A Hamiltonian viewpoint in the modelling of switching power converters, Special Issue on Hybrid Systems

In this paper we show how, using the Hamiltonian formalism, we can systematically derive mathematical models that describe the behaviour of a large class of switching power converters, including the “Boost”, “Buck”, “Buck-Boost”, “Čuk” and “Flyback” converters. We follow the approach proposed by van der Schaft and Maschke and extract from the basic (energy-conserving) LC–circuit the remaining elements, i.e., resistors, switches, diodes and transformers, which we treat as external ports. This method naturally yields a Hamiltonian system with two additional conjugated sets of port variables. This procedure, besides being systematic and very general, has the additional advantage of resulting in equations of a form appropriate for simulation and design of the highly succesful passivity–based controllers.