Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
ECE 523 --- Power Electronics, DESIGN PROBLEM #2
Handed out: 10/30/2025
Due: 11/13/2025
Note:
(1) In your report, answer each TASK in sequence.
(2) Also, on your first page, write one page summary of results.
(3) Collaboration is not allowed.
(4) Late work is not accepted.
The goal in this exercise is to evaluate the operation of an ideal flyback converter in continuous
conduction, on the boundary of continuous-discontinuous conduction mode. Specifications are:
• Input voltage: VCC = 170V
• Output: Vo = 5V @ 25 Watts
• Switching frequency fsw = 75 kHz
• Output voltage ripple = 50 mV, peak-peak
• Efficiency = 100% (all components are ideal)1
A PSIM circuit is shown in Figure 1. Here are some notes on the various elements:
• Use an ideal (inverted) transformer with a stepdown ratio of 100:8
• Add a magnetizing inductance on the primary (Lm)
• Use a MOSFET as a switch
• Use a gating block to drive the MOSFET switch, with a frequency of 75 kHz. Double-click on the
gating block and enter “75k” in the “FREQUENCY” box. To set the duty cycle, enter angles in the
“SWITCHING POINTS” box. The first angle is “0”. The second angle (up to 360) depends on your
duty cycle, where an angle of 360 would be a duty cycle D = 1. For a duty cycle of 0.5, you would
enter “0 180.” In the SWITCHING POINTS box. Make sure to put a period after the second angle.
Also, PSIM only uses full numbers, (no decimals) for the angle.
• Double click on Lm and CL and put “1” in the “CURRENT FLAG” boxes. This will ensure that you
can plot the current in these.
• The output 25 Watt load is modeled with a resistor RL.
1
This is a big approximation for the flyback converter. Typically, a flyback has efficiency of 80% if you do a good job.
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Figure 1. Ideal flyback converter for design problem
TASK #1: FIND THE DUTY CYCLE
Calculate the duty cycle D.
TASK #2: SUPPLY CURRENTS, PEAK CURRENTS
The flyback converter operates on the boundary between continuous conduction and discontinuous
conduction mode. Given this constraint:
(a) Calculate the average power supply current IS,AVG supplied by the power supply VCC
(b) Calculate the peak switch current in the MOSFET ISW,PK
(c) Calculate the peak diode current ID,PK
(d) Sketch (not using PSIM) labeled graphs of supply current is(t), switch current (isw(t)), magnetizing
current (im(t)) and diode current (id(t)).
TASK #3: MAGNETIZING INDUCTANCE VALUE
Calculate the value of magnetizing inductance Lm which will put the flyback on the boundary between
continuous and discontinuous conduction mode.
TASK 4: SKETCH OF CAPACITOR CURRENT, RIPPLE VOLTAGE, AND MINIMUM
CAPACITOR VALUE
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Assuming that the magnetizing inductance is the value Lm calculated in Task #4,
(a) Sketch and label the diode current, capacitor current, and output ripple voltage.
(b) Calculate the value of output capacitor which meets the ripple voltage specification.
TASK #5: SIMULATIONS OF IDEAL FLYBACK CONVERTER
Simulate the flyback converter using PSIM, using ideal values of Lm, D, and CL calculated before. Show
that all your calculated values are correct (peak currents, output ripple, etc).
TASK #6: EFFECTS OF NONIDEAL FILTER CAPACITOR
Next, assume that instead of an ideal output capacitor that your output cap has an equivalent series
resistance (ESR) of 25 milliOhms (0.025 ). Comment on the effects of this ESR in achieving your
specifications. Simulate the nonideal flyback and comment.
TASK #7: EFFECTS OF NONIDEAL MOSFET AND DIODE
Next, keep your capacitor with the ESR, and keep the duty cycle the same as in tasks 1-6. Change the
MOSFET ON resistance to 0.1 and change the DIODE ON voltage (a.k.a. THRESHOLD voltage in
PSIM) to 0.4V. (Leave the diode resistance at “0”). Re-simulate and comment on the effects.
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