Soft switched PWM converters with low commutation loss using an active snubber

Abstract

A new soft switched active snubber circuit is proposed to achieve zero-voltage and zero-current switching for all the switching devices in PWM DC-DC converters. The unique location of the snubber capacitor and inductor ensures low current/voltage stresses and commutation losses. With a saturable reactor, the conduction loss of the auxiliary switch could be further minimized. A boost converter adopting this technique is presented as an example, to illuminate its operation principles and derive the design procedures. Simulation and hardware implementation have been made to validate its performance. Some other basic PWM DC-DC topologies using the proposed snubber have also been given.