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POWERpuzzler #11

(Z) is Key, the Importance of the Loss Allocation Factor
by Peter Vaughan
Peter Vaughan

Test your power supply design knowledge as it pertains to power delivery by trying your hand at answering the three questions below. Then check your answers and enter for a chance to win a new Apple iPod nano. The schematic below shows a 32 W average (81 W peak) Flyback power supply using a PeakSwitch™ power conversion IC. In a Flyback converter, output power can be expressed as follows:

 

where L is the primary inductance, IINIT is the initial and IPK is the final primary current value for each switching cycle, f is the switching frequency, and h is the efficiency. The loss allocation factor (Z) indicates the proportion of losses between primary and secondary and is defined as secondary-side losses divided by the total losses of the supply (0 ≤ Z ≤ 1). A value of 1 indicates that all losses are on the secondary-side of the power supply while a value of 0 indicates all the losses are on the primary-side.

 

 

A. Input Stage:____

B. Clamp:____

C. Drain Node Capacitance:____

D. Core Loss:____ , Winding Loss:____

F. Rectifer and Snubber:____

G. Bias Supply:____

H. Current Sense:____

E. Switching Loss:____, Conduction Loss:____

 


Question 1: beginner

 
   

If the primary winding copper losses are increased by 100 mW and the secondary winding copper losses decreased by 100 mW.

a.       What is the effect on the Z factor?

b.       What is the effect on the primary inductance value?

 
   

Click to see the answer to Question 1


Question 2: advanced

 
   

Indicate in the above design which of the highlighted losses are primary (P) or secondary-side (S) losses.

 
   

Click to see the answer to Question 2

 


Question 3: expert


Power Supply Application

P, B or S

3 W Cell Phone Charger

 

25 W Set-top box supply

 

DC input standby power supply

 

32 W (81 W peak) inkjet printer supply

 

For the following supplies would you expect the Z factor to be less than 0.5 (Primary dominated losses), equal to 0.5 (Balanced losses) or greater than 0.5 (Secondary dominated losses)? In what ways would you verify the Z factor in the above design?

   


Click to see the answer to Question 3

 
 

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