Zero-voltage-zero-current switching in high-output-voltage full-bridge PWM converters using the interwinding capacitance

A novel zero-voltage and zero-current-switching (ZVZCS) full-bridge (FB) pulsewidth-modulated (PWM) power converter is proposed. The new converter uses the interwinding capacitance and a small primary-side inductor to achieve a zero-current-zero-voltage turn off and a zero-current turn on of the passive-to-active leg transistors. The turn off of the active-to-passive leg transistors is with zero voltage, and the turn on is with zero voltage and zero current across them. The ringing caused by the parasitic interwinding capacitance and by the reverse recovery of the rectifiers is reduced. The new converter is attractive for high-output-voltage applications (600-1000 V), where the interwinding capacitance is sufficiently dominant. In addition, switches such as insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) and MCTs can be used at higher frequencies which is particularly desirable for high-power application (above 2 kW). The experimental results obtained from an IGBT-based 62.5-kHz DC/DC power converter with a rated output voltage of 600 V and a nominal power of 1.2 kW are presented.