Topologies for Switch Mode Power Supplies

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Topologies for Switch Mode Power Supplies APPLICATION NOTE TOPOLOGIES FOR SWITCHED MODE POWER SUPPLIES by L. Wuidart I INTRODUCTION This paper presents an overview of the most the rectifier, different types of voltage important DC-DC converter topologies. The converters can be made: main object is to guide the designer in selecting the topology with its associated power - Step down “Buck” regulator semiconductor devices. - Step up “Boost” regulator The DC-DC converter topologies can be divided in two major parts, depending on - Step up / Step down “Buck - Boost” regulator whether or not they have galvanic isolation between the input supply and the output II - 1 The “Buck” converter: Step down circuitry. voltage regulator II NON - ISOLATED SWITCHING REGULATORS The circuit diagram, often referred to as a “chopper” circuit, and its principal waveforms According to the position of the switch and are represented in figure 1: AN513/0393 1/18 APPLICATION NOTE Figure 1: The step down “Buck” regulator ∆ The power device is switched at a ≥ * Rectifier: VRRM Vin max frequency f = 1/T with a conduction duty δ I ≥ I (1-δ) cycle, = ton/T. The output voltage can also F(AV) out δ be expressed as: Vout = Vin . Device selection: * Power switch: Vcev or VDSS > Vin max ∆I I or I > I + cmax D max out 2 2/18 APPLICATION NOTE II.2 The “Boost” converter: Step up voltage regulator Figure 2 : The step up “Boost” regulator ton δ = T ∆ In normal operation, the energy is fed from Device selection: the inductor to the load, and then stored in the * Power switch: output capacitor. For this reason, the output Vcev or VDSS > Vout capacitor is stressed a lot more than in the I ∆I Buck converter. I or I > out + cmax Dmax 1-δ 2 V in * Rectifier: V > V V = RRM out out 1-δ > IF(av) Iout 3/18 APPLICATION NOTE II - 3 “Buck-Boost converter: Step up/Step down voltage regulator Figure 3 : The step up/step down “Buck-Boost” regulator i L ∆ For a duty cycle under 0.5 the conversion * Rectifier: works in step down mode, for a duty cycle V > V + V over 0.5, the converter then operates in the RRM inmax out step up mode. IF (av) > Iout V .δ V = in out 1-δ Device selection: * Power switch : Vcevmax or VDSS > Vinmax + Vout I ∆I I or I > out + cmax Dmax 1-δ 2 4/18 APPLICATION NOTE II.4 Summery STEP DOWN STEP UP STEP UP/DOWN V V . δ δ [-V .δ ] / [1- δ ] out in Vin/1- in RMS low high high current in Cout Supplied input discontinuous continuous discontinuous current Gate drive floating grounded floating III - ISOLATED CONVERTERS: is asymmetrical if the magnetic operating point of the transformer remains in the same The isolated converters can be classified quadrant. Any other converter is, of course, according to their magnetic cycle swing in the called symmetrical. B-H plot (see figure 4). An isolated converter Figure 4 : B-H plot of symmetrical converters 5/18 APPLICATION NOTE III - 1 Asymmetrical converters V δ V = in ⋅ out n 1-δ III - 1.1 Off-line flyback regulators The energy is stored in the primary Lp Off-line flyback regulators are mainly used inductance of the transformer during the for an output power ranging from 30W up to time the power switch is on, and transferred 250W. Flyback topology is dedicated to to the secondary output when the power multiple low cost output SMPS as there is switch is off. If n = Np / Ns is the turns ratio no filter inductor on the output. of the transformer we have: Figure 5 : Isolated single switch flyback R-C-D SNUBBER NETWORK *Power switch: ≥ VCEV or VDSS Vinmax + nVout + leakage inductance spike * Secondary Rectifier: V V ≥ V + inmax RRM out n 6/18 APPLICATION NOTE a. Single switch versus double switch In a double switch flyback, the leakage flyback inductance of the power transformer is much less critical (see figure 6). The two In the single switch flyback, an overvoltage demagnetization diodes (D1 and D2) provide spike is applied across the power switch at a single non dissipative way to systematically each turn off. The peak value of this clamp the voltage across the switches to the overvoltage depends upon the switching time, input DC voltage Vin. This energy recovery the circuit capacitance and the primary to system allows us to work at higher secondary transformer leakage inductance. switching frequencies and with a better So, a single switch flyback nearly always efficiency than that of the single switch requires a snubber circuit limiting this structure. However, the double switch voltage spike (see figure 5). structure requires driving a high side switch. This double switch flyback is also known as asymmetrical half bridge flyback. Figure 6: Isolated double switch flyback * Power switch: ≥ VCEV or VDSS Vinmax * Primary Rectifiers: D3 and D4 ≥ VRRM