# Op amp circuit stability in linear regulator circuit

I am trying to design a stable linear regulator using MOSFET and op amp. Schematics is shown below:

I am using LTSpice for simulations. This circuit is mostly for educational purpose: I want to understand how to use bode plots to design a stable op amp circuit with feedback. I have studied a bunch of theory on this topic but I don't have any practice regarding op amp circuits.

So first of all I broke the feedback loop, grounded inverting input of the opamp, ran ac analysis measuring node "out". I put DC offset of the V5 to 0V and results are shown below:

!!See fig 1!! (sorry I had to put figures in one image because my reputation is lower than 10 and I can't attach more than 2 images)

Gain is not going higher than 0dB.

Afterwards, I have used V4 for injecting AC into the feedback loop (DC value = 0, I have restored the feedback loop). Plot of V(out)/V(vn) is show below:

!!See fig 2!!

Phase margin might be not that good but anyways...

Also I have done a plot of V5 with AC 1 and without using V4 in the loop:

!!See fig 3!!

Here I actually see the peak near 200 kHz but... Transient analysis is showing the following:

!!See fig 4!!

A bit closer...

!!See fig 5!!

So the circuit is oscillating and frequency is 1.8 MHz. I don't understand why. Obviously I am laking some knowledge concerning AC analysis... I understand that I should just increase capacitance C1 to 40uF and it will solve the problem but I want to know why I should do that (i.e. how can I see it on the bode plot). The only plot which showed some problems was the transient plot to step response.

Figures:

UPDATED:

The reason I am trying to use an op-amp in this circuit is that I already have a following linear regulator in my device and I want to upgrade it:

It works fine but sometimes it is not charging the capacitor C1 fast enough so I thought about using op-amp to make the response faster. And the most important characteristic here is to make the C1 charge from 8V to 10V as fast as possible.

R1 is 2 km long cable.

• One of the transistors is reversed. Probably Q2. – Brian Drummond Aug 22 '16 at 21:51
• I have fixed that but the circuit is still oscillating... Plots are pretty much the same – Artem Aug 22 '16 at 22:04
• If you want the output to go to 0V, you will need a small negative supply rail and a pull-down for the mosfet. Not sure about stability yet, but for a transient run try a 10nF capacitor from the opamp output to its (-) input. – jonk Aug 22 '16 at 22:15
• Why are you bothering with the BJTs? – jonk Aug 22 '16 at 22:20
• Gate of the MOSFET has big capacitance, I thought that I should use some kind of driver – Artem Aug 22 '16 at 22:21

The op amp you've chosen is a 100 MHz current-feedback model. 100 MHz is very high for a learning project and you probably want one of the more conventional voltage feedback op amps to start out with. The op amp circuits you typically find around don't work with current feedback op amps. I'd say studying current feedback op amps is perhaps best postponed until you've made solid progress with "regular" ones :)

I recommend starting with an LT1001 if you want to use models built into LTspice. It has a gain bandwidth product (GBW) of about 0.8 MHz, which is generally going to be "less hot to handle" while you're learning.

Second, I would simplify your circuit to the bare minimum and get that working. Then you can add components one at a time in an attempt to improve the circuit. If you start off with a complex circuit it's harder (and generally less fruitful for learning purposes) for you (and others you ask for help) to debug.

You can start off with a plain non-inverting amplifier and get all your measurements to work there (loop gain, closed loop gain, etc.). Then you can advance to putting additional stages into the circuit, such as the MOSFET. I would avoid the push-pull buffer until substantially later. There are simpler ways to address stability (like increasing R4 a bit, perhaps to 100 ohms) until you get to a fine-tuning stage.

If your op amp oscillates, you have a problem with stability, which is addressed with compensation. These are the topics you want to search on to find more, probably in that order, e.g. 'op amp stability' and 'op amp compensation'. TI has a video series on stability I've found very worthwhile. The first of the several videos in the series is available on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84VIdY0nKLg. The remaining six or so are on the TI site and require a MyTI login, but that's easy and free and well worth it in my opinion.

Your opamp is fast and oscillating. Just feed back the high frequency to kill it, I think.

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

I'm just throwing something together here for you to try in your simulations. Mostly note $C_1$, which provides some fast negative feedback for high frequencies while not doing much about lower frequencies. I think that should kill your problem. (Well, you need that divider I included because you shouldn't pick off your voltage feedback directly at the mosfet source. Need some distance there to allow $C_1$ room to work. You can replace $R_3$, $R_4$ and $R_5$ with a single resistor from your mosfet source back to the (-) input if you don't like the $2\cdot V_{set}$ arrangement and just want the output to equal $V_{set}$. Try a $4.7k\Omega$, for example.)

Note also the addition of a (-) rail. With that, you can drive down to $0V$.

I'm going to assume your opamp can drive the mosfet here. (You could select one that will do fine, I'd imagine?) I added $R_5$ so you could play. But you could just as well get rid of it entirely, as $R_3$ and $R_4$ form a Thevenin equivalent anyway.

So here's the schematic without the divider, in case the above text I added isn't totally clear. In all respects that count, it's the same as the earlier schematic and should deal with the oscillation for the exact same reasoning. It's only that the output will mirror the input instead of doubling it.

simulate this circuit

I don't like your BJT arrangement with both bases tied together and both emitters tied together, too. But I'm not sure why its there so I haven't bothered doing anything different with that. Feel free to add those back into the drive for your mosfet... after, not before, the $C_1$ feedback.

EDIT: Well, I forgot to take notice of your $500V$ supply rail and associated (desired, I suppose) $50\Omega$ impedance (5kW to handle a direct short?) Um. Just how do you plan to drive the mosfet gate so that you can regulate the output with that high of a rail?? I think you need to convert a reasonable expectation from your opamp into something that can reach that high up and get the mosfet gate up somewhere nearby into the stratosphere there.

• Sorry I forgot to mention that 50 Ohm resistor is actually a 2 km long coaxial cable. I have updated my question. – Artem Aug 23 '16 at 10:49
• Forgot to mention a 2km cable? Isn't that like forgetting to mention the elephant in the room? – jonk Aug 23 '16 at 13:21
• Current Mode OA's must not have anything reactive connected to the inverting input. Inherently unstable design here. – Tony Stewart Sunnyskyguy EE75 Sep 16 '18 at 0:35
• @TonyEErocketscientist I wasn't thinking of using the OP's OA. – jonk Sep 16 '18 at 0:38
• It's ok. he's long gone and 2km cable will have horrible step load response..All you need is a comparator and very low RdsOn with filter – Tony Stewart Sunnyskyguy EE75 Sep 16 '18 at 5:09