TIDUFA5 December 2024
In a SEPIC converter, when the power switch Q1 is turned on, the inductor is charging and the output current is supplied by the output capacitor. As a result, the output capacitor experiences large ripple currents. Thus, the selected output capacitor must be capable of handling the maximum RMS current. Equation 25 calculates the RMS current in the output capacitor.
The ESR, ESL, and the bulk capacitance of the output capacitor directly control the output ripple. Assume half of the ripple is caused by the ESR and the other half is caused by the amount of capacitance. Hence, Equation 26 and Equation 27 show the calculations.
The output capacitance must meet the RMS current, ESR and capacitance requirements. In surface mount applications, tantalum, polymer electrolytic, and polymer tantalum, or multilayer ceramic capacitors are recommended at the output.