A unified analysis of DC–DC converters’ current stress

Abstract

There is always a need to analyze current signals generated by various DC–DC converters. For example, to determine the current stress experienced by semiconductor devices and to evaluate active and reactive power consumption in converters. The study demonstrates that the shape of a current signal dictates the analytical expressions required to determine the average and RMS values of a signal as well as the RMS value of the ripple of that signal. The study also shows that current signals can be treated as composite waveforms comprising various combinations of trapezoidal, rectangular, and triangular pulses. The current literature lacks a unified approach to analyze current stresses in DC–DC converters. This study will propose a unified and generalized analytical technique that is applicable to any type of DC waveform that can be treated as a composite waveform made up of a combination of triangular, rectangular, or trapezoidal sections or sub-intervals. Furthermore, the rectangular and triangular pulses are shown to be a special kind of trapezoidal pulse. This provides the basis for a very broad generalization of current signals’ analysis based on the analysis of a trapezoidal pulse. Additionally, a method for the direct evaluation of signals’ ripple RMS content is developed. This is unlike in the current literature where it is necessary to evaluate the signal’s average and RMS values before ripple content can be evaluated. The technique developed is applicable to continuous and discontinuous conduction modes of operation.