Advanced Power Electronics and Control

Isolated DC-DC Converters 2

Dr. Avik Bhattacharya

1
Fly Back Converter

2
 Fly Back Converter cont.

Waveform during continuous flux mode Waveform during discontinuous flux mode

3
 Fly Back Converter cont.
➢ As SMPS circuit is operated at higher frequency (in range of 100kHz), the input
voltage is considered of having constant frequency during any high frequency
cycle.
➢ To maintain desired output voltage, a fast switching device like MOSFET is used.
MOSFET has fast dynamic control over switch duty ratio.
➢ Transformer is used for isolation as well as to get required voltage and current in
output side according to input.
➢ 10 and 20 winding of transformer are maintained with good coupling, so that
they can be linked by nearly same magnetic flux.
➢ Fly back converter is called inductor transformer as 10 and 20 winding of it don’t
conduct simultaneously. They are more like two magnetically coupled inductor.

4
 Fly Back Converter cont.
➢ The output side of fly back converter is much simpler as for rectification and
filtering, only one diode and one capacitor are used.
➢ When ‘S’ is turned OFF, a snubber circuit is required to dissipate energy stored in
leakage inductance of 10 winding.
➢ The coupling between 10 and 20 is considered to be ideal, so circuit operation is
explained without considering winding leakage inductance.
➢ For simpler circuit analysis, ON state voltage drops of switches and diodes are
neglected. Transformer winding and core are also assumed to be loss less. Input
DC is assumed to be ripple free.

5
 Fly Back Converter cont.
Principle of operation
Mode-1

Current path during Mode-1 operation Equivalent circuit during Mode-1 operation

6
Mode-1 Fly Back Converter cont.
➢ When ‘S’ is ON, 10 winding of transformer gets connected to input supply. At this
time diode ‘D’, which is connected in series with 20 gets reverse biased due to
induced voltage in 20.
➢ Therefore during ON time interval of switch, current flows in 10 side and no
current is in 20 side.
➢ Flux generated is entirely due to current in 10 winding.
➢ During this MO=ode-1, input voltage appears across 10 winding inductance and
10 current rises linearly. So voltage expression can be
d
EDC = Lpri × ipri
dt
EDC → Input DC voltage
Lpri →Inductance of 10 winding
7
Mode-1 Fly Back Converter cont.
ipri → Instantaneous current through 10 winding
➢ Linear rise of current is shown in waveform.
➢ At the end of Mode-1, energy stored in magnetic field of Fly back transformer is
I2P
Lpri × . IP → magnitude of 10 current at the end of conduction period.
2
➢ During this mode, load current continues to flow due to charged capacitor.
➢ Assuming large capacitor, 20 winding voltage remains almost constant. i.e. 𝑉𝑠𝑒𝑐 =
𝑁
𝑉0 + 𝐸𝐷𝐶 × 2 .
𝑁1

8
Mode-2 Fly Back Converter cont.

Current path during Mode-2 operation Equivalent circuit during Mode-2 operation

9
Mode-2 Fly Back Converter cont.
➢ When ‘S’ is turned OFF, 10 winding current path is interrupted according to law of
magnetic induction. Voltage polarity across windings reverses.
➢ Polarity reversal in 20 winding leads to forward bias of diode. Therefore current
starts flowing in 20 circuit.
➢ In mode-2, as 10 circuit current stops due to turning OFF of ‘S’, 20 circuit current
starts flowing immediately to avoid net mmf change abruptly.
𝑁1
➢ In this mode 20 winding current rises from 0 to 𝐼𝑃 × . Rise of 20 winding current
𝑁2
is shown in waveform.
➢ To avoid any abrupt change in mmf produced by two windings, magnitude and
current direction in 20 winding is maintained properly.

10
Mode-2 Fly Back Converter cont.
➢ Capacitor is normally taken so large that one cycle does not affect it’s voltage.
But after several cycle of operation capacitor voltage builds up to it’s steady state
value.
➢ From the waveform, it is found that 20 winding current decays linearly as it flows
against constant output voltage (V0). So the expression can be
d
Lsec × isec = −V0
dt
Lsec → 20 winding inductance, isec →20 current
V0 → Stabilized magnitude of output voltage
N1
➢ So 10 winding voltage becomes V0 ×
N2
N1
➢ Voltage across switch: Vswitch = EDC + V0 ×
N2

