An efficient adaptive energy storage using saturable inductors for ZVS phase-shift-modulated full-bridge converters

Abstract

This paper presents a new design of auxiliary circuit branches for a family of zero-voltage switching phase-shift-modulated dc/dc converters initially reported for fuel cell application. The suggested method applies saturable inductors in auxiliary branches and guarantees zero-voltage switching (ZVS) operation with reduced conduction loss for all the input and load conditions. The suggested approach is compared with linear branch method to validate the analysis. It is shown that the proposed approach offers up to 30% reduction in the conduction loss of auxiliary branches. The latter allows lower safety margins for the switches and the auxiliary branch components, which simplifies converter design, and reduces size, weight, and cost.