AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-

BANGLADESH
Faculty of Engineering
Lab Report
Experiment # 07
Experiment Title: Study of Switching Mode Regulators (Buck Regulator).

Date of Perform: 31 March 2024 Date of Submission: 01 April 2024

Course Title: Industrial Electronics Laboratory
Course Code: EEE 4214 Section: A
Semester: Spring 2023-24 Degree Program: BSc in EEE
Course Teacher: Dr. Effat Jahan

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#Group 02

Submitted by:
MD.SHAJIB HOSSEIN 20-44235-3 EEE

#Group submission
Name ID Department
MD.MAIDUL ISLAM SHEHAB 20-44236-3 EEE
ABDULLAH AL SHAHARIAR 20-44074-2 EEE
ARNAB SAKER 20-44255-3 EEE
IFTIKHAR AHMED IFTI 20-44368-3 EEE

Faculty use only

FACULTY COMMENTS

Marks Obtained
Title: Study of Switching Mode Regulators (Buck Regulator).

Abstract:
This laboratory session focuses on the practical exploration of switching mode regulators,
particularly the buck regulator, in a regulated DC-DC power conversion setup. Through this
experiment, students will gain hands-on experience in designing, implementing, and analyzing the
performance of a buck converter under variable load conditions. The objective is to comprehend the
fundamental principles of buck converter operation, including pulse-width modulation (PWM)
control, duty cycle variation, and output voltage regulation.

Objective:
The main objectives of this experimental study are to:
1. Understand the operational principles of buck converters in regulated DC-DC power
conversion.
2. Design and construct a buck converter circuit using power semiconductor switches and
essential passive components.
3. Investigate the impact of duty cycle variation on the output voltage and duty ratio.
4. Measure output voltages across the load and analyze the relationship between control
voltage, duty cycle, and output voltage.
5. Implement PWM control for regulating the output voltage and observe its effect on the
system performance.
6. Explore the role of components such as inductors, capacitors, and resistors in achieving
voltage regulation and ripple reduction.
7. Discuss the necessity of free-wheel diodes and the function of a PI controller in the buck
converter setup.

Theory:
Switching mode regulators, specifically buck converters, are essential components in modern power
electronics for efficiently stepping down DC voltages to lower levels with minimal ripple. Unlike
linear regulators, which dissipate excess power as heat, buck converters utilize switching circuitry to
achieve higher efficiency.
Principle of Step-Down Converter (Buck Converter):
The core principle of a buck converter involves the controlled switching of a semiconductor device,
typically a MOSFET, IGBT, or BJT, to regulate the output voltage. Figure 1 illustrates a simplified
resistively loaded buck converter circuit.

When the switch is in position 1 for a duration DTs (where D is the duty cycle and Ts is the switching
period), the input voltage appears across the load. Conversely, when the switch is moved to position 2
for a time (1-D)Ts, the voltage across the load becomes zero. This switching action results in an
output voltage waveform, as shown in Figure 2.

The average output voltage (Vavg) of the buck converter is determined by the duty cycle, calculated
as D = ton / Ts, where ton is the duration, the switch is on during each cycle. Therefore, Vavg = D *
Vin, where Vin is the input voltage. By varying the duty cycle, the output voltage can be controlled
within a certain range.
In practice, buck converters can operate in either continuous conduction mode (CCM) or
discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). In CCM, the inductor current never fully reaches zero during
the switching cycle, while in DCM, it does. The choice of operation mode affects the design and
performance characteristics of the converter.

PWM Voltage Control:

Pulse-width modulation (PWM) is commonly used to regulate the output voltage of buck converters.
By adjusting the width of the switching pulses while keeping the switching frequency constant, the
average output voltage can be precisely controlled.

Circuit Diagram:

ig-1: Regulated Buck Converter.

Data Table:
Vref(V) Duty k Cycle T(us) Ton(us) Measured Calculate Change
(%) VDC (V) VDC (V)
1 60 981 595 9.3 9.3 0

3 70 981 691 10.13 10.7 0.57

5 91 981 901 10.06 13.3 3.24

Waveshape Of Experimental Setup:

Simulation and Measurement:
Duty Cycle K T (ms) ton(ms) Measured VDC (V) Calculated VDC (V)
(%)
40 1 54 0.4 1.9

50 1 54 0.5 1.9

60 1 0 0.6 0

Figure 2: Circuit diagram of Buck Regulator.

Maidul islam
20-44236-3

Figure 3: Output of Buck Converter in the oscilloscope.

 Maidul islam
20-44236-3

Figure-4: Output of Buck Converter in oscilloscope (Graphical View)

Figure -5: Circuit diagram of IN vs Output Buck Regulator/Converter.

Maidul islam
20-44236-3

Figure 6: Circuit diagram of IN vs Output Buck Regulator/Converter.

 Maidul islam
20-44236-3

Figure 7: Circuit diagram of IN vs Output Buck Regulator/Converter (Graphical View).

Maidul islam
20-44236-3

Figure 8: Circuit diagram of IN vs Output Buck Regulator/Converter. (Clear View).

