SNVS085X July 2000 – December 2017 LM3478
PRODUCTION DATA.
The output capacitor in a boost converter provides all the output current when the inductor is charging. As a result it sees very large ripple currents. The output capacitor should be capable of handling the maximum RMS current. Equation 32 shows the RMS current in the output capacitor.
Where
The ESR and ESL of the capacitor directly control the output ripple. Use capacitors with low ESR and ESL at the output for high efficiency and low ripple voltage. Surface mount tantalums, surface mount polymer electrolytic, polymer tantalum, or multi-layer ceramic capacitors are recommended at the output.
For applications that require very low output voltage ripple, a second stage LC filter often is a good solution. Most of the time it is lower cost to use a small second Inductor in the power path and an additional final output capacitor than to reduce the output voltage ripple by purely increasing the output capacitor without an additional LC filter.