Nonlinear and nonsmooth dynamics in a DC-DC Buck converter: Two experimental set-ups

It is well known that many nonlinear phenomena such as bifurcations and chaotic behavior occur in DC–DC converters mainly due to the switching action among all the different topologies of the circuit. Such behavior has been described with detail numerically, and also mathematical reasoning has been provided. In this paper we focuss on the experimental side of a DC–DC Buck converter controlled with two different strategies: classical Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) with a ramp and a more recently described Zero Average Dynamics (ZAD). We show some nonsmooth events and we explain with detail the experimental set-ups. In one of them, we use a FPGA card to obtain on-line results. In the other we use Virtual Instrumentation to generate an experimental two-dimensional bifurcation diagram, which will be compared to the numerical data. After the data acquisition of the system state variables some elaborated post-processing must be made. This is done through LabView. Although the main application of these results is centered in avoiding non-periodic or high-amplitude periodic behavior, they can also be applied to reducing the generated electro-magnetic interference and to the information transmission.Partially funded by SICONOS.