Analysis and implementation of a softswitching converter with reduced switch count

This study presents a reduced switch dual-converter to implement the features of zero-voltage switching (ZVS), load current sharing, high output current and low output ripple current. There are two converter modules in the proposed converter. These two modules share the same power switches and provide the balance load current. The active-clamping circuit is used to realise the ZVS turn-on such that the switching losses on power switches are reduced. The current output rectifier is adopted in the output side to realise the higher output current with reduced ripple current such that the sizes of the output chokes and capacitor are reduced. Compared with the conventional ZVS parallel-connected converter with four power switches, only two switches are used in the proposed converter to accomplish parallel operation. Thus, the proposed converter has less circuit components. Finally, the experimental results based on a laboratory prototype (12 V/50 A) are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed converter.