Fabrication, simulation and testing of a zero voltage switching strategy based high frequency buck converter

High switching frequency in power electronic converters reduces the size and weight of passive elements used in the converter but increases the switching losses of the power electronic devices. Remedy for high switching losses is the use of soft switching techniques which reduce switching losses and inturn increases efficiency. Zero voltage switching (ZVS) is one type of soft switching technique. In this paper a ZVS strategy based buck converter is presented operated at 50kHz. Performance analysis and simulation of the converter has been done by using SequelGUI2 software. Finally, a small laboratory phototype of rating 50W, 50kHz has been designed, fabricated and tested. The experimental results and simulated performance are found to be in good agreement.