Identify the converter (buck, boost or buck-boost) and the duty cycle D from the voltage ratio.
Use volt-second balance on the inductor: the average inductor voltage over a period is zero.
Find the inductor voltage while the switch is on, then ΔIL = VL·D/(L·f).
For the output ripple, find the charge that flows in and out of the capacitor; for the CCM boundary, set the average inductor current equal to ΔIL/2.
DC motors
Armature circuit
V = E + IaRa
Back-EMF and torque
E = k·ω, T = k·Ia
Speed
ω = 2π·n/60, ω = (V − IaRa)/k
No-load speed and stall torque
ω0 = V/k, Tstall = k·V/Ra
Powers
Pin = V·Ia, Pdev = E·Ia = T·ω, Pout = Pdev − Prot
Starting
Istart = V/(Ra + Rst)
Speed regulation
SR = (n0 − nFL)/nFL
Maximum developed power
Pmax = V²/(4Ra)
Chopper drive
Va = D·Vdc
Method
Draw the armature circuit: supply V, resistance Ra and the back-EMF E in series.
Use V = E + Ia·Ra to link voltage, current and back-EMF.
Use E = k·ω for speed and T = k·Ia for torque, with ω = 2π·n/60.
For power and efficiency, start from V·Ia, subtract the copper loss Ia²·Ra and then the rotational losses.
AC power & power factor
Real power
P = V·I·cos φ
Reactive power
Q = V·I·sin φ
Apparent power
S = V·I = √(P² + Q²)
Power factor
pf = cos φ = P/S
Correction capacitor
QC = P(tan φ1 − tan φ2), C = QC/(ωV²)
Three-phase power
Y connection
VL = √3·Vph, IL = Iph
Δ connection
VL = Vph, IL = √3·Iph
Total real power
P = √3·VL·IL·cos φ = 3·Iph²·R
Apparent and reactive power
S = √3·VL·IL, Q = P·tan φ
Correction capacitors
QC = P(tan φ1 − tan φ2), C = QC/(3ωV²)
Voltage across each capacitor
Δ: VL Y: VL/√3
Motor input
Pin = Pout/η
2Practice problems
1.DC-DC convertersMedium
An ideal buck converter turns 24 V into 14.4 V at a switching frequency of 25 kHz. Find the inductance L that keeps the peak-to-peak inductor ripple current at 1.5 A.
Vin = 24 VVo = 14.4 Vf = 25 kHzΔIL = 1.5 A
L = µH
2.DC-DC convertersHard
A buck converter turns 48 V into 19.2 V for a 4 Ω load at 50 kHz, with L = 150 µH and C = 100 µF. Find the peak-to-peak output voltage ripple ΔVo in mV.
A DC motor (k = 0.5 V·s/rad, Ra = 1 Ω) runs from 48 V. At full load it draws 2 A. Neglecting the no-load current, find its speed regulation SR = (n₀ − nFL)/nFL in percent.
V = 48 Vk = 0.5 V·s/radRa = 1 ΩIFL = 2 A
SR = %
4.DC motorsHard
A small DC motor has an armature resistance of 0.8 Ω and runs from 24 V. Neglecting rotational losses, find the largest mechanical power Pmax it can develop at any speed.
V = 24 VRa = 0.8 Ω
Pmax = W
5.AC power & power factorMedium
Two loads are connected in parallel to a 230 V single-phase supply: a 26 kW load at a power factor of 0.75 lagging and a 10 kW load at a power factor of 0.95 leading. Find the overall power factor cos φ seen by the supply.
V = 230 VP1 = 26 kW, pf1 = 0.75 laggingP2 = 10 kW, pf2 = 0.95 leading
cos φ =
6.AC power & power factorHard
A single-phase load takes 45 kW at a power factor of 0.7 lagging from a 400 V, 60 Hz supply. A capacitor connected in parallel raises the power factor to 0.95. Find the capacitance C needed.
P = 45 kWpf1 = 0.7pf2 = 0.95V = 400 Vf = 60 Hz
C = µF
7.Three-phase powerMedium
A balanced Δ-connected load with an impedance of 7 + j24 Ω per phase is connected to a balanced three-phase supply with a line-to-line voltage of 480 V. Find the total real power P absorbed by the load in kW.
