Powerelectronics 1204 S

Lossy SPICE Models Produce Realistic Averaged Simulations

July 1, 2002
Standard averaged converter models do not include the losses. Instead, they usually insert ideal elements, and calculations omit some voltage drops.

Standard averaged converter models do not include the losses. Instead, they usually insert ideal elements, and calculations omit some voltage drops. This simplifies the analysis, yet alters the dc operating point and ac response.

Figs. 1a and 1b depict a buck converter that includes losses attributed to: a) inductor wire resistance, Rlf, b) power switch RDS(ON), RON, and c) the diode forward drop, Vf, and its dynamic resistance

When the switch closes, the inductor voltage VL and capacitor current IC are defined via the following equations:

VLON = (VIN - VOUT) - I × (RON + Rlf)

At the switch opening, the current (I) keeps circulating in the same direction, but now flows through the free-wheel diode to keep the ampere-turns constant in the inductor. The equations become:

VLOFF = -I × (Rd - Rlf) - VOUT - Vf

Theory dictates that the average voltage across the inductor must be null when the converter reaches equilibrium: = D × VLON + D' × VLOFF = 0

Where:

D = Duty cycle

and depicts the OFF time over the period T

Which by combining Equation (1) and (3) gives:

[(VIN - VOUT) - I × (RON + Rlf)] × D + [-I×Rlf + Rd) - Vf - VOUT] × D' = 0

The above statement regarding the inductor average voltage also translates to a capacitor where its average current shall be null when the converter operates in steady-state: = D × IcON + D' × IcOFF = 0, which by combining Equations (1) and (3) gives:

By solving Equation (6) and plugging I into Equation (5), we obtain the complete transfer function of the buck affected by static losses:

Equation (7) shows losses are weighted accordingly to the time sequence in which they play: Rlf is present during TON and TOFF whereas RON and Rd are respectively active during TON (D multiplication) and TOFF only ([1-D] multiplication).

In previous averaged models, the state-space averaging technique or switch waveforms analysis were usually applied over perfect elements, non-inclusive of the above ohmic losses. However, if these elements play an active role in the dc transfer function, they affect the small-signal ac analysis by introducing various damping effects. In a recent paper presented in PCIM Nuremberg 2001, Sam Ben-Yaakov presented his modified generalized switched inductor model (GSIM), where all conduction losses were modeled[1]. Without entering into the details of the model derivation, Ben-Yaakov did not depart from his original model but added in series with the inductor the losses specific to a given time interval (for example, Vf and Rd during D' in a buck, etc.). An interesting feature consisted in including the true diode SPICE model and the real MOSFETRDS(ON)@Vgs, if necessary. Fig. 2, on page 58, shows how to implement this model in a boost voltage-mode application.

The internal RON was passed as a standard resistor parameter to keep the simplest implementation; however, the diode model was kept external. A dc sweep was performed on the schematic where VDON was swept up to 900mV (90% duty-cycle). Fig. 3 reveals the results showing the latch-up characteristic of the boost when the ohmic losses become more significant compared to the load. You can download the above model subcircuit netlist in IsSpice4 and PSpice from the author's Web site[2]. Other models include lossy buck in voltage and current-mode control. More complex models, including dynamic switching losses, were derived by the Colorado Power Electronics Center (CoPEC). An extensive documentation related to the subject is available at http://ece-www.colorado.edu/~pwrelect.

References

  1. Ben-Yaakov, Sam, and Zafrany, Isaac “The Generalized Switched Inductor Model (GSIM) Accouting For Conduction Losses,” PCIM Nuremberg 2001.

  2. http://perso.wanadoo.fr/cbasso/Spice.htm

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About the Author

Christophe Basso

Christophe Basso is a Technical Fellow at ON Semiconductor in Toulouse, France, where he leads an application team dedicated to developing new offline PWM controller specifications. He has originated numerous integrated circuits among which the NCP120X series has set new standards for low standby power converters.

Further to his 2008 book “Switch-Mode Power Supplies: SPICE Simulations and Practical Designs”, published by McGraw-Hill, he released in 2012 a new title with Artech House, “Designing Control Loops for Linear and Switching Power Supplies: a Tutorial Guide”. His new book is dedicated to Fast Analytical Techniques and was recently published by Wiley in the IEEE-press imprint under the title “Linear Circuit Transfer Function: An Introduction to Fast Analytical Techniques”.Christophe has over 20 years of power supply industry experience. He holds 17 patents on power conversion and often publishes papers in conferences and trade magazines including How2Power and PET. Prior to joining ON Semiconductor in 1999, Christophe was an application engineer at Motorola Semiconductor in Toulouse. Before 1997, he worked as a power supply designer at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble, France, for 10 years. He holds a BSEE equivalent from the Montpellier University (France) and a MSEE from the Institut National Polytechnique of Toulouse (France). He is an IEEE Senior Member.

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