Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/3264
Date of Award
6-2026
Degree Name
MS in Electrical Engineering
Department/Program
Electrical Engineering
College
College of Engineering
Advisor
Taufik
Advisor Department
Electrical Engineering
Advisor College
College of Engineering
Abstract
This work presents the design, assembly, and evaluation of a four-phase multiphase buck converter developed as an instructional platform for an introductory power electronics course. The project is motivated by the growing demand for compact, high-efficiency power delivery in modern data centers and AI computing infrastructure, where low-voltage, high-current conversion with minimal footprint is essential. Multiphase buck converters are well suited to these applications, offering reduced ripple, improved thermal distribution, and enhanced transient performance compared to single-phase designs. The converter steps down a 12 V input to a regulated 0.9 V output at load currents up to 30 A, and the PCB layout provides access to key instructional waveforms, including switching-node voltages, inductor currents, and output ripple. The design was first validated through LTspice simulation and subsequently characterized experimentally. Measurements show that the converter exceeded major performance specifications, including line and load regulation, output-voltage ripple, and thermal behavior. The prototype was able to demonstrate one of the principal advantages of multiphase operation, which is inductor-current ripple cancellation through phase interleaving. For a theoretical best-case cancellation of 36%, the hardware achieved 36% under favorable conditions. Although most performance targets were surpassed, the measured efficiency fell slightly below the desired specification, and switching-frequency jitter inherent to the controller architecture limited ideal phase alignment and ripple v cancellation. Overall, the results confirm that the converter functions effectively as both a high-performance prototype and a robust educational laboratory platform for illustrating multiphase power-conversion concepts.