VL = 480 VZ = 7 + j24 Ω per phase
P = kW
8.Three-phase powerHard
A balanced three-phase load takes 120 kW at a power factor of 0.75 lagging from a 400 V (line-to-line), 60 Hz supply. A three-phase capacitor bank in parallel with the load must raise the overall power factor to 0.95 lagging. The real power stays the same. Find the total reactive power QC the capacitor bank must supply, in kvar.
P = 120 kWpf1 = 0.75pf2 = 0.95VL = 400 Vf = 60 Hz
QC = kvar
3Solutions
1.DC-DC converters
Answer: L = 153.6 µH
DC-DC converters: a switch S turns on for the fraction D of each period T = 1/f. In steady state the average inductor voltage is zero (volt-second balance), which gives the ideal conversion ratios in continuous conduction: buck Vo = D·Vin, boost Vo = Vin/(1 − D), inverting buck-boost |Vo| = Vin·D/(1 − D). An ideal converter keeps the power: Vin·Iin = Vo·Io. While S is on the inductor current rises by ΔIL = VL·D·T/L, with VL = Vin − Vo for the buck and Vin for the boost and buck-boost. The output ripple is ΔVo = ΔIL/(8fC) for the buck and Io·D/(fC) for the boost and buck-boost. The inductor current just touches zero (the CCM boundary) when the average inductor current equals ΔIL/2.
Duty cycle
D = 14.4/24 = 0.6
Inductance
L = 9.6·0.6/(1.5·25·10³) = 153.6 µH
Answer
L = 153.6 µH
2.DC-DC converters
Answer: ΔVo = 38.4 mV
DC-DC converters: a switch S turns on for the fraction D of each period T = 1/f. In steady state the average inductor voltage is zero (volt-second balance), which gives the ideal conversion ratios in continuous conduction: buck Vo = D·Vin, boost Vo = Vin/(1 − D), inverting buck-boost |Vo| = Vin·D/(1 − D). An ideal converter keeps the power: Vin·Iin = Vo·Io. While S is on the inductor current rises by ΔIL = VL·D·T/L, with VL = Vin − Vo for the buck and Vin for the boost and buck-boost. The output ripple is ΔVo = ΔIL/(8fC) for the buck and Io·D/(fC) for the boost and buck-boost. The inductor current just touches zero (the CCM boundary) when the average inductor current equals ΔIL/2.
Duty cycle
D = 19.2/48 = 0.4
Inductor ripple current
ΔIL = (48 − 19.2)·0.4/(150·10⁻⁶·50·10³) = 1.536 A
Output ripple
ΔVo = 1.536/(8·50·10³·100·10⁻⁶) = 38.4 mV
Answer
ΔVo = 38.4 mV
3.DC motors
Answer: SR = 4.348 %
DC motor: the armature is a resistance Ra in series with the back-EMF E, so V = E + Ia·Ra. The back-EMF grows with speed, E = k·ω, and the torque with current, T = k·Ia, with the same motor constant k (V·s/rad = N·m/A) in SI units. Convert speeds with ω = 2π·n/60. The developed power is E·Ia = T·ω; the input power is V·Ia, and the copper loss Ia²Ra and the rotational loss make the difference. The speed falls in a straight line with torque, ω = V/k − Ra·T/k², from the no-load speed V/k to zero at the stall torque k·V/Ra. At standstill E = 0, so the starting current V/Ra is large unless a resistor limits it.
No-load and full-load speed
n₀ = 60·48/(2π·0.5) = 916.7 rpm
nFL = 60·(48 − 2·1)/(2π·0.5) = 878.5 rpm
Speed regulation
SR = (916.7 − 878.5)/878.5·100 = 4.348 %
Answer
SR = 4.348 %
4.DC motors
Answer: Pmax = 180 W
DC motor: the armature is a resistance Ra in series with the back-EMF E, so V = E + Ia·Ra. The back-EMF grows with speed, E = k·ω, and the torque with current, T = k·Ia, with the same motor constant k (V·s/rad = N·m/A) in SI units. Convert speeds with ω = 2π·n/60. The developed power is E·Ia = T·ω; the input power is V·Ia, and the copper loss Ia²Ra and the rotational loss make the difference. The speed falls in a straight line with torque, ω = V/k − Ra·T/k², from the no-load speed V/k to zero at the stall torque k·V/Ra. At standstill E = 0, so the starting current V/Ra is large unless a resistor limits it.
