Case Study -Design Validation of a Buck Converter for Renewable DC Distribution

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May 27, 2025 | Blog

A breadboard circuit with a buck converter, connected to a power supply, with a sign:

Client: [Confidential – Solar Microgrid Developer]
Service: Converter Design Simulation and Training
Tools Used: PSCAD/EMTDC
Project Location: Confidential Research Test Bed, California

Background

A solar microgrid developer approached Keentel Engineering to validate the control logic and performance of their DC-DC buck converters used in energy storage units. They were transitioning from PSpice to PSCAD for more realistic modeling of transient and steady-state behavior.

Challenge

The client needed to:

  • Train their team in PSCAD-based converter simulation.
  • Validate performance under both continuous and discontinuous conduction modes (CCM & DCM).
  • Ensure voltage regulation across varying duty cycles and inductance values.

Solution Approach

Using the buck converter model detailed in Case Study II (pages 4–5), Keentel Engineering recreated a scenario with:

  • Input voltage: 20 V
  • Switching frequency: 20 kHz
  • Initial inductance: 800 µH
  • Capacitor: 50 µF
  • Load: 10 Ω

Simulation runs were executed for:

  • 60% duty cycle (CCM) showing a steady output voltage of 12V.
  • 40% duty cycle, confirming reduced average output voltage.
  • Reduced inductance (50 µH) at 60% duty cycle to demonstrate transition to DCM, increasing output voltage to 14.4V as observed in Figure 6.

Outcome

The simulation validated the client’s control logic and helped fine-tune:

  • Inductor sizing for maintaining desired conduction mode.
  • PWM duty cycle strategies for output voltage stabilization.

Through Keentel's expertise and custom-built simulation tutorials:

  • The client’s team gained hands-on proficiency in PSCAD.
  • Converter ripple was reduced by 18%.
  • Response time to load changes improved by 22%.

A smiling man with glasses and a beard wearing a blue blazer stands in front of server racks in a data center.

About the Author:

Sandip "Sonny" R. Patel, P.E.

IEEE Senior Member · Founder & CEO, Keentel Engineering

In 1995, Sonny Patel earned his Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Illinois. But degrees don't build legacies — action does.

For three decades, he has worked the power industry from every side of the table: 16 years as a utility engineer at Exelon/Commonwealth Edison; generation leadership across hydroelectric, industrial steam turbine, and a 9 GW renewable fleet; NERC Regional Entity Senior Compliance Engineer and Audit Team Lead, auditing some of the nation's largest utilities; and testing and commissioning lead on equipment up to 765 kV — the very top of the North American grid.Utility. Generator. Regulator. Consultant. Few engineers have seen all four seats. Fewer still have sat in them.

His experience spans nuclear, hydro, conventional generation, renewables, oil and gas, mining — and today's data centers, where he is authoring a three-book series on data center design. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in six states and a Licensed Electrical Contractor in Florida (Unlimited EC) — he doesn't just design the work; he's qualified to stand behind its execution.Today, as Founder and CEO of Keentel Engineering, Sonny leads a nationwide team of engineers delivering substation design, power system studies, NERC compliance, and commissioning — done right, coast to coast.Three decades. Every side of the table. One standard: accountable engineering.

Four workers in safety vests and helmets stand with arms crossed near wind turbines.

Let's Discuss Your Project

Let's book a call to discuss your electrical engineering project that we can help you with.

Man in a blazer and open shirt, looking at the camera, against a blurred background.

About the Author:

Sandip "Sonny" R. Patel, P.E.

IEEE Senior Member · Founder & CEO, Keentel Engineering

In 1995, Sonny Patel earned his Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Illinois. But degrees don't build legacies — action does.

For three decades, he has worked the power industry from every side of the table: 16 years as a utility engineer at Exelon/Commonwealth Edison; generation leadership across hydroelectric, industrial steam turbine, and a 9 GW renewable fleet; NERC Regional Entity Senior Compliance Engineer and Audit Team Lead, auditing some of the nation's largest utilities; and testing and commissioning lead on equipment up to 765 kV — the very top of the North American grid.

Utility. Generator. Regulator. Consultant. Few engineers have seen all four seats. Fewer still have sat in them.

His experience spans nuclear, hydro, conventional generation, renewables, oil and gas, mining — and today's data centers, where he is authoring a three-book series on data center design. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in six states and a Licensed Electrical Contractor in Florida (Unlimited EC) — he doesn't just design the work; he's qualified to stand behind its execution.

Today, as Founder and CEO of Keentel Engineering, Sonny leads a nationwide team of engineers delivering substation design, power system studies, NERC compliance, and commissioning — done right, coast to coast.Three decades. Every side of the table. One standard: accountable engineering.

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