Buck Converter Questions (DC-DC Converter)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a lab experiment involving buck converters, specifically focusing on measured versus theoretical values of current, voltage, and switching frequency. Participants are seeking clarification on discrepancies in their results and the behavior of the system, particularly regarding oscillations in motor shaft speed.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant reports measured values for average current, minimum current, maximum current, and ripple current, questioning discrepancies with theoretical values.
  • Concerns are raised about a negative calculated minimum current and whether this indicates a problem.
  • Participants discuss the measured switching frequency of 300Hz versus a theoretical calculation of 240Hz, with one participant noting an assignment sheet specifies 150Hz.
  • Questions are posed regarding the absence of observed oscillations in motor shaft speed, with speculation that the high switching frequency may prevent the motor from reacting to voltage changes.
  • Another participant asks if non-ideal factors, such as the actual values of components like the inductor and diode, were considered in the calculations.
  • There is a request for clarification on the negative minimum current value, with one participant indicating it was derived from theoretical calculations.
  • One participant expresses difficulty in accessing attached figures and requests higher resolution images for better understanding.
  • Concerns are raised about the specification of inductance in relation to load resistance and the appropriateness of the measurements taken.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty regarding the discrepancies in measured and theoretical values, and there is no consensus on the reasons for the observed phenomena or the implications of the negative current value. Multiple competing views and questions remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge potential limitations in their calculations due to neglecting non-ideal factors, but do not resolve the implications of these limitations on their results.

jegues
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Homework Statement



See first figure for lab attachment

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution



Hello all,

I recently did a lab on buck converters and I have a couple a questions.

See the figures attached for lab and my work.


For Experiment 1:

The measured quantities for part b) were,

I_{ave} = 0.2A \quad I_{min} = 0.09A \quad I_{max} = 0.28A \quad Ripple_{pp} = 0.19A

These values differ slightly from my theoretical calculated values, did I make any mistakes or are there any discrepancies?

Also, the Imin I calculated was negative, is this a problem? Also, I'm not sure if I am correctly the average current correctly, can someone verify?

The new switching frequency we measured for part c) was,

f_{swnew} = 300Hz

The theoretical frequency I calculated was 240Hz. Is this a large discrepency? Did I make any mistakes in the calculation?

For Experiment 2:

For part a),

The measured quantities for 500 rpm are,

V_{t} = 32.8V \quad I_{a} = 0.82A \quad \text{Duty cycle }= 32.8\%

The measured quantities for 1000 rpm are,

V_{t} = 59.81V \quad I_{a} = 0.89A \quad \text{Duty cycle}= 59.81\%

The measured quantities for part c) are,

I_{ripple,p-p} = 1.27A \quad I_{ripple,avg} = 0.79A \quad f = 292.51Hz \quad \text{Duty cycle }=32.09%

When we preformed this we did not observe any oscillations on the shaft speed but I'm not quite sure why.Is it simply because the switching frequency was high enough such that the motor wouldn't have time to react to any of the sudden changes in voltage?

Can someone clarify why that would be the case?

Thanks again!
 

Attachments

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  • Lab2AT1.jpg
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Bump, still looking for some help!
 
Sorry, I got confused by the post yesterday so didn't reply. Let me try to make some headway on the Buck part of the questions.

The assignment sheet seems to specify 150Hz for the switching frequency, and you are asking now about 240Hz and 300Hz. Can you please clarify that?

And you say you are worried about your Imin being negative, but you show Imin = 0.09A. Can you clarify that please?

When you say you measured values different from your predictions, did you take all the non-ideal numbers into account in your prediction? Did you measure the actual value of the inductor and the Vf of the diode across your flywheel current range, and use those numbers in your calculations? How about the voltage drop across the IGBT?
 
berkeman said:
Sorry, I got confused by the post yesterday so didn't reply. Let me try to make some headway on the Buck part of the questions.

The assignment sheet seems to specify 150Hz for the switching frequency, and you are asking now about 240Hz and 300Hz. Can you please clarify that?

For Experiment 1,

In part b) we dialed the frequency to 150Hz and measured the values in the table, the measurements we observed are in my original post. I then calculated the theoretical values (see 2nd figure attached), which slightly differed.

In part c) it says to adjust the frequency to obtain a ripple of 0.1A, the observed measured frequency was 300Hz, but when I did the theoretical calculation (again, see 2nd figure attached) I obtained a frequency of 240Hz.

berkeman said:
And you say you are worried about your Imin being negative, but you show Imin = 0.09A. Can you clarify that please?

because that Imin is the value we measured in the lab. If you look at the 2nd figure attached that contains all my work for calculating the theoretical values, where I had solved for a negative Imin. (-0.0513A)

berkeman said:
When you say you measured values different from your predictions, did you take all the non-ideal numbers into account in your prediction? Did you measure the actual value of the inductor and the Vf of the diode across your flywheel current range, and use those numbers in your calculations? How about the voltage drop across the IGBT?

No we did not, but obviously neglecting some of these non-ideal numbers will account for some of the discrepency between the measured values and the calculated values, I just want to know whether I am executing the calculated values correctly, and that my there is some agreement between the calculated values and measured values. (It need not be exact)
 
jegues said:
because that Imin is the value we measured in the lab. If you look at the 2nd figure attached that contains all my work for calculating the theoretical values, where I had solved for a negative Imin. (-0.0513A)

Sorry, I'm not able to read the 2nd attachment. Maybe that's part of my confusion.

Can you do a higher resolution scan of your 2nd attachment? Or maybe take several pictures closeup of different parts of it...?
 
Here is all my work attached, parts b), c) and d).
 

Attachments

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  • rsz_lab2at1-c.jpg
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  • rsz_lab2at1-d.jpg
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berkeman are you still checking in on this thread?

I've worked out all the details regarding the calculations for Experiment 1, but I am still curious as to why we did not observe any oscillations on the shaft speed of the motor.

Thanks again!
 
What numbers did you get for part 2c? Did you feel the shaft with your hand, or just listen for any oscillations?
 
Were you able to independently verify the value of the inductance you used. To specify "an inductance of 300 ohms" seems to be a fairly dubious thing to do when using a square wave (or pulse train).

I mean to specify a load resistance of 300 ohms and a time constant of xx ms would have been a reasonable thing to do. To specify a load resistance and inductance of 300 ohms, no so reasonable in my opinion.
 

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