Novel three-phase SMR converter with inherent snubber energy recovery capability

This paper describes the switch mode rectifier (SMR) having a quite new circuit configuration, which has been developed by the authors and given the name “DC clamped type SMR” (DCC-SMR). The DCC-SMR is unique in that no bilateral switching device is used in the frequency conversion circuit. Therefore, the authors have used a DC snubber circuit in conjunction with the switching device of the DCC-SMR. This DC snubber circuit features a very simple structure consisting only of a capacitor with no need for a discharge resistance or for a complicated regenerative circuit for snubber energy. This is because snubber energy is regenerated on the primary side of the high frequency (HF) transformer by the main switch. Furthermore, an innovative method has been applied for magnetic saturation-preventive control of the HF transformer. The authors carried out operational checks on the main circuit and the snubber circuit of the DCC-SMR as well as on the magnetic saturation-preventive control circuit, and through experiments confirmed a satisfactory result. We manufactured an industrial DC power supply prototype of the DCC-SMR system having a DC output of 100 kW (100 V, 1000 A), with which input/output conversion efficiency 91.6%, input power factor 0.99 and input current total harmonic distortion factor 4.6% were obtained