A ZVS PWM Inverter with Active Voltage Clamping Technique Using Only a Single Auxiliary Switch

Abstract

This paper presents a zero-voltage (PWM) inverter with active voltage clamping technique using only a single auxiliary switch. The structure is particularly simple and robust. It is very attractive for single-phase high power applications. Conduction and switching losses are reduced due to implementation of the simple active snubber circuit, that provides ZVS conditions for all switches, including the auxiliary one. Its main features are: Simple control strategy, robustness, lower weight and volume, lower harmonic distortion of the output current, and high efficiency. The principle of operation for steady-state conditions, mathematical analysis and experimental results from a laboratory prototype are presented.