11
Mode-3 Fly Back Converter cont.

Current path during Mode-3 operation Equivalent circuit during Mode-3 operation

12
Mode-3 Fly Back Converter cont.
➢ If OFF period of switch is large, 20 current gets sufficient time to decay to zero
and magnitude field energy is completely transferred to capacitor and load.
➢ Flux linked by winding remains zero until next turn ON of switch. This is called
discontinuous flux mode operation.
➢ But if OFF period is small, next turn ON of switch occurs before 20 current decays
to zero. It is called continuous mode operation.
➢ During discontinuous flux mode, after complete transfer of magnetic energy to
output, 20 emf as well as current falls to zero and diode in series with 20 winding
stops conducting.
➢ But during this period output capacitor manages to provide uninterrupted
output voltage. This is known as Mode-3 operation.
➢ Mode-3 operation ends with turn ON of ‘S’ and again cycle repeats.
13
 Fly Back Converter cont.
Advantages
➢ The main advantage is the output filter inductors vital for all forward topologies
which is not obligatory for fly back. This is because of the transformer in the fly
back acts as an inductor and not as a transformer.
➢ In many situations an LC filter is added in load side of fly back regulator for
condensing output voltage ripples.
➢ Voltage rating on secondary components is low.
Disadvantages
➢ More EMI due to the air gap.
➢ More ripple current.
➢ More output and input capacitance.
➢ Higher losses

14
Forward Type SMPS

15
Forward Type SMPS

16
 Forward Type SMPS cont.
➢ It is used for producing isolated and controlled DC voltage from unregulated DC
input supply.
➢ Energy efficiency of forward converter is more than Fly back converter. So it is
used for higher power output applications.
➢ But output filtering circuit of this type of converter is more complicated than Fly
back converter.
➢ Basic topology of forward converter is given in previous slide.
➢ It consists of a switch in series with 10 winding. Rectification and filtering circuits
are connected in 20 part of transformer. Load is connected across rectified
output of transformer.
➢ Here transformer used is desired to be an ideal transformer with no leakage flux,
zero magnetizing current and no losses to simplify the analysis.
17
 Forward Type SMPS cont.
Principle of operation
➢ This circuit is basically a DC-DC converter with isolation transformer to isolate
output from input and to provide scaling.
➢ When ‘S’ is ON , input DC gets applied to 10 winding for which a scaled voltage
also appears in transformer 20.
➢ Dotted side of both the windings will now carry positive polarity. Therefore D1
gets forward biased.
➢ So scaled input voltage is now applied to filter as well as load.
➢ 10 winding current enters through the dot where 20 winding current leaves the
dot.
➢ Magnitude of current is inversely proportional to turns ratio.

18
 Forward Type SMPS cont.
Principle of operation
➢ As transformer used here is ideal, net magnetizing amp-turns of transformer is
zero. No energy is stored in transformer core.
➢ When ‘S’ is turned OFF, 10 and 20 current suddenly comes to zero.
➢ Current through the filter inductor and load continues to flow without any
abrupt change due to inductive property.
➢ At this time diode D2 provides free wheeling path to inductive current.
➢ Filter inductor current starts decreasing during free wheeling period, as it flows
against output voltage (V0). But due to presence of large capacitor C , output
voltage (V0) is maintained constant.
➢ The ripple in output voltage should be in acceptable limits.

19
 Forward Type SMPS cont.
Principle of operation
➢ The switching frequency is generally kept very high, such that next switching
takes place before inductor current decays to zero.
➢ For simplifying the analysis, ON state voltage drops of switches and diodes are
neglected. Leakage current through devices during OFF state is also assumed to
be zero.
➢ The transformer used in the circuit is assumed to be ideal with no magnezing
current, no leakage inductance and no losses.
➢ All the filter circuit elements i.e. inductors and capacitors are assumed to be loss
less.
➢ Input and output DC voltages are assumed to be constant and ripple free.
➢ All the analysis is done considering circuit is in steady state condition.
20
 Forward Type SMPS cont.
Mode-1

Current path during Mode-1 operation Equivalent circuit during Mode-1 operation

21
Mode-1 Forward Type SMPS cont.
➢ It starts when ‘S’ is ON. So input voltage EDC is connected to primary winding.
➢ Both 10 and 20 winding starts conducting at a time, when ‘S’ is ON.
➢ 10 and 20 currents and voltages are calculated by considering turns ratio (NP/NS)
as in ideal transformer.
➢ When ‘S’ is closed D1 in 20 circuit is forward biased and 20 winding voltage is 10
voltage scaled by turns ratio.
➢ D2 remains reverse biased in mode-1 condition.
➢ From the equivalent circuit, it is clear that during mode-1 condition voltage
across L-C filter and load voltage is EDC(NS/NP).
➢ EDC(NS/NP) is the maximum voltage across load considering duty ratio ‘1’.
➢ Mode-1 is called powering mode as input power is transferred to load.

