

vL Vg V

Knowing the inductor voltage, we can now find the inductor current via
vL(t) = L diL(t) dt

Solve for the slope: diL(t) vL(t) Vg V = L L dt

The inductor current changes with an essentially constant slope

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Chapter 2: Principles of steady-state converter analysis

Inductor voltage and current Subinterval 2: switch in position 2

L

Inductor voltage
+ vL(t)

+ iC(t) C R v(t)

vL(t) = v(t)

Small ripple approximation:

vL(t) V

Vg

iL(t)

Knowing the inductor voltage, we can again find the inductor current via
vL(t) = L diL(t) dt

Solve for the slope:

diL(t) V L dt

The inductor current changes with an essentially constant slope

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Chapter 2: Principles of steady-state converter analysis

Inductor voltage and current waveforms

vL(t)

Vg V DTs D ' Ts V t 1

Switch position:
iL(t) I iL(0) 0
Fundamentals of Power Electronics

1
iL(DTs)
Vg V L

vL(t) = L

diL(t) dt

iL
V L

DTs
12

Ts

Chapter 2: Principles of steady-state converter analysis

Determination of inductor current ripple magnitude

iL(t) I iL(0) 0 iL(DTs)
Vg V L V L

iL

DTs

Ts

(change in iL) = (slope)(length of subinterval) Vg V DTs 2iL = L

Vg V iL = DTs 2L

Vg V L= DTs 2iL

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Chapter 2: Principles of steady-state converter analysis

Inductor current waveform during turn-on transient

iL(t)

iL(Ts) iL(0) = 0 0 DTs Ts 2Ts

V g v( t ) L v( t ) L

iL(nTs)

iL((n + 1)Ts)

nTs

(n + 1)Ts

When the converter operates in equilibrium:

i L((n + 1)Ts) = i L(nTs)

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Chapter 2: Principles of steady-state converter analysis

The principle of inductor volt-second balance: Derivation

Inductor defining relation: di (t) vL(t) = L L dt Integrate over one complete switching period:
iL(Ts) iL(0) = 1 L
Ts Ts

vL(t) dt
0

In periodic steady state, the net change in inductor current is zero:

0=
0

vL(t) dt

Hence, the total area (or volt-seconds) under the inductor voltage waveform is zero whenever the converter operates in steady state. An equivalent form:
s 1 0= v (t) dt = vL Ts 0 L The average inductor voltage is zero in steady state.

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Chapter 2: Principles of steady-state converter analysis

Inductor volt-second balance: Buck converter example

vL(t) Vg V Total area t V
Integral of voltage waveform is area of rectangles:
Ts

Inductor voltage waveform, previously derived:

DTs

=
0

vL(t) dt = (Vg V )(DTs) + ( V )(D'Ts)

Average voltage is vL = = D(Vg V ) + D'( V ) Ts Equate to zero and solve for V:

0 = DVg (D + D')V = DVg V
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V = DVg

Chapter 2: Principles of steady-state converter analysis

The principle of capacitor charge balance: Derivation

Capacitor defining relation: dv (t) i C (t ) = C C dt Integrate over one complete switching period:
vC(Ts) vC(0) = 1 C
Ts

iC(t) dt
0

In periodic steady state, the net change in capacitor voltage is zero:

0= 1 Ts
Ts

iC(t) dt = iC
0

Hence, the total area (or charge) under the capacitor current waveform is zero whenever the converter operates in steady state. The average capacitor current is then zero.

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Chapter 2: Principles of steady-state converter analysis