Considerations on the Modeling of Switched Mode

Fly-back Converter for Learning Process

Nistor-Daniel Trip* Şerban Lungu** and Dan Pitică**
*
Department of Electronics,
University of Oradea, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology,
1 Universitatii St., 41087, Oradea, Romania, E-Mail: dtrip@uoradea.ro
**
Applied Electronics Department,
Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology,
26-28 George Baritiu St., 400027, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, E-Mail: serban.lungu@ael.utcluj.ro, dan.pitica@ael.utcluj.ro

Abstract – This paper presents a modeling method for
switched mode power converters useful in the learning
process at the laboratory courses. This work emphasizes
the application of this modeling method to the switched
mode Fly-back converters. The model of the discussed
converter takes into considerations almost all parasitic
elements of the component parts of the Fly-back source.
The model is implemented by the help of the MATLAB
programming environment due to its useful computing
functions. The model is suitable to simulate the two
operating mode of the switched mode DC-DC converter:
continuous conduction mode CCM and discontinuous
conduction mode DCM. The model and its
implementation assure a good support between the
theoretical analysis of the electronic circuits and practice.
Keywords: Fly-back DC-DC converter, continuous
conduction mode, discontinuous conduction mode.
I. INTRODUCTION
Nowadays there are a lot of methods used to develop
models of the switching mode power supplies, such as:
state space analysis, state averaging technique, frequency
domain analysis and so on [1]. There is also simulation
programs used to analyze and design this kind of
converters [2]. To use this methods and tools in the
learning process of the students that follow specializations
in the field of electrical and electronics engineering, the
next aspects must be mastered: the theoretical operation
principle of the switching mode DC-DC converters [1], [3],
the modeling method, using specializd simulation software
and finally, the interpretation of the simulation results.
In general, the study of the switching mode DC-DC
supplies is based on the time domain analysis [4]. During
an operating cycle, the topology of the converter change
itself tacking into account the state of the power switches.
This behavior is followed by particular so called operation
modes of the converter. For each operation mode one can
write a first order differential equations system. For every
operation mode, the initial conditions used for the
integration of differential equations system are the final
values of the state variables, obtained at the end of the pre -
vious operation mode [5]. To simplify the above mentioned
analysis, it is considered that the switching mode DC-DC
converters work in steady state operation [6]. This method
is good due to the fact that it shows, in a simple manner,
the transfer functions, the wave forms of the state variables
and so on. Despite of this easy to use methodology, there is
an important drawback: the transient analysis can not be
made, because an important time and work effort is
requested. To over pass this problem, one must use
simulation program that are able to perform both transient
and steady state analysis of the electronic circuits.
A reference simulation program for the electrical and
electronics engineers, which can be used in the analysis and
the design of the switching mode power supplies, is
PSPICE [2]. This program offers two ways to introduce the
data that describe the topology of the circuit that will be
simulated. Fist method consist in the use of a graphic user
interface to draw the circuit and write the circuit
parameters and in the second method a text file that
describe the used devices and the virtual nodes of the
circuit. The main advantage of PSPICE program is its very
accurate device models that one could find them in specific
libraries. Unfortunately, for circuits where are used two or
more time constants, with important different values
between them, the simulation ends with convergence
errors. It is not easy to solve the convergence errors but in
many cases one must bring important simplifications of the
analyzed circuit. Convergence errors are encountered also
when one simulate switching mode DC-DC power supplies
because the switching frequency of the electronic switches
is higher than the time constant of the output low pass
filter. Unfortunately for the learning process, there is no
evident link between the theoretical relations and the model
when one uses PSPICE simulation program.
Another possibility to simulate switching mode DC-DC
supplies is to use the Simulink and Power System blockset
of MATLAB programming environment. The Simulink
offers also a graphic user interface that can be populated
with ready made devices models from the library of
SymPowerSyS. The models in Power System blockset are
not as complex as theirs counterparts in PSPICE. In this
case, the main problem remains the lack of a relationship
between the relations derived at a theoretical analysis and