22
Mode-2 Forward Type SMPS cont.

Current path during Mode-2 operation Equivalent circuit during Mode-2 operation

23
Mode-2 Forward Type SMPS cont.
➢ When ‘S’ is turned OFF, 10 and 20 winding currents of transformer becomes zero.
➢ But 20 side filter inductor maintains continuous current through free wheeling
diode D2.
➢ D1 is reverse biased during this mode and input is isolated from output.
➢ Inductor current flows through parallel combination of load and output
capacitor.
➢ During this mode, there is no power flow from source to load but output voltage
is maintained constant due to large capacitor C.
➢ As charged inductor and capacitor is used in circuit, it provides continuity in load
voltage. But in this mode, as there is no input voltage involvement, capacitor
voltage and inductor current starts decreasing.
➢ Therefore to maintain continuity in output voltage ‘S’ is turned ON again.
24
Mode-2 Forward Type SMPS cont.
➢ To maintain load voltage within desired tolerance band, filter inductor and
capacitor value should be sufficiently large. But it should not be that much
unnecessarily large that, it can increase cost and size of filter. So the design
should be accordingly.
➢ All the design should be done at high frequency to reduce the size of the filter
circuit.
➢ Switching frequency of typical forward converter is 100kHz or more.

25
Advantages
Forward Type SMPS cont.
➢ Better transformer utilization: Forward converter transfers energy instantly
across the transformer and does not rely on energy storage. The resulting lower
peak currents in primary as well as secondary means lower copper losses
compared to fly back. The transformer can be made more ideal with much higher
magnetizing inductance and no air gap.
➢ Filtered output: Energy storage is mainly in the output inductor and the output
capacitor can be made fairly small with a much lower ripple current rating. The
output inductor and freewheeling diode keeps the output current fairly constant
and the secondary ripple current is dramatically reduced and its main purpose is
to reduce output voltage ripple.
➢ Due to much larger magnetizing inductance lower active device peak current.

26
 Forward Type SMPS cont.
Disadvantages
➢ Increased cost: the additional output electrical device and freewheeling diode is
needed.
➢ Minimum load requirements: significantly with multiple outputs, the gain
dramatically changes if device goes into DCM operation (at lightweight loads).
➢ Higher voltage demand for the MOSFET, which frequently discourages use in off-
line applications that has got to work on 230V grids.

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Push-Pull Converter

28
 Push-Pull Converter cont.
➢ A push-pull converter is a transformer isolated converter, based on basic forward
topology. Basic topology and waveform is shown in fig.
➢ The high voltage DC is switched through center tapped 10 of the transformer by
two switches Q1 and Q2 during alternate half cycles.
➢ Q1 and Q2 create pulsating voltage at the transformer 10 winding.
➢ Transformer is used to step down the voltage and as well as to isolate output
from input.
➢ In push-pull topology, there is a center tapped 10 and a center tapped 20.
➢ Q1 and Q2 are given pulses by control circuit in such a way that, it should create
equal and opposite flux in transformer core.

29
 Push-Pull Converter cont.
Operation Principle
Mode-1
➢ In steady state operation, when Q1 is ON, dot end becomes positive. D5 becomes
reverse biased and D6 becomes forward biased.
➢ Therefore output load current (IL) flows through D6, NS2, inductor and capacitor.
➢ As input voltage is applied to 10, a scaled input voltage appears in 20.
➢ The voltage difference between 20 and output is applied to inductor L in forward
direction. Therefore inductor current value increases from IL1 to IL2 as shown in
waveform.

