Title: Performance improvement of a buck converter using Kalman filtering

Authors: Adriano Pereira; Cândido Duarte; Pedro Costa; Witold Gora

Addresses: INESC TEC and Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, s/n 4200-465 Porto, Portugal ' INESC TEC and Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, s/n 4200-465 Porto, Portugal ' Infineon Technologies AG, Am Campeon 1-12, 85579 Neubiberg, Germany ' Infineon Technologies AG, Am Campeon 1-12, 85579 Neubiberg, Germany

Abstract: This paper presents a predictive current control algorithm for a synchronous buck converter using an extended Kalman filter (EKF) algorithm. The predictive approach avoids the need of current-sensing circuitry and provides insensitivity to Gaussian noise sources at the output of the buck converter, which is the same as the control loop input. The method requires a model for the buck converter, the EKF design, and current loop tuning. All these prerequisites are described in this work along with the implementation of the algorithm in a state of the art microcontroller. Simulation and experimental results show that while maintaining a good step response, the proposed method provides better results than standard methods when Gaussian noise is present at the output voltage.

Keywords: DC-DC converters; extended Kalman filter; EKF; Gaussian noise; predictive current control; sensorless current control; synchronous buck converters; performance improvement; filter design; modelling; microcontrollers; simulation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPELEC.2017.082931

International Journal of Power Electronics, 2017 Vol.8 No.2, pp.87 - 106

Received: 23 Mar 2016
Accepted: 15 Nov 2016

Published online: 15 Mar 2017 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article