ZVS Operating Range Extension Method for High-Efficient High Frequency Linked ZVS-PWM DC-DC Power Converter

In this paper, a full bridge edge-resonant zero voltage mode based soft-switching PWM DC-DC power converter with a high frequency center tapped transformer link stage is presented from a practical point of view. The power MOSFETS operating as synchronous rectifier devices are implemented in the rectifier center tapped stage to reduce conduction power losses and also to extend the transformer primary side power MOSFETS ZVS commutation area from the rated to zero-load without a requirement of a magnetizing current. The steady-state operation of this phase-shift PWM controlled power converter is described in comparison with a conventional ZVS phase-shift PWM DC-DC converter using the diodes rectifier. Moreover, the experimental results of the switching power losses analysis are evaluated and discussed in this paper. The practical effectiveness of the ZVS phase-shift PWM DC-DC power converter treated here is actually proved by using 2.5kW-32kHz breadboard circuit. An actual efficiency of this converter is estimated in experiment and is achieved as 97$\%$ at maximum.