7.

1 INTRODUCTION

A switched-mode power supply (SMPS) is an electronic circuit that converts power

using switching devices that are turned on and off at high frequencies, and storage
components such as inductors or capacitors to supply power when the switching
device is in its non-conduction state.

7.2 SMPS preferred over LINEAR REGULATOR

A linear regulator regulates either output voltage or current by dissipating the excess
electric power in the form of heat, and hence its maximum power efficiency is
voltage-out/voltage-in since the volt difference is wasted.

In contrast, a switched-mode power supply regulates either output voltage or current

by switching ideal storage elements, like inductors and capacitors, into and out of
different electrical configurations. Ideal switching elements have no resistance when
closed" and carry no current when "open", and so the converters can theoretically
operate with 100% efficiency

7.2.1 Advantages

a) Higher efficiency of 68% to 90%

b) Regulated and reliable outputs regardless of variations in input supply voltage
c) Small size and lighter
d) Flexible technology
e) High power density

7.2.2 Disadvantages

a) Generates EMI
b) Complex circuit design
c) Expensive compared to linear supplies

7.3 THEORY OF OPERATION SMPS

a) AC Supply
SMPS takes AC supply as the input. The SMPS that is discussed here uses a
single phase supply.

b) Transformer
Transformer is by and large is being used as a separation between the AC
source and the rectifier unit to protect working personnel from coming in
contact with the supply means.at times the transformer is used to step down
voltage.
c) Rectifier
The full wave rectifier unit converts bidirectional input AC sine wave to
unidirectional wave. The average value of the voltage wave

Vaver = Vm Sint dt
0
2Vm
= Volts

d) Filter Limit
 The filter is a low pass filter. The unidirectional wave if analysed using Fourier
series has dc component .This low pass filter should allow only dc component
to pass through. But it is not the case. Few low order harmonics also passes
through.

e) IC Regulator
The IC voltage regulator provides constant dc output like that of a battery.

f) DC-DC Converter

The output from the IC voltage regulator is fed into the DC-DC Converter which can
be of different topologies like Buck, Buck Boost and Boost etc. The purpose of the
DC-DC Converter is to either step up, step down dc voltages using transistor
switches. The output of the SMPS can be controlled using a controller which uses
Vref and a sample of the output voltage. Vref is used to control the output voltage by the
working personnel.

7.5 SMPS APPLICATIONS

Switched-mode power supplies have applications in various areas. A

switched-mode supply is chosen for an application when its weight, efficiency, size,
or wide input range tolerance make it preferable to linear power supplies. Initially the
cost of semiconductors made switch-mode supplies a premium cost alternative, but
current production switch-mode supplies are nearly always lower in cost than the
equivalent linear power supply

a) Personal Computers

Switched-mode PSUs in domestic products such as personal computers often have

universal inputs, meaning that they can accept power from most mains electricity
throughout the world, with rated frequencies in the 50 - 60 Hz range and a voltage
range between 100 - 240 V AC (although a manual voltage range switch may be
required). In practice they will operate from a much wider frequency range and often
from a DC supply as well.

Most modern desktop and laptop computers also have a voltage regulator
module which is a DC-DC converter on the motherboard that step down the voltage
from the power supply or the battery to the CPU core voltage, which may need to be
as low as 0.8 V for a low voltage CPU to 1.2 - 1.5 V for a desktop CPU as of 2007.
Some motherboards have a setting in the BIOS that allows over clockers to set a
new CPU core voltage; other motherboards support dynamic voltage scaling which
constantly adjust the CPU core voltage. Most laptop computers also have a DC-AC
converter to step up the voltage from the battery to drive the cold
cathode backlight in the flat-screen monitor, which typically requires
around 1000 VRMS.
Motherboard switched-mode power conversion section as shown in above figure

b) Battery Chargers

Due to their high volumes, mobile phone chargers (shown in fig 7.1) have
always been particularly cost sensitive. The first chargers were linear power
supplies but they quickly moved to the cost-effective ringing choke converter (RCC)
SMPS topology, when new levels of efficiency were required. Recently the demand
for even lower no-load power requirements in the application has meant that flyback
topology is being used more widely; primary-side sensing flyback controllers are also
helping to cut the bill of materials (BOM) by removing secondary-side sensing
components such as optocouplers.

Fig 7.1

c) Vehicles

Applications may be found in the automobile industry where ordinary trucks

use nominal 24 V DC but may need 12 V DC. Ordinary cars use nominal 12 V DC
and may need to convert this to drive equipment. Space vehicles use a variety of
power systems and rely on lightweight switched-mode power supplies to convert
from voltages produced by solar panels and fuel cells

to the voltages required by equipment.

d) Lighting

Powering of LED circuits is accomplished with switched-mode power

supply setup as a constant current source where efficiency is important.

They have also been used for many years for supplying incandescent
extra-low voltage lighting, and for this application are very often called "electronic
transformers".

e) Space station

The electrical power system on the International Space Station (ISS)

uses multiple switch-mode power supplies to convert between the voltage produced
by the solar array and battery system, and the voltages required by the different
modules.

Space station with SMPS as shown in above figure

The eight solar panels generate 262 kW at 160 V DC, used to charge nickel-
hydrogen batteries that provide power when the solar array is in shadow during earth
eclipse. A system voltage of 160 V DC is used for the main power distribution
throughout the station. The European and American part (USOS) uses 124 V DC as
the end-user voltage while the Russian part (ROS) and the space shuttle use 28 V
DC.

The space shuttle uses three fuel cells generating 3036 V DC. Some is converted
into 400 Hz AC power and 28 V DC power.