A Three-Phase Current-Fed Push-Pull DC-DC Converter With Active Clamp for Fuel Cell Applications

In this paper, a new active-clamped three-phase current-fed push-pull dc-dc converter is proposed for high-power applications where low-voltage high-current input sources such as fuel cells are used. The proposed converter has the following features: active clamping of the transient surge voltage caused by transformer leakage inductances, natural zero-voltage switching turn-on of main switches using energy stored in transformer leakage inductor, small current rating and zero-voltage and zero-current switching of clamp switches, no additional start-up circuitry for soft starting due to the operating duty cycle range between 0 and 1, and zero-current switching turn-off of rectifier diodes leading to negligible voltage surge associated with the diode reverse recovery. A comparative study along with loss analysis is performed. Experimental results from 5-kW laboratory prototypes of the proposed active-clamped converter and the passive-clamped converter are provided.