EEK 471 LAB 9

Universiti Sains Malaysia Electrical Engineering Department Advanced Power Electronic Laboratory EEK471

The MOSFET Boost Chopper

OBJECTIVE To learn the operation of a MOSFET boost chopper.

INTRODUCTION The boost chopper As discussed in the previous exercise of this manual, transformers allow ac voltage and current levels to be converted. For example, a step-up transformer is normally used to convert an ac voltage into a higher ac voltage. With dc power, a similar conversion can be performed using a boost chopper. Figure 1 shows a boost chopper built with a MOSFET (Q) and a diode (D), and some waveforms related to this circuit. When MOSFET Q switches on, the voltage across its terminals becomes virtually null, the dc power supply voltage (V1) is applied to the inductor (L), and the current flowing in inductor L (IL) starts to increase. Simultaneously, diode D switches off since it becomes reverse biased. At this moment, capacitor C starts to discharge into the load and both the output current (IO) and voltage (VO) start to decrease. When MOSFET Q switches off, the voltage across its terminals increases very rapidly until it reaches approximately VO + 0.7 V (due to inductor L). This applies a forward-bias voltage of approximately 0 .7 V to diode D, which therefore switches on. At this moment, a current equal to IL IO starts to charge up capacitor C, and both Vo and lo start to increase. The dc voltage at the boost chopper output (VO) is proportional to the dc voltage at the boost chopper input (VI) and the time the MOSFET is on during each cycle. This time, which is referred to as the on time (ton), is in turn proportional to the duty cycle (ton/T) of the switching control signal applied to the gate of MOSFET Q. The equation relating voltages VO and VI is given by the expression: VO=VI / (1 - ) Thus, voltage VO can be varied by varying the duty cycle . This equation indicates that voltage VO can range between voltage VI, and an infinite voltage when the duty cycle varies between 0 and 1. In practice, however, the duty cycle only approaches 0 and 1. Therefore, voltage VO can vary between a voltage little higher than voltage VI, and many times voltage VI. In certain circuits, however, the maximum value of the duty cycle a must be limited to limit the maximum voltage the boost chopper can produce. Varying the frequency of the switching control signal while maintaining the duty cycle constant does not vary the dc voltage and current at the boost chopper output (VO and IO). However, the ripple on the output voltage decreases as the frequency of the switching control signal increases. The power which the buck chopper delivers at its output (PO) is equal to the power it receives at its input (PI) minus the power dissipated in the semiconductor switch and inductor. The power dissipated in the semiconductor switch is usually small compared to the power PO. The power efficiency of boost choppers, thus, often exceeds 80%. Notice that the power efficiency is the ratio of the output power on the input power times 100%, as stated in the following equation: Power Efficiency = (PO / PI) x 100%

EEK 471 LAB 9

Figure 1: Operation of a boost chopper. EQUIPMENTS EMS 8821 Enclosure Power Supply EMS 8840-0A PE Power Supply EMS 8837-0A Power Mosfets Module EMS 9029-00 Chopper/Inverter Control Unit EMS 8412-05 Lab-Volt DC Voltmeter/Ammeter EMS 8311 Variable Resistance X 2 EMS 8325 Smoothing Inductor EMS 9056-15 and EMS 9056-05 Voltage/Current Isolator 24V AC Power Switch Textronic Oscilloscope Connection Leads BNC-connector cable

EEK 471 LAB 9

WARNINGS The voltages and currents that are used during this lab are larger and rated at 240VDC Line-toNeutral with current as high as 20 amps (or higher if circuits are improperly connected). Please take the proper precautions and use your head before touching any circuitry. NEVER change any circuit connections while the power supply is turned on. Ask the demonstrator to check your connections before turning on the switches. And follow the rating of voltmeters and ammeters given to prevent equipments from damaged. Experiment: Part I Operation of the MOSFET boost chopper 1. In this part, you will use the circuit shown in Figure 1a to observe the operation of a MOSFET boost chopper. The only difference in these figures is the location of the dc voltmeter. In this circuit, the MOSFET boost chopper output is connected to a resistive load consisting of resistors R1 and R2 connected in series. A voltage isolator and a current isolator will allow you to observe the waveforms of the voltage and current at the MOSFET boost chopper input. You will vary the duty cycle of the switching control signal while observing the dc voltage and current at the MOSFET boost chopper output. This will allow you to verify the relationship between the duty cycle and the dc voltage at the MOSFET boost chopper input and output, and to determine the direction of power flow. Connect the modules as shown in Figure 1a. 2. Note that diode D1 is the power diode connected in parallel with MOSFET Q1. Diode D4, which is connected in parallel with MOSFET Q4 and MOSFET Q1 are not shown in Figure 1a because they are useless in this circuit. MOSFET Q1 is forced to the off state by connecting SWITCHING CONTROL INPUT 1 of the Power MOSFETS module to the common point.

