MC33272A OP-AMP | PartQuest™ Explore

TDFS Input Impedance of Step-Down (Buck) DC to DC Converter - Switching

Designer19

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Member of the PartQuest Explore Development Team. Focused on modeling and simulation of analog, mixed-signal and multi-discipline systems covering a broad range of applications, including power electronics, controls and mechatronic systems.

Description

This example demonstrates the use of the TDFS method (Time Domain Frequency Sweep) to measure the input impedance of a switching DC/DC power converter. The converter circuit is identical to the design shown in the companion example: “Step-Down (Buck) DC to DC Converter - Switching”.In this example, the TDFS impedance measurement model applies a 12V DC bias to the line input, in addition to a sinusoidal stimulus with 3V peak amplitude, and a frequency range from 3 kHz to 30 kHz. The input current is measured and the impedance vs. frequency is computed. The results show that the impedance magnitude (blue waveform) is approximately 5.0 Ohms at low frequency, This is approximately the reflected value of the 1 Ohm load resistor, multiplied by the effective DC/DC conversion ratio squared: 1 Ohm * (12.0/5.0)**2 = 5.76 OhmThe phase measurement (red waveform) shows -175 degrees at low frequency, indicating that this is effectively a "negative resistance". That is, the input current decreases when the line voltage increases. This behavior can be observed directly in the time domain waveforms, where the line voltage (brown waveform) and the input current (green waveform) are almost completely out of phase at 3 kHz. This negative impedance, or constant power load characteristic, can be destabilizing in power distribution systems. This will be demonstrated in a related design, and in Part 3 of the TDFS Blog Series, coming soon!

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TDFS Loop Stability for Step-Down DC to DC (Buck) Converter - Switching

Designer19

Member for

11 years 11 months

1,930

designs

10

groups

Member of the PartQuest Explore Development Team. Focused on modeling and simulation of analog, mixed-signal and multi-discipline systems covering a broad range of applications, including power electronics, controls and mechatronic systems.

Description

This example demonstrates the TDFS (Time Domain Frequency Sweep) Loop Stability Instrument Model. It is used to compute the open-loop transfer function of an operating (closed-loop) switching power converter. There is no need for state-average or continuous equivalent models for the modulator section of the design, as normally needed for frequency-domain (or "AC") analysis. Rather, the actual circuit component models can be used directly, because the open-loop transfer function is computed from time-domain simulation results.In this case, the converter is operating at 200kHz switching frequency, and is converting the 12V DC input to a regulated 5V output, while supplying a 5A current to the 1 Ohm load resistor. The TDFS measurement instrument indicates that the open-loop gain crossover frequency is at 26 kHz, and the phase margin is just under 60 degrees. This verifies that the opamp-based lead-lag compensator is providing adequate stability margin under these operating conditions.Note that the TDFS instrument model characterizes the open loop transfer function by injecting a small sinusoidal stimulus signal in series with the loop, and then measures the complex ratio of the return signal to the injected signal, is described in:D. Venable, “Testing Power Sources for Stability”, Venable technical paper #1, Venable Industries.The companion example, "Step-Down (Buck) DC to DC Converter - Switching", shows the line and load transient response of this converter design. Another companion example, "Step-Down (Buck) DC to DC Converter - Continuous", uses a state-average model of the switching (or modulator) section of the converter, so it supports traditional "AC" or frequency-domain analysis.

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