Nonlinear Modeling of DC/DC Converters Using the Hammerstein's Approach

This paper deals with the modelling of highly nonlinear switching power-electronics converters using black-box identification methods. The duty cycle and the output voltage are chosen, respectively, as the input and the output of the model. A nonlinear Hammerstein-type mathematical model, consisting of a static nonlinearity and a linear time-invariant model, is considered in order to cope with the well-known limitations of the more common small-signal models, i.e. the entity of the variations of the variables around a well-defined steady-state operating point and the incorrect reproduction of the steady-state behavior corresponding to input step variations from the above steady-state operating point. The static nonlinearity of the Hammerstein model is identified from input-output couples measured at steady state for constant inputs. The linear model is identified from input-output data relative to a transient generated by a suitable pseudorandom binary sequence constructed with two input values used to identify the nonlinearity. The identification procedure is, first, illustrated with reference to a boost DC/DC converter using results of simulations carried out in the PSpice environment as true experimental results. Then, the procedure is experimentally applied on a prototype of the above converter. In order to show the utility of the Hammerstein models, a PI controller is tuned for a nominal model. Simulation and experimental results are displayed with the aim of showing the peculiarities of the approach that is followed.