211
the topology of the circuit. To assure a clear and straight The state variables of the circuit were taken magnetizing
forward relationship between theoretical and simulation, current iM and capacitor voltage uC.
the authors proposed a model of a switching mode power
supply and a method of implementation more useful in the
learning process than the method offered by others d iM  0 0  i   U i 
simulations programs. The model is based on a topology   = 1  ⋅  M  +  LM + LS  (1)
dt uC   0 −  
R ⋅ C   C   0 
u
that includes parasitic elements of the basic devices and an 
implementation technique based only on the standard
functions of MATLAB programming environment. This The value of i1, i2 are zero and i = iM. In this period the
strategy, very useful in the learning process, was applied to energy requested by the load is assured by the help of the
a switching mode fly-back converter. capacitor C.
II. MODEL OF THE FLY-BACK CONVERTER B. The second operation mode of the Fly-back converter
The topology of the analyzed switching mode power The equivalent topology of the converter for this operation
supply is shown in the next figure. mode is shown in the next figure. As in the previous figure,
Transformer model the solid line is used for the part of the circuit where
i i2 D iR
current pass and dashed line for the circuit where no
LS iM i1
iC current is encountered. T1 is turned off but due tu the
Ui + R
LM u1 C energy stored in LM the diode D is turned on.
u2 uC
n1:n2 i i2 D iR
T1 LS iM i1
iC
Ui + C R
ucd LM u1
u2 uC
n1:n2
Fig.1 Fly-back topology
T1
In Fig.1 the transformer of the converter was modeled ucd
tacking into account the leakage inductance LS,
magnetizing inductance LM and the number of turns per Fig.3 Equivalent circuit for the second operation mode
primary and secondary windings.
During an operating cycle, this power supply encounters The circuit is described by the next differential equation
three operation modes which depend on the state of the system.
transistor T1, diode D and the state variables.
 n1 1 
A. The first operation mode of the Fly-back converter 0 − ⋅
d iM   n2 LM  iM   0 
 =  ⋅   +   (2)
During this operation mode, transistor T1 is turn on and due dt uC   n1 ⋅ 1 −
1  uC  U D 
to the polarity of the winding voltages, diode D is turned
 n2 C R ⋅C 
off. The equivalent circuit that describes this operation
mode is depicted in the next figure.
where UD represents the voltage drop over the diode in on
i i2 D iR
state. This operation mode lasts till the end of the whole
LS iM i1 switching cycle of the converter or till the moment in that
iC
Ui + C R the current iM become zero.
LM u1
u2 uC
n1:n2
C. The third operation mode of the Fly-back converter
T1

ucd If the current iM is higher than zero during the whole

Fig.2 Equivalent circuit for the first operation mode
In the Fig.2 is presented with solid line the circuits where
currents circulate. No currents are present in the circuits
marked with the dashed line. The operation mode of the
source on this period can also be described by the next
differential equations system. One can see that in this
systems are included the parasitic elements of the circuit:
the leakage inductance and the voltage drop on T1.
switching cycle, then the switching power supply operates
in continuous conduction mode and else the supply
operates in discontinuous conduction mode. In the
discontinuous conduction mode, the source pass through
another operation mode that follows the first two
mentioned before. The equivalent circuit for this situation
is depicted in the next figure. In this period all the switches
are off and the energy is delivery to the load only by the
capacitor C. This capacitor acts also as a filtering
component part.

212
 IV. SIMULATION RESULTS
i i2 D iR

LS iM i1
iC For a switching mode Fly-back converters with the next
Ui + C R
LM u1
uC
parameters: R = 100 Ohm, C = 1µF, switching period
u2=0
n1:n2
Tc = 50µs, Ui =12V and n1 = n2, applying relation (5), one
can obtain a minimum inductance LM + LS of 0.65mH to
T1 the limit between continuous and discontinuous conduction
ucd mode.