30
 Mode-2 Push-Pull Converter cont.
➢ At the end of TON period, switch Q1 is turned OFF till TS.
➢ Q2 is turned ON after half of the full time period TS i.e. at TS/2 as shown in
waveform.
➢ When Q1 is turned OFF, body diode of switch provides path for leakage energy
stored in 10 winding. Also output filter diode D5 gets forward biased.
➢ As D5 gets forward biased, half of the inductor current of NS1 flows through D5
and another half inductor current of NS2 flows through D6.
➢ This results in equal and opposite voltages appear in transformer 20 assuming
both the 20 have same number of turns.
➢ Therefore net voltage applied across transformer 20 during TOFF period is zero.
➢ Output voltage ( V0) is applied to inductor L in reverse direction when both
switches are OFF. Thus inductor current (IL) decreases linearly from IL2 to IL1.
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 Push-Pull Converter cont.
Voltage rating of switch
➢ During TON period of any switch, Vin is applied to half of the transformer 10 and
equal voltage is induced to other half of 10 winding.
➢ Therefore twice of the input voltage is applied to the half switch.
➢ So switches used in push-pull converter should be rated twice of the input
voltage.
➢ In practical cases voltage rating of switches should be 20% more than theoretical
value.
Output and input relationship
➢ In steady state condition, output voltage can be
NS
Vout = Vin . 2. D , Where D= TONൗT = Duty ratio
NP

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Advantages
Push-Pull Converter cont.
➢ To drive MOSFETs push pull does not necessitate an isolated power supply.
➢ Peak current sensing is required so that core does not drift into saturation.
➢ Push-Pull is used for far-away access latch release cables and security break
cables.
➢ 7V nineteen cables are extremely flexible making them ideal for pull
assemblies.
➢ Push-pull converter is of low cost.
➢ Transformer rating required is smaller than the forward converter.
Disadvantages
➢ Push-pull uses two switches which are not widely used in flux walking
phenomena.
➢ Central tap transformer is used is one of the main disadvantages.
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Half bridge Converter

34
 Half bridge Converter cont.
➢ Half bridge converter is transformer isolated converter based on basic forward
topology.
➢ One leg of converter is formed by switch Q1 and Q2 and remaining half of the
converter is formed by capacitor C3 and C4. Therefore it is called half bridge
converter.
➢ Q1 and Q2 create pulsating AC at transformer 10. Transformer is used to step
down pulsating 10 voltage and to provide isolation between input and output.
➢ During steady state condition, C3and C4 are charged to equal voltages. So the
junction between C3 and C4 carry half of the input voltage potential.

35
 Half bridge Converter cont.
Operation Principle
Mode-1
➢ When Q1 is ON, dot end of transformer 10 is connected to positive Vin and
voltage across C4 (VC4) is applied to transformer 10. So half of the input voltage
is applied to 10 when Q1 is ON.
➢ In this mode D4 becomes reverse biased and D3 becomes forward biased which
carry full inductor current through 20 winding NS1.
➢ Difference between scaled input voltage applied to 20 and output voltage (V0) is
applied to inductor L in forward direction. Therefore inductor current (IL) rises
linearly from IL1 to IL2.
➢ During this mode, the sum of scaled 20 current and 10 magnetizing current flows
through switch Q1.

36
 Half bridge Converter cont.
Mode-2
➢ This mode starts with end of TON period.
➢ In this mode Q1 is turned OFF till end of switching cycle TS.
➢ Q2 is turned ON after half of the switching period TS/2. Therefore during TOFF
period, for some time both the switches are OFF as shown in waveform.
➢ When Q1 is OFF, body diode of Q2 provides path for leakage energy stored in
transformer 10 and D4 becomes forward biased.
➢ As D4 becomes forward biased, half of the inductor current flows through D4,
NS2 and other half of inductor current flows through D3 and NS1.
➢ Therefore equal and opposite voltage is applied to both transformer 20 winding
assuming both windings have same number of turns. As a result net voltage
across transformer 20 is zero. This maintains flux constant.

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 Half bridge Converter cont.
Mode-2
➢ Output voltage (V0) is applied to L in reverse direction when both switches are
OFF. Therefore IL decreases from IL2 to IL1.
➢ Body diode of Q1 and Q2 provide path for transformer leakage energy.
➢ After TS/2, when Q2 is turned ON, dot end of 10 is connected to negative of Vin
and voltage across C3 (VC3) is applied to transformer 10. Therefore half of the
input voltage is applied to transformer 10 in reverse direction when Q2 is ON.
➢ To avoid magnetic saturation of core, let’s assume number of turns of NS1 and
NS2 are same and TON period of both switches are same.
➢ After TON period Q2 turns OFF till TS.