Figure 1a: Circuit of the MOSFET boost chopper

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Figure 1b: L1 = 0.8H Table 1a: Parameters setting i1 (A) I1 (A) I2 (mA) L1(H) 5 1.5 300 0.8

e1 (V) 600

E1(V) 300

R1 () 1600

R2 () 1600

3. Make the following settings on the Chopper/Inverter Control Unit DC SOURCE 1 Maximum DC SOURCE 2 Mid position MODE CHOP. PWM 4. Make sure that the main power switch of the Power Supply is set to the 0 (OFF) position. Set the voltage control knob to 0. 5. Set the 24V ac power switch to the 1 (ON) position. The POWER ON LED on the Power MOSFETS module should light up to indicate that the module is correctly powered. 6. Set the main power switch to 1 (ON) and slowly set the voltage control knob to 20(%). This supplies dc power to the MOSFET boost chopper. On the oscilloscope, make the appropriate settings to position the traces of channels 1 and 2 in the upper and lower halves of the screen, respectively. The trace of channel 1 represents the waveform of the current flowing in inductor L1. The trace of channel 2 represents the switching control signal applied to MOSFET Q4. 7. On the Chopper/Inverter Control Units, set the DC SOURCE 2 control knob so that the period of the switching control signal to approximately 5 ms. Consequently, the operating frequency of the MOSFET boost chopper is approximately 200 Hz. 8. On the Chopper/lnverter Control Unit, slowly set the DC SOURCE 1 control knob so that the duty cycle of the switching control signal varies from 0% to approximately 50% while observing the voltage indicated by the DC Voltmeter/Ammeter not more than 300 V. Observe the current indicated by the centre meter (I 2 dc) on the DC Voltmeter/Ammeter. Does the polarity of the dc current flowing in the load change as the duty cycle of the switching control signal varies? In which direction does the power flow? 9. Describe how the dc voltage at the MOSFET boost chopper output varies when the duty cycle of the switching control signal is increased. Sketch the waveforms displayed on the oscilloscope screen in Figure 1c. From the waveforms sketched in Figure 1c, explain why the MOSFET boost chopper can produce output voltages which are much higher than the voltage applied at its input.

EEK 471 LAB 9

Figure 1c: The switching control signal applied to MOSFET Q4 and the waveform of the current in inductor L1. 10. On the Chopper/Inverter Control Unit, slowly set the DC SOURCE 1 control knob to the MAX position to set the duty cycle of the switching control signal to minimum. On the DC Voltmeter/Ammeter, measure and note the dc voltage at the output of the MOSFET boost chopper. On the Power Supply, measure and note the dc voltage provided to the MOSFET boost chopper by the variable voltage dc power supply. Explain why this circuit is referred to as a boost chopper, knowing that the duty cycle of the switching control signal is now set to minimum. 11. Turn OFF all power supplies connected to the circuit but do not remove any connections because now you are going to alter the circuit. Modify the connections so that the modules are connected as shown in Figure 1d. In this figure, the voltmeter of the DC Voltmeter/Ammeter is connected at the input of the MOSFET boost chopper instead of being connected to its output, and channel 1 of the oscilloscope is connected to the Voltage Isolator OUTPUT instead of being connected to the Current Isolator OUTPUT.

