Unit - Iv DC - DC Converters: Symbol of A Chopper

UNIT – IV
DC – DC converters
Introduction to Choppers
A chopper uses high speed to connect and disconnect from a source load. A fixed DC voltage is applied
intermittently to the source load by continuously triggering the power switch ON/OFF. The period of
time for which the power switch stays ON or OFF is referred to as the chopper’s ON and OFF state
times, respectively.
Choppers are mostly applied in electric cars, conversion of wind and solar energy, and DC motor
regulators.
Symbol of a Chopper
Figure: 3.1 symbol of chopper
Control strategies of Chopper
In DC-DC converters, the average output voltage is controlled by varying the alpha (α) value. This is
achieved by varying the Duty Cycle of the switching pulses. Duty cycle can be varied usually in 2 ways:
1. Time Ratio Control
2. Current Limit Control
In this post we shall look upon both the ways of varying the duty cycle. Duty Cycle is the ratio of ‘On
Time’ to ‘Time Period of a pulse’.
Time Ratio Control: As the name suggest, here the time ratio (i.e. the duty cycle ratio Ton/T) is varied.
This kind of control can be achieved using 2 ways:
• Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) • Frequency Modulation Control (FMC)
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Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)
In this technique, the time period is kept constant, but the ‘On Time’ or the ‘OFF Time’ is varied. Using
this, the duty cycle ratio can be varied. Since the ON time or the ‘pulse width’ is getting changed in this
method, so it is popularly known as Pulse width modulation.
Figure: 3.2 pulse width modulation waveforms
Frequency Modulation Control (FMC)
In this control method, the ‘Time Period’ is varied while keeping either of ‘On Time’ or ‘OFF time’ as
constant. In this method, since the time period gets changed, so the frequency also changes accordingly,
so this method is known as frequency modulation control.
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Figure: 3.3 Frequency modulation waveforms
Current Limit Control:
As is obvious from its name, in this control strategy, a specific limit is applied on the current variation.
In this method, current is allowed to fluctuate or change only between 2 values i.e. maximum current (I
max) and minimum current (I min). When the current is at minimum value, the chopper is switched ON.
After this instance, the current starts increasing, and when it reaches up to maximum value, the chopper is
switched off allowing the current to fall back to minimum value. This cycle continues again and again.
Figure: 3.4 current limit control waveforms
Classification of Choppers
Depending on the voltage output, choppers are classified as −
1. Step Up chopper (boost converter)

2. Step Down Chopper(Buck converter)
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3. Step Up/Down Chopper (Buck-boost converter)
Depending upon the direction of the output current and voltage, the converters can be classified into five
classes namely
1. Class A [One-quadrant Operation]

2. Class B [One-quadrant Operation]
3. Class C [Two-quadrant Operation]
4. Class D Chopper [Two-quadrant Operation]
5. Class E Chopper [Four-quadrant Operation]
Step Down Chopper
This is also known as a buck converter. In this chopper, the average voltage output V O is less than the
input voltage VS. When the chopper is ON, VO = VS and when the chopper is off, VO = 0
When the chopper is ON −
VS=(VL+V0), VL=VS−V0,
Ldi/dt=VS−V0,
LΔi/TON=Vs+V0
VS=(VL+V0),
VL=VS−V0,
Ldi/dt=VS−V0,
LΔi/TON=Vs+V0
Thus, peak-to-peak current load is given by,
Δi= TON
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Figure: 3.5 Step down chopper
Where FD is free-wheel diode.
When the chopper is OFF, polarity reversal and discharging occurs at the inductor. The current passes
through the free-wheel diode and the inductor to the load. This gives,
Ldi/dt=V0
Rewritten as LΔi/TOFF=V0
LΔi/TOFF=V0
Δi=V0TOFF/L
From the above equations
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Current and Voltage Waveforms
The current and voltage waveforms are given below −
For a step down chopper the voltage output is always less than the voltage input. This is shown by the
waveform below.
Figure: 3.6 Input and output waveforms
Step Up Chopper
The average voltage output (Vo) in a step up chopper is greater than the voltage input (Vs). The figure
below shows a configuration of a step up chopper.
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Figure: 3.7 circuit diagram of step up chopper
Current and Voltage Waveforms
V0 (average voltage output) is positive when chopper is switched ON and negative when the chopper is
OFF as shown in the waveform below.
Figure: 3.8 Input and output waveforms of step up chopper
Where
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TON – time interval when chopper is ON
TOFF – time interval when chopper is OFF
VL – Load voltage
Vs – Source voltage
T – Chopping time period = TON + TOFF
Vo is given by −
V0 =
When the chopper (CH) is switched ON, the load is short circuited and, therefore, the voltage output for
the period TON is zero. In addition, the inductor is charged during this time. This gives VS = VL
Δi = is the inductor peak to peak current. When the chopper (CH) is OFF, discharge occurs through the
inductor L. Therefore, the summation of the Vs and VL is given as follows −
V0=VS+VL, VL=V0−VS
Equating from on state to off state
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Step Up/ Step Down Chopper
his is also known as a buck-boost converter. It makes it possible to increase or reduce the voltage input
level. The diagram below shows a buck-boost chopper
Figure: 3.9 circuit diagram of step up chopper
When the chopper is switched ON, the inductor L becomes charged by the source voltage Vs. Therefore,
Vs = VL.
When the chopper is switched OFF, the inductor’s polarity reverses and this causes it to discharge
through the diode and the load.
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Unit - Iv DC - DC Converters: Symbol of A Chopper

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UNIT – IV

Figure: 3.1 symbol of chopper

Control strategies of Chopper

1. Time Ratio Control

2. Current Limit Control

• Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) • Frequency Modulation Control (FMC)

Figure: 3.2 pulse width modulation waveforms

Frequency Modulation Control (FMC)

Current Limit Control:

Figure: 3.4 current limit control waveforms

1. Step Up chopper (boost converter)

1. Class A [One-quadrant Operation]

Step Down Chopper

When the chopper is ON −

Thus, peak-to-peak current load is given by,

From the above equations

The current and voltage waveforms are given below −

Figure: 3.6 Input and output waveforms

Current and Voltage Waveforms

Figure: 3.8 Input and output waveforms of step up chopper

TOFF – time interval when chopper is OFF

T – Chopping time period = TON + TOFF

Equating from on state to off state

Figure: 3.9 circuit diagram of step up chopper

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