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Advantages Half bridge Converter cont.
➢ Magnetic cores are small.
➢ No gap of magnetic path.
➢ Less stray magnetic field.
Disadvantages
➢ They are functioning at 1/2 the supply potential where the switching transistors
are operational two times the collector current as in comparison with the basic
push-pull scheme.
➢ It is not suitable for current mode control.

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Full bridge Converter

Output inductor
and rectifier diode
current

40
 Full bridge Converter cont.
➢ A full bridge converter is a transformer isolated buck converter. The basic
diagram and waveform is shown in previous slide.
➢ As from the schematic diagram, shape of full bridge converter looks like H-
shaped, it is also known as H-bridge converter.
Basic Operation
➢ Transformer 10 is connected between two legs formed by switches Q1, Q4 and
Q3, Q2.
➢ All 4 switches create pulsating AC voltage at transformer 10. Transformer is also
used to step down pulsating 10 voltage as well as to provide isolation between
input and output.
➢ Unlike half bridge topology, in full bridge topology, voltage applied on 10 when
either of the switches is ON, is half of the input voltage with twice of the
switching current.
41
 Full bridge Converter cont.
➢ Here voltage stress of the switch is twice of the input voltage. So this topology
is not suitable for high power (>500 watt) applications.
➢ Q1, Q2 and Q3, Q4 are switched alternatively at selected switching period.
Operation Principle
Mode-1
➢ When Q1, Q2 are ON for TON period, dot end at winding becomes positive w.r.t
not dot end.
➢ In this mode D4 becomes reverse biased and D3 becomes forward biased.
➢ D3 carries full load current through transformer 20 winding NS1.
➢ As in this mode input voltage is applied across transformer 10, the switch carries
reflected load current as well as transformer 10 magnetizing current.
➢ The difference between 10 scaled voltage to 20 and output voltage is applied to
inductor L in forward direction.
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 Full bridge Converter cont.
Mode-2
➢ At the end of ON period, switch Q1, Q2 are turned OFF and remains in this state
till rest of switching period TS.
➢ In this mode Q3, Q4 are turned ON after half of the switching period TS.
➢ In this mode Q3,Q4 are turned ON after half of the switching period TS/2.
Therefore during TOFF period all 4 switches are OFF for some time.
➢ When Q1, Q2 are OFF, body diode of switching pair Q3, Q4 provide the path for
leakage energy stored in transformer 10.
➢ In this mode, output rectifier diode D4 becomes forward biased and it carries
half of inductor current through transformer 20 NS2. Another half of inductor
current is carried by D3 through transformer 20 NS1. Therefore net voltage
applied across 20 during TOFF period is zero.
➢ This keeps flux density in transformer core constant.
43
 Full bridge Converter cont.
Mode-2
➢ After TS/2 when Q3, Q4 are ON, the dot end of 10 becomes negative w.r.t non
dot end.
➢ In this condition D3 becomes reverse biased and D4 becomes forward biased. So
D4 carries full load current through 20 winding NS2.
➢ As input voltage is applied across transformer 10, switches carry scaled load
current with transformer 10 magnetizing current.
➢ As input voltage is applied to transformer in reverse direction, flux density of
core changes from final to initial value.
➢ The difference between 10 scaled voltage to 20 and output voltage is applied to
inductor L in forward direction.

44
 Full bridge Converter cont.
Mode-2
➢ Assuming number of 20 winding turns of NS1, NS2 are equal and to avoid
magnetic saturation in transformer core, TON period of Q1,Q2 and Q3,Q4 are kept
same.
➢ After TON period of Q3,Q4, it remains OFF till end of TS.
➢ During switching ON period of one pair of switch, the switching stress over
other pair of switch is entire input voltage (Vin)
Vout-Vin relationship
➢ Assuming continuous conduction mode, relation between input and output
voltage is given by
N
Vout = 2. Vin ( S ) .D
NP
Where D = TON/T = duty ratio
45
Advantages Full bridge Converter cont.
➢ Full bridge is used in application of high voltage requirement.
➢ Full bridge has slightly more voltage ripple than the half-bridge.
➢ Full bridge uses four diodes, in its place of just clipping off half the wave, it
changes the polarity of half wave.
Disadvantages
➢ Full bridge has an efficiency of 95% and the half-bridge an efficiency of 99% and
therefore it is slightly more efficient than the full-bridge.
➢ Full bridge electrical converter is analogous to the Half bridge inverter, however
it's an extra segment to attach the ground point to the load.
➢ Full bridge would have larger losses and noise than the Half bridge as a result of
the Full bridge having more switching elements.

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