DC-DC Boost Converter with Reduced Switching Losses in Wide Range of Voltage Gain

Abstract

This article presents the results of research on a new topology of a DC-DC converter in which switching losses are reduced by an auxiliary switching circuit (ASC). The proposed ASC can work as a passive or active circuit depending on the voltage gain of the converter. In both cases, this does not affect the operation of the main circuit and is analogous to a classic boost converter, which allows the use of the same control circuits and methods. The operation of the ASC is synchronized with the control of the main converter transistor. The reduction of transistor turn-off losses over a wide range of converter gain is a unique advantage of the proposed auxiliary circuit. This is evidenced by the comparison of the loss reduction with the classic boost converter and the reference converter with soft turn off. This article presents an in-depth analytical discussion related to the reduction of power losses, supported by simulation results, and verified experimentally.