Latest Developments of Soft-Switching Pulse Modulated High Frequency Conversion Systems for Consumer Induction Heating Power Appliances

This paper deals with some technological evaluations based on key designs of application specific power semiconductor switching devices in developing generation stages for consumer power electronic cooking equipments. In addition to these, the historical review of soft-switching inverter circuits and systems using high frequency IGBTs are also summarized and described for IH cooking appliances. In particular, the new prototype soft-switching high frequency inverter circuit using the 5th generation IGBTs is proposed, which is based on utility frequency AC to high frequency AC one stage power conversion circuit composed of boost-active clamp circuit. The operating performances of this inverter are illustrated and evaluated on the experimental results, including the power regulation vs. duty cycle characteristics and efficiency characteristics based on the power dissipation as compared with those of previously developed inverter. Its effectiveness is substantially proved on the basis of the experimental results from a practical point of view.