Dc/dc Converter

Source: Ali Bazzi, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. Boost converters provide a versatile solution to stepping up DC voltages in many applications where a DC voltage needs to be increased without the need to convert it to AC, using a transformer, and then rectifying the transformer output. Boost converters are step-up converters that use an inductor as an energy storage device that supports the output with additional energy in addition to the DC input...

Source: Ali Bazzi, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. While it is simple to step up or down AC voltages and currents using transformers, stepping up or down DC voltages and currents in an efficient and regulated manner requires switching power converters. The DC/DC buck converter chops the input DC voltage using a series input switch, and the chopped voltage is filtered through the L-C low-pass filter to extract the average output voltage. The diode...

Source: Ali Bazzi, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. The DC machine operates with DC currents and voltages as opposed to an AC machine, which requires AC currents and voltages. DC machines were the first to be invented and utilize two magnetic fields that are controlled by DC currents. The same machine can be easily reconfigured to be a motor or generator if appropriate field excitation is available, since the DC machine has two fields termed field...

An alternator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy that varies sinusoidally, resulting in AC current. Meanwhile, a DC generator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy, which are DC pulses with the same polarity. The construction of a DC generator is similar to that of an alternator, except that the pair of slip rings is replaced by a single split ring, also called a commutator. The commutator functions like a periodic rotary switch; it changes the contacts with the...

Source: Jose Roberto Moreto and Xiaofeng Liu, Department of Aerospace Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA The low-speed wind tunnel is a valuable tool to study aircraft aerodynamic characteristics and evaluate aircraft performance and stability. Using a scale model of a DC-6B aircraft that has a removable tail and a 6-component external aerodynamic force balance, we can measure the lift coefficient (CL), drag coefficient (CD), pitching moment coefficient (CM), and yaw moment...