Maidul islam
20-44236-3

Figure 9: Circuit diagram of IN vs Output Buck Regulator/Converter (Graphical View) Value

change for Clear view.
Questions for report writing:

1.What is the role of ratio on the output voltage here?

Ans: Higher step-down ratio (Vout/Vin) results in shorter switch on-time (Ton), hence lower
peak switch current. A lower step-down ratio (VIN closer to Vout) results in a lower differential
inductor voltage, so the slope of the inductor current during the ramp-up period is reduced.

2.Why do you require a freewheel diode in the connection?

Ans: When using large capacitors at the output of these regulators, a protection diode connected
input to output may be required if the input is shorted to ground. Without the protection diode, an
input short will cause the input to rapidly approach ground potential, while the output remains
near the initial VOUT because of the stored charge in the large output capacitor.

The capacitor will then discharge through a large internal input to output diode and parasitic
transistors. If the energy released by the capacitor is large enough, this diode, low current metal,
and the regulator will be destroyed. The fast diode in Figure 21 will shunt most of the capacitors’
discharge current around the regulator. Generally, no protection diode is required for values of
output capacitance ≤ 10 μF.

3.Establish the relationship between duty ratio and output voltage.

Ans: D = Output voltage /input voltage.

4.How does the duty ratio vary from desired output when load is increased?

Ans: The duty cycle is only dependent on the ratio between the output voltages over the input
voltage. The duty cycle will not change with varying loads.

5.What is PWM? How is it implemented in this experiment?

Ans: Pulse-width modulation (PWM), or pulse-duration modulation (PDM), is a modulation

technique used to encode a message into a pulsing signal. The most common control method,
shown in Figure 13, is pulse-width modulation (PWM). This method takes a sample of the output
voltage and subtracts this from a reference voltage to establish a small error signal (VERROR).
This error signal is compared to an oscillator ramp signal. The comparator outputs a digital
output (PWM) that operates the power switch. When the circuit output voltage changes,
VERROR also changes and thus causes the comparator threshold to change. Consequently, the
output pulse width (PWM) also changes. This duty cycle changes and then moves the output
voltage to reduce the error signal to zero, thus completing the control loop.
 Fig: Varying error signal generates a pulse-width-modulated switch signal.

6.Vary the frequency observe the output voltage waveform and comment on the frequency
dependence of the output.

Ans: Higher inductance allows higher load current for a fixed frequency (larger L = reduced
ripple current).

The higher frequency allows a *Higher load current for a fixed inductance level (smaller Ton =
reduced ripple current).

7.What is the function of the PI controller in this experiment?

Ans: The advantages of the lead and lag compensators can be combined, to obtain both wide
bandwidth and zero steady-state error. At low frequencies, the compensator integrates the error
signal, leading to large low-frequency loop gain and accurate regulation of the low-frequency
components of the output voltage. At high frequency (in the vicinity of the crossover
frequency), the compensator introduces phase lead into the loop gain, improving the phase
margin. Such a compensator is sometimes called a PID controller.

Discussion:
The experimental results of the study of switching mode regulators (Buck regulators) revealed
important insights into the operation and control of a DC-DC buck converter. This discussion
section will focus on analyzing and interpreting the findings obtained from the experimental
procedure and addressing the questions posed in the report. The duty cycle plays a crucial role
in determining the output voltage of the buck converter. As observed in the experiment, by
varying the duty cycle using pulse-width modulation (PWM) control, the output voltage can be
adjusted from 0 to the input voltage (Vg). When the duty cycle is increased, more time is
allocated to the "on" state of the switch, allowing a higher voltage to appear across the load.
Conversely, decreasing the duty cycle reduces the time the switch remains "on," resulting in a
lower output voltage. This relationship between duty cycle and output voltage confirms the
practical applicability of PWM-based voltage control in buck converters. From the
experimental results, it was observed that increasing the duty cycle resulted in a proportional
increase in the output voltage while decreasing the duty cycle led to a corresponding decrease
in the output voltage. This linear relationship between the duty cycle and output voltage is a
fundamental characteristic of the buck converter and is exploited to achieve precise voltage
regulation. By adjusting the duty cycle using PWM control, the output voltage can be finely
regulated, making buck converters widely used in applications requiring stable and variable
DC voltage outputs.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the study of buck converters elucidated the crucial role of duty cycle variation
via pulse-width modulation for precise output voltage regulation. Linearly proportional
changes in the duty cycle directly influenced output voltage, underscoring the efficacy of
PWM control. Components like freewheel diodes were deemed essential for circuit protection.
Frequency variations were observed to impact output waveform characteristics, crucial for
optimizing converter performance. The PI controller's function in combining lead and lag
compensation highlighted its role in achieving wide bandwidth and zero steady-state error.
Overall, the study deepened the understanding of buck converter operation and control,
essential for diverse applications in power electronics.

References:
[1] Muhammad H. Rashid, “Power Electronics Circuits, Devices, and Applications”, 3rd Edition.
[2] American International University Bangladesh Lab Manual-7.
[3] Multisim Software Version 14.0.
[4] Buck Converter.engg.unacdamy.edu.
[5] Khan academy engg.edu.
[6] http//buckconverter.ee.engg.edu.

Appendix: