A 1 kW, 500 kHz front-end converter for a distributed power supply system

The analysis, design, and performance are discussed of a prototype high power-density converter suitable for use in the front-end of a distributed power supply system. The system delivers 1 kW to a regulated 40 V distribution bus from the rectified utility line. Its switching frequency is 500 kHz, and it uses a phase-shifted pulse-width modulation technique to avoid primary-side switching losses. The converter's topology is a standard power MOSFET H-bridge that drives a transformer. The output of this transformer is rectified by a full bridge of Schottky diodes. The switches of this forward converter are operated in a fixed-frequency PWM mode. The dominant parasitic elements are the transformer's leakage inductor, the MOSFETs' output capacitors, and the rectifiers' junction capacitors. Of these three groups of parasitic elements, only the leakage inductors do not result in a direct switching loss. To avoid MOSFET switching losses, the converter is controlled with a special gate-drive pattern that permits full recovery of the MOSFETs' capacitive energy. At the same time this drive scheme gives zero-voltage switching for the MOSFETs. The converter's efficiency at full load approaches 90%.<
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