244   Chapter 5    DC–DC Converters

Condition for continuous current: For I1 Ú 0, Eq. (5.25) gives

e kz - 1 E
a z - b Ú 0
e - 1 Vs

which gives the value of the load electromotive force (emf) ratio x = E/Vs as

E e kz - 1
x = … z (5.31)
Vs e - 1

Example 5.2 Finding the Currents of a Dc Converter with an RL Load

A converter is feeding an RL load as shown in Figure 5.4 with Vs = 220 V, R = 5 Ω, L = 7.5 mH,
f = 1 kHz, k = 0.5, and E = 0 V. Calculate (a) the minimum instantaneous load current I1,
(b) the peak instantaneous load current I2, (c) the maximum peak-to-peak load ripple current,
(d) the average value of load current Ia, (e) the rms load current Io, (f) the effective input resis-
tance Ri seen by the source, (g) the rms chopper current IR, and (h) the critical value of the load
inductance for continuous load current. Use PSpice to plot the load current, the supply current,
and the freewheeling diode current.

Solution
Vs = 220 V, R = 5 Ω, L = 7.5 mH, E = 0 V, k = 0.5, and f = 1000 Hz. From Eq. (5.23),
I2 = 0.7165I1 + 12.473 and from Eq. (5.24), I1 = 0.7165I2 + 0.
a. Solving these two equations yields I1 = 18.37 A.
b. I2 = 25.63 A.
c. ∆I = I2 - I1 = 25.63 - 18.37 = 7.26 A. From Eq. (5.29), ∆I max = 7.26 A and
Eq. (5.30) gives the approximate value, ∆I max = 7.33 A.
d. The average load current is, approximately,

I2 + I1 25.63 + 18.37
Ia = = = 22 A
2 2

e. Assuming that the load current rises linearly from I1 to I2, the instantaneous load cur-
rent can be expressed as
∆It
i1 = I1 + for 0 6 t 6 kT
kT
The rms value of load current can be found from

kT 1/2 1I2 - I1 2 2 1/2

kT L0
1
Io = a i21 dtb = c I 21 + + I1 1I2 - I1 2 d  (5.32)
3
  = 22.1 A

f. The average source current

Is = kIa = 0.5 * 22 = 11 A

and the effective input resistance Ri = Vs/Is = 220/11 = 20 Ω.

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 5.4   Step-Down Converter with RL Load   245

30 A

Probe Cursor
SEL A1  9.509m, 25.455
0A A2  9.0000m, 17.960
I(R) dif  508.929u, 7.4948
30 A

0A
- I(Vs)
30 A

0A
0s 5 ms 10 ms
I(Dm)
Time

Figure 5.6
SPICE plots of load, input, and diode currents for Example 5.2.

g. The rms converter current can be found from

kT 1/2 1I2 - I1 2 2 1/2

T L0
1
IR = a i21 dtb = 1k c I 21 + + I1 1I2 - I1 2 d  (5.33)
3
= 1kIo = 10.5 * 22.1 = 15.63 A

h. We can rewrite Eq. (5.31) as

e kz - 1
VS a b = E
ez - 1
which, after iteration, gives, z = TR/L = 52.5 and L = 1 ms * 5/52.5 = 0.096 mH.
The SPICE simulation results [32] are shown in Figure 5.6, which shows the load cur-
rent I(R), the supply current - I 1Vs 2 , and the diode current I(Dm). We get I1 = 17.96 A
and I2 = 25.46 A.

Example 5.3 Finding the Load Inductance to Limit the Load Ripple Current
The converter in Figure 5.4 has a load resistance R = 0.25 Ω, input voltage Vs = 550 V,
and ­battery voltage E = 0 V. The average load current Ia = 200 A and chopping frequency
f = 250 Hz. Use the average output voltage to calculate the load inductance L, which would
limit the maximum load ripple current to 10% of Ia.

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 246   Chapter 5    DC–DC Converters

Solution
Vs = 550 V, R = 0.25 Ω, E = 0 V, f = 250 Hz, T = 1/f = 0.004 s, and ∆i = 200 * 0.1 = 20 A.
The average output voltage Va = kVs = RIa. The voltage across the inductor is given by

di
L = Vs - RIa = Vs - kVs = Vs 11 - k2
dt

If the load current is assumed to rise linearly, dt = t 1 = kT and di = ∆i:

Vs 11 - k2
∆i = kT
L

For the worst-case ripple conditions,

d1 ∆i2
= 0
dk

This gives k = 0.5 and

∆i L = 20 * L = 55011 - 0.52 * 0.5 * 0.004

and the required value of inductance is L = 27.5 mH.

Note: For ∆I = 20 A, Eq. (5.27) gives z = 0.036 and L = 27.194 mH.

Key Points of Section 5.4

• An inductive load can make the load current continuous. However, the critical
value of inductance, which is required for continuous current, is influenced by
the load emf ratio. The peak-to-peak load current ripple becomes maximum at
k = 0.5.

5.5 Principle of Step-Up Operation

A converter can be used to step up a dc voltage and an arrangement for step-up opera-
tion is shown in Figure 5.7a. When switch SW is closed for time t1, the inductor current
rises and energy is stored in the inductor L. If the switch is opened for time t2, the
energy stored in the inductor is transferred to load through diode D1 and the induc-
tor current falls. Assuming a continuous current flow, the waveform for the inductor
­current is shown in Figure 5.7b.
When the converter is turned on, the voltage across the inductor is

di
vL = L
dt

and this gives the peak-to-peak ripple current in the inductor as

Vs
∆I = t (5.34)
L 1

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