Designing a DC-DC Converter in MATLAB Simulink
A practical guide to designing and simulating buck, boost, and buck-boost DC-DC converters in MATLAB Simulink for student projects. DC-DC converters are one of the most fundamental building blocks in power electronics, and designing one from scratch in Simulink is a rite of passage for most electrical engineering students. Choosing Your Converter Type Buck converter: steps voltage down — a good starting project due to its simple topology. Boost converter: steps voltage up — commonly paired with solar PV projects. Buck-Boost converter: can step voltage up or down — slightly more complex, often chosen for M.E-level work. Design Steps Calculate component values (inductor, capacitor) for your target ripple specifications and switching frequency Build the power stage in Simulink using ideal switches or MOSFET/diode blocks from Simscape Electrical Add a PWM generator block to control the switch Verify open-loop performance against your hand calculations Adding Closed-Loop C...