Figure 1d: Circuit of the MOSFET boost chopper

EEK 471 LAB 9

12. On the Chopper/Inverter Control Units, set the DC SOURCE 2 control knob so that the period of the switching control signal to approximately 2 ms. Consequently, the operating frequency of the MOSFET boost chopper is approximately 500 Hz. On the Chopper/Inverter Control Unit, set the DC SOURCE 1 control knob so that the duty cycle of the switching control signal is equal to 50%. 13. On the Power Supply, set the main power switch to the 1 (ON) position, then slowly set the voltage control knob of the Power Supply to the 20%. Measure and note the dc voltage at the MOSFET boost chopper input (VI). It is indicated by the DC Voltmeter/Ammeter. VI = ________ V dc Calculate the dc voltage which should appear at the output of the MOSFET boost chopper using the following equation: VO = VI / (1 ) VO = ________ V dc Determine the dc voltage at the MOSFET boost chopper output using the output signal of the Voltage Isolator which is displayed on the oscilloscope screen. VO (measured) = ________ V dc Does the measured output voltage correspond to the calculated output voltage? 14. Turn OFF all power supplies connected to the circuit but do not remove any connections because in Part II you will use the similar circuit.

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Experiment: Part II Observing the effect of the switching control signal frequency and output power versus input power 1. Make sure that the main power switch of the Power Supply is set to the 0 (OFF) position. Set the voltage control knob to 0. In this part, you will use the similar circuit as in Figure 1d. This circuit will allow you to vary the frequency of the switching control signal while observing the dc voltage and current, as well as the voltage waveform, at the MOSFET boost chopper output. This will allow you to verify the effect of frequency on these parameters. You will determine the power at the input and output of the MOSFET boost chopper. You will then compare the output power to the input power and determine the power efficiency of the chopper. 2. Set up the circuit as in Figure 1d. On the Resistive Load module, modify the setting of the toggle switches so that resistors R1 and R2 values are 686 . 3. Make the following settings on the Chopper/Inverter Control Unit DC SOURCE 1 Maximum DC SOURCE 2 Mid position MODE CHOP. PWM 4. Set the 24V ac power switch to the 1 (ON) position. The POWER ON LED on the Power MOSFETS module should light up to indicate that the module is correctly powered. 5. On the Power Supply, set the main power switch to the 1 (ON) position, then slowly set the voltage control knob of the Power Supply to the 20%. Measure and note the dc voltage at the MOSFET boost chopper input (VI). It is indicated by the DC Voltmeter/Ammeter. 6. On the Chopper/Inverter Control Unit set the DC SOURCE 1 control knob so that the circuit provides input current I1 approximately 1 A. 7. On the Chopper/Inverter Control Unit, slowly turn the DC SOURCE 2 control knob in both direction to vary the frequency of the switching control signal, while observing the dc voltage and current at the MOSFET boost chopper output on the oscilloscope screen and on the DC Voltmeter/Ammeter, respectively. Does the frequency of the switching control signal have a significant effect on the dc voltage and current the MOSFET boost chopper provides? If so, describe this effect. 8. On the Chopper/Inverter Control Unit, slowly turn the DC SOURCE 2 control knob in both directions to vary the frequency of the switching control signal, while observing the waveform of the voltage at the MOSFET boost chopper output on the oscilloscope screen. Does the frequency of the switching control signal have a significant effect on the ripple on the voltage at the MOSFET boost chopper output? If so, describe this effect.

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9. On the Power Supply and the DC Voltmeter/Ammeter, measure and note the dc voltage and current which the variable-voltage dc power supply supplies to the MOSFET boost chopper and to the load. Use these results to calculate the power which is supplied to the MOSFET boost chopper PI and PO. Note the resulting power in the space below. PI = ________ W PO = ________ W Calculate the power efficiency of the MOSFET boost chopper using the following equation: Power efficiency = (PO / PI) x 100% Power efficiency = ________ % Is the power at the output of the MOSFET boost chopper nearly equal to the power at its input? 10. On the Power Supply, set the voltage control knob to the 0 position then set the main power switch and the 24 V ac power switch to the 0 position. Set the rocker switch on the Enclosure/ Power Supply to the 0 position. Remove all leads, cables and probes.

REVIEW QUESTIONS 1. Describe the effect the switching control signal frequency has on the output voltage and current of a MOSFET boost chopper. Explain. 2. A MOSFET boost chopper is powered by a 12 V dc power supply. What is the output voltage range of this chopper if the duty cycle can vary between 20% and 95%? 3. Briefly describe the operation of the MOSFET boost chopper. 4. Explain why the maximum value of the duty cycle must be limited in certain boost choppers. 5. Name the component operating with ac power which best compares to the MOSFET boost chopper.