Fall 2013

EEE572 - Advanced Power Electronics

Raja Ayyanar

Solutions to Homework 1
Problem 1
Consider the waveform of some quantity x(t) vs. time shown in Fig. 1 in the context of a switch
mode dc-dc power converter. You may assume the components of the converter to be ideal.
x t

or A 6
4

2 s

5 s
Fig. 1

t
7 s

10 s

(a) The waveform x t cannot be the voltage across an inductor in steady-state since its

cycle-by-cycle average value ( x ) is not zero, whereas steady-state requires vL to be zero.

(b) The waveform x t can be that of the current through a 100H inductor in steady state.
The corresponding voltage across the same inductor can be calculated using the rising and falling
slopes as shown below.
Rising interval:
di
100
dt
Falling interval:
di
100
vL L
dt
vL L

2
100 V
2

2 66.67 V
3

vL t
100V

vL 0
0

66.67V

10

t s

(c) The waveform x t can be that of the voltage across a 100Fcapacitor in steady state. The
corresponding current through the same capacitor can be calculated using the rising and falling
slopes as shown below.
Rising interval:
dv
100
dt
Falling interval:
dv
iC C
100
dt
iC C

2
100 A
2

2 66.67
3

iC t
100 A

iC 0
0

10

66.67 A

t s

(d) The waveform x t cannot be the current through a capacitor in steady-state since its
cycle-by-cycle average value ( x ) is not zero, whereas steady-state requires iC to be zero.
(e) The waveform x t cannot be the voltage across a MOSFET in steady-state for a switch
mode converter, since it should be a switching waveform with close to zero volts when ON. For
similar reason, x t cannot also be the current through a MOSFET in a switch mode
converter, since it should be zero for a duration when the switch is off.
Problem 2

+
+

(a)

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

In the above circuits all the components are assumed ideal. The value of inductance is
25 H and the capacitance is 10 F . The switching frequency is 100 kHz and the duty
ratio is 0.5. Which of the above circuit(s) result in valid steady-state operation? Justify
your answers.

(b)

If the inductor is assumed to have a series resistance of 50 (all other components still
ideal), which of the above circuits will result in valid steady-state operation?
With RL = 0
With RL = 50
current
is
still
a When the switch is turned off, there is no path for Inductor
the inductor current. Inductor current cant be discontinuous, hence, circuit is not
discontinuous; hence the circuit is not valid. If the valid.
circuit is constructed practically, a very large
voltage will result at the turn-off instant, destroying
the switch.
b Turning on the switch results in short circuiting the Series resistance is not in the short
dc voltage source, through the diode and switch. circuit path; hence, the circuit is
Hence, not a valid circuit. It is also invalid due to still invalid.
two other reasons: the diode polarity prevents it
from supporting inductor current (if any) when
switch turns off, and any time a diode is in parallel
(either polarity) with an inductor, volt-second
balance cannot be achieved.
c The diode and switch provide a continuous path for With the introduction of the series
the inductor current. However, the diode across the resistance, negative voltage can be
inductor results in unipolar voltage being applied applied across the inductor during
across the inductor. Hence, volt-second balance is the switch OFF interval.
The
violated and the circuit will not reach steady state. negative voltage is the product of
The current will keep rising indefinitely.
resistance and the inductor current.
Volt-second balance can be
maintained leading to steady state
operation.
Notice that both during on and off
intervals, the circuit is a series R-L
circuit, with time constant less than
1/10th of ON or OFF interval.
d The series combination of diode and capacitor can The capacitor current is still
provide current continuity as well as volt-second unidirectional and the circuit
balance for the inductor. But, the diode in series remains invalid.
with the capacitor makes the capacitor current
unidirectional. Therefore, ampere-second balance
is violated for the capacitor, and the circuit is
invalid.
e The diode in series with the capacitor makes the The capacitor current is still
capacitor current unidirectional. Ampere-second unidirectional and the circuit
balance is violated and the circuit is invalid.
remains invalid.
The circuit is actually a boost converter, but with no
load. The capacitor keeps charging, and with no
load to discharge it, will eventually be destroyed.

Problem 3 (25 points)

For each of the circuits shown below, determine if steady state operation is possible. If yes,
calculate Vo in steady-state (for each). If not, explain why steady state operation is not possible.

(a)

5A

D = 0.4
f =100kHz

100m F

10W

Vo
_

Steady state operation is possible, since average current through the capacitor can be zero (due to
resistor across the capacitor) and the current source is never open circuited.

average diode current, iD = 5(1- D) = 50.6 = 3 A

In steady state, ic = 0 iR = iD = 3 A

\ Vo = R iR = 30V

(b)

Vin1 > Vin 2

+

Vin1
Vin 2

vA

Vo
_

When switch is ON, vA =Vin1 and when switch is OFF, vA = Vin 2 . Note that this is true only
when Vin1 >Vin 2 .

\ Vo = vA = DVin1 + (1- D)Vin 2

(c)

iin
+

D 0.4

24V

10
5

Valid
network

Vo

iin

6 A
4 A
0

10

t s

14

Steady state operation is possible, since average current through the capacitor can be zero (due to
resistor across the capacitor) and the voltage source is never short circuited. It is assumed that
there is no power loss in the valid network part.
iin 5 0.4 2 A
Since Vin is a constant,
pin Vin iin 24 2 48W
po pin 48W
Vo

po R 21.91V

(d)

10 F

24V

D 0.4

10 F

5 Vo

The above circuit does not result in steady-state, since the upper capacitor has a diode in series
and hence can have only uni-directional current. Average current through this capacitor is nonzero.

(e)

In the above circuit turn-on of the switch short circuits the large output capacitor resulting in
large current spikes, and hence the circuit is not valid.
(f)

This is a valid circuit since the output capacitor is no longer short circuited by the switch.
Inductor voltage can be positive and negative, and the capacitor current can be positive and
negative satisfying volt-sec balance and current-sec balance respectively.
vL 12 V when switch is on
= 12 Vo when switch is off (and diode conducts)

Applying volt-sec balance across the inductor,

12 0.6 (12 Vo ) 0.4 0
Vo 30 V