Fig.4 Equivalent circuit for the third operation mode

The next system is derived from the equivalent circuit

shown in Fig.4.

d i M  0 0  i 
u  =  1 ⋅ M  (3)
dt  C   0 −
R ⋅ C   C 
u

Using these three differential equations systems, the
authors developed a program in MATLAB programming
environment that is used to simulate the Fly-back supply.
The principles used to implement the program are briefly
mentioned in the next section.
Fig.5 Continuous conduction mode of the
converter with the LM = 1 mH
III. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MODEL

For the implementation of the model presented in the

previous section, the authors used the numerical integration
of the differential equations systems (1), (2) and (3) that are
particular cases of the next general form:

dy
y' = = f (t , y ) . (4)
dt
To solve such equations, the MATLAB programming
environment offers to the users two functions: ode23 and
ode45. To use these functions, one must mention the next
data: the name of the file that describes each operation
mode, initial and integration conditions. For the second
operation mode, system (2), it is necessary to use an event Fig.6 Continuous conduction mode of the
function that flags the continuous and discontinuous converter with the LM = 0.65 mH
conduction mode of the Fly-back source. The event
function tests the value of the magnetizing current iM. If the
current is smaller or equal to zero, the program integrates
the system (3). If this condition is not obtained, the
program integrates again the system (1).
To establish the condition that impose one of the two
operation mode of the Fly-back converter, one can use the
next relation [3],[5].

1 2
LM min = ⋅ R ⋅ TC ⋅ (1 − α ) (5)
2
This relation imposes a minimum value for the magnetizing
inductance LM so that the source to operate in continuous
conduction mode when the value of R and switching period Fig.7 Continuous conduction mode of the
of T1 are known and n1 = n2. α is the duty cycle. converter with the LM = 0.35 mH

213
In Fig.5 is presented the state variables when the
transformers inductance is 1 mH. For this case the
converter operates in continuous conduction mode. The
operation at the limit between the continuous and
discontinuous mode is then presented in Fig.6. In this case
the inductance of the transformer is 0.65 mH, according to
the relation (5). For an inductance of 0.35 mH, one can see
in Fig.7 the waveforms of the state variables when the
converter operates in discontinuous conduction mode.
To obtain the waveforms of the state variables presented in
Fig.8, LM = 1 mH, and almost all other parameters were
kept except the number of the turns per primary and
secondary windings, that was set as fallows: n1 = 3 and
n2 = 1.
Fig.8 Discontinuous conduction mode
operation of the converter for 3n2 = n1
To assure a continuous conduction mode when the number
of turns of the transformer’s two windings is different, one
can use the next relation to obtain the minimum value of
the sum between magnetizing and leakage inductances.
2 circuits. PSPICE practical guide”, (in romanian), Editura
1 n 
= ⋅  1  ⋅ R ⋅ TC ⋅ (1 − α )
2
LM min (6)
2  n2 
For a switching period TC = 50µs, α = 0.5, R = 100,
C = 1 µF and 3n2 = n1 yields LM min = 5.85 mH. The
simulation results which shown the operation of the
converter at the limit between continuous and
discontinuous conduction mode are presented in next
figure.
214
Fig.9 Operation mode at the limit between continuous and
discontinuous conduction mode for 3n2 = n1
V. CONCLUSIONS
In this work, the authors presented a model and its
implementation for a switching mode Fly-back converter,
using only numerical integration standard functions of the
MATLAB programming environment. The strategy
presented in this paper is very useful to the learning
process, assuring a direct relationship between the topology
of the converter, mathematical model and its
implementation. In the work were also presented
simulations results implemented by the authors for
continuous and discontinuous conduction modes of the
Fly-back DC-DC converter.
REFERENCES
[1] R.W. Erickson, D. Maksimovic, “Fundamentals of power
electronics”, Second edition, Kluwer Academic Press, 2001.
[2] I. Stojanov, S.Pasca, “Computer aided design of electronics
Teora, Bucuresti, 1997.
[3] V. Popescu, D. Lascu, D. Negoitescu, “Supply sources in
telecommunications”, (in romanian), Editura de Vest,
Timisoara, 2002.
[4] D. Alexa, F. Ionescu, L. Gatlan, A. Lazar, “Power
converters with resonant circuits”, (in romanian), Editura
Tehnica, Bucuresti, 1998.
[5] S. Lungu, O. Pop, “Modeling of electronics circuits”, (in
romanian), Editura Casa Cartii de Stiinta, Cluj-Napoca,
2006.
[6] N.D. Trip, “Industrial electronics”, (in romanian), Editura
Universitatii din Oradea, Oradea, 2004.