Mini Bench Power Supply by LM324-BUZ22

The power supply described here is a simple unit, easily constructed from standard components. It is only suitable for small loads but otherwise has all the characteristics of its bigger brethren. Between 18 V and 24 V is applied to the input, for example from a laptop power supply. This avoids the need for an expensive transformer and accompanying smoothing. No negative supply is needed, but the output voltage is nevertheless adjustable down to 0 V.

A difficulty in the design of power supplies with current limiting is the shunt resistor needed to measure the output current, normally connected to a differential amplifier. Frequently in simple designs the amplifier is not powered from a regulated supply, which can lead to an unstable current regulation loop. This circuit avoids the difficulty by using a low-cost fixed voltage regulator to supply the feedback circuit with a stable voltage. This arrangement greatly simplifies current measurement and regulation.
To generate this intermediate supply voltage we use an LM7815. Its output passes through R17, which measures the output current, to MOSFET T1 which is driven by the voltage regulation opamp IC1C. Here R11 and C4 determine the bandwidth of the control loop, preventing oscillation at high frequencies. R15 ensures that capacitive loads with low effective resistance do not make the control loop unstable. The negative feedback of AC components of thecurrent via R12 and C5 makes the circuit reliable even with a large capacitor at its output, and negative feedback of the DC component is via the low-pass filter formed by R14 and C6. This ensures that the voltage drop across R15 is correctly compensated for. C7 at the output provides a low impedance source for high-frequency loads, and R16 provides for the discharge of C17 when the set voltage is reduced with no load attached.

Source: http://powersupplycircuit.blogspot.com/