Vinmax 7/18 APPLICATION NOTE b. Discontinuous versus continuous mode inductance of the transformer is completely flyback demagnetized or not. The flyback converter has two operating modes depending whether the primary Discontinuous mode ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES - High peak currents in rectifiers and power - Zero turn-on losses for the power switch switches - Good transient line/load response ≈ ⋅ - Large output ripple: Cout (disc.) 2 Cout (cont.) - Feedback loop (single pole) easy to stabilize - Recovery time rectifier not critical: current is zero well before reverse voltage is applied Figure 7: Discontinuous mode flyback waveforms 2P 2P * Power switch: I ≥ out * Rectifier: I ≥ out Cpeak ηV δ Fpeak ( δ inmin max Vout 1- max) 2Pout P I ≥ I ≥ out Drms η δ F(AV) Vinmin (3 max) Vout 8/18 APPLICATION NOTE Continuous mode ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES - Peak current of rectifier and switch is half - Recovery time rectifier losses the value of discontinuous mode - Low output ripple: -Feedback loop difficult to stabilize (2 poles ≈ and right half plane zero) Cout (cont.) 0.5 Cout (disc.) Figure 8: Continuous mode flyback waveforms ∆ 9/18 APPLICATION NOTE * Power switch: in single switches, and up to 1kW in double switch structures. 2Poutmax I ≥ Single switch vs. double switch forward Cpeak η δ max Vinmin (1+A ) In the single switch forward, the magnetizing 2P (1 + A + A2 ) I ≥ out energy stored in the primary inductance Drms η 3δ is restored to the input source by Vinmin max a demagnetization winding Nd. Most commonly, the primary and the demagnetization windings have the same * Rectifier: number of turns. So, at turn-off, the power switch has to 2P withstand twice the input voltage during the ≥ out IFpeak demagnetization time, and then, once the δ Vout (1 - max )(1+A ) input voltage (see figure 9). The demagnetization and primary windings P have to be tightly coupled to reduce the ≥ out IF(AV) voltage spike - more than the theoretical 2 Vin Vout - occuring at turn-off across the power switch. I − ∆I with A ≥ = peak I peak III - 1.2 Off line forward regulators The forward converter transfers directly the energy from the input source to the load during the on-time of the power switch. During off-time of the power switch, the energy is freewheeling through the output inductor and the rectifier D2, like in a chopper (see figure 1). V V = δ ⋅ in out n A forward regulator can be realized with a single switch structure or with a double switch structure, according to the way the energy stored in the transformer primary inductance is demagnetized. Forward converters are commonly used for output power up to 250W 10/18 APPLICATION NOTE Figure 9: Isolated single switch forward ∆ 11/18 APPLICATION NOTE * Power switch: N p ≥ [1 + ] + leakage inductance spike VCEV or VDSS Vinmax Nd 1.2.Pout I ≥ cpeak η δ Vinmin . max 1.2.Pout I ≥ Drms η δ Vinmin . max *Rectifiers: N ≥ s VRRM Vinmax . + leakage inductance spike FORWARD D1: Nd ≥ δ IF(av) Iout . max Vinmax . (Vout + VF) V ≥ RRM δ FREEWHEELING D2: Vinmin . max ≥ IF(av) Iout N d V V ≥ 1 + inmax RRM N DEMAGNETIZATION D3: p I magnpeak δ I ≥ . max F(av) 2 12/18 APPLICATION NOTE In the "double switch forward", also called 1.2.P ≥ out asymmetrical half bridge forward, the IDrms η δ magnetizing energy stored in the primary Vinmin . max inductance is automatically returned to the bulk capacitor by the two demagnetization * Rectifiers: diodes D1 and D2. Vinmax (Vout + VF) The two power switches and demagnetisation V ≥ RRM δ diodes have to withstand only once the input FORWARD D1: Vinmin . max voltage V . As for the double switch flyback, in I ≥ I .δ the asymmetrical half bridge needs a F(av) out max floating gate drive for the high side switch. * Power switch: V ≥ V (V + V ) FREEWHEELING RRM inmax out F ≥ D2: ≥ VCEV or VDSS Vinmax IF(av) Iout Figure 10: Half bridge asymmetrical forward converter ∆ 13/18 APPLICATION NOTE III - 2 Symmetrical converters III - 2.1 Push/Pull converter This type of converter always uses an even T1 and T2 switches (see figure 11) are number of switches. It also better exploits alternately turned-on during a time ton. The the transformer’s magnetic circuit than in secondary circuit operates at twice the asymmetrical converters. So, smaller size switching frequency. and weight can be achieved. A deadtime td between the end of conduction of one switch and the turn-on time of the The three most common structures used other one is required in order to avoid are: simultaneous conduction of the two switches. δ Vin - PUSH/PULL Vout = 2 - HALF BRIDGE with capacitors n - FULL BRIDGE Moreover, the snubber network in symmetrical converters must be carefully designed, since they inter-react with one another.
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