A technique for reducing rectifier reverse-recovery-related losses in high-voltage, high-power boost converters

A circuit technique that reduces the boost power converter losses caused by the reverse-recovery characteristics of the rectifier is described. The losses are reduced by inserting an inductor in the series path of the boost switch and the rectifier to control the di/dt rate of the rectifier during its turn-off. The energy from the inductor after the boost switch turn-off is returned to the input or delivered to the output via an active snubber. The same technique can be extended to any member of the PWM power converter family.