Power as a function of the back-EMF
P(E) = E·(V − E)/Ra
dP/dE = 0 → E = V/2 = 12 V
Maximum power
Pmax = (V/2)²/Ra = V²/(4Ra) = 24²/(4·0.8) = 180 W
Answer
Pmax = 180 W
At this point the efficiency is only 50 %, so real motors run well above half speed.
5.AC power & power factor
Answer: cos φ = 0.8778
AC power: apparent power S = V·I (VA) splits into real power P = S·cos φ (W), which does useful work, and reactive power Q = S·sin φ (var), which moves back and forth between source and load. The power factor is cos φ. A capacitor in parallel supplies reactive power locally, so the line current drops for the same real power.
Reactive power of each load
A lagging load takes reactive power (Q > 0); a leading load supplies it (Q < 0).
Q1 = 26·tan(arccos 0.75) = 22.93 kvar
Q2 = −10·tan(arccos 0.95) = −3.287 kvar
Totals
P = 26 + 10 = 36 kW
Q = 22.93 + (−3.287) = 19.64 kvar
S = √(36² + 19.64²) = 41.01 kVA
Overall power factor
cos φ = P/S = 36/41.01 = 0.8778 lagging
Answer
cos φ = 0.8778
6.AC power & power factor
Answer: C = 515.9 µF
AC power: apparent power S = V·I (VA) splits into real power P = S·cos φ (W), which does useful work, and reactive power Q = S·sin φ (var), which moves back and forth between source and load. The power factor is cos φ. A capacitor in parallel supplies reactive power locally, so the line current drops for the same real power.
Reactive power before and after
The real power P does not change; only the reactive power drawn from the supply does.
Q1 = P·tan φ1 = 45·tan(45.57°) = 45.91 kvar
Q2 = P·tan φ2 = 45·tan(18.19°) = 14.79 kvar
QC = Q1 − Q2 = 31.12 kvar
Capacitance
A capacitor across the supply delivers Q = V²·ωC.
C = QC/(2πf·V²) = 31118/(2π·60·400²) = 515.9 µF
Answer
C = 515.9 µF
7.Three-phase power
Answer: P = 7.741 kW
Balanced three-phase systems: in a Y (star) connection the line-to-line voltage is √3 times the phase voltage, VL = √3·Vph, and the line current equals the phase current. In a Δ (delta) connection the line-to-line voltage equals the phase voltage and the line current is √3 times the phase current, IL = √3·Iph. The total power is three times the power of one phase: P = 3·Vph·Iph·cos φ = √3·VL·IL·cos φ.
Phase voltage
Vph = VL = 480 V
Phase current
|Z| = √(7² + 24²) = 25 Ω
Iph = 480/25 = 19.2 A
Total real power
Only the resistive part of each impedance absorbs real power.
P = 3·Iph²·R = 3·19.2²·7 = 7.741 kW
Answer
P = 7.741 kW
Check: cos φ = R/|Z| = 0.28, and √3·VL·IL·cos φ gives the same power.
8.Three-phase power
Answer: QC = 66.39 kvar
Balanced three-phase systems: in a Y (star) connection the line-to-line voltage is √3 times the phase voltage, VL = √3·Vph, and the line current equals the phase current. In a Δ (delta) connection the line-to-line voltage equals the phase voltage and the line current is √3 times the phase current, IL = √3·Iph. The total power is three times the power of one phase: P = 3·Vph·Iph·cos φ = √3·VL·IL·cos φ. Power factor correction: capacitors supply reactive power locally, QC = P·(tan φ1 − tan φ2). Each of the three capacitors supplies QC/3 = V²·ω·C, where V is the voltage across that capacitor: VL in a Δ bank, VL/√3 in a Y bank.
Reactive power before and after
The real power is unchanged, so each power factor fixes the reactive power: Q = P·tan φ.