High Efficiency DC–DC Boost Converter With Passive Snubber and Reduced Switching Losses

This article presents a novel concept of switch-mode dc–dc boost converters with reduced switching losses. The converters use an auxiliary switching cell to achieve zero voltage switching during the turn-off of a transistor. The novel concept facilitates an increase in the efficiency or switching frequency of an IGBT-based boost converter. This article discusses the converters topology, the principle of operation, and issues related to the reduction of power losses, the range of optimal operation, and selection of components. The concept of the converter was verified through simulation and a series of experiments that demonstrate the process of zero-voltage turn-off and the efficiency of the converter.