A Modified Step-Up DC-DC Flyback Converter with Active Snubber for Improved Efficiency

• Main Authors: Cristian Pesce, Javier Riedemann, Ruben Pena, Werner Jara, Camilo Maury, Rodrigo Villalobos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-05-01
• Series: Energies
• Subjects: DC-DC power converters; DC power supply; snubber
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/11/2066

The research on DC-DC power converters has been a matter of interest for years since this type of converter can be used in a wide range of applications. The main research is focused on increasing the converter voltage gain while obtaining a good efficiency and reliability. Among the different DC-DC converters, the flyback topology is well-known and widely used. In this paper, a novel high efficiency modified step-up DC-DC flyback converter is presented. The converter is based on a <i>N</i>-stages flyback converter with parallel connected inputs and series-connected outputs. The use of a single main diode and output capacitor reduces the number of passive elements and allows for a more economical implementation compared with interleaved flyback topologies. High efficiency is obtained by including an active snubber circuit, which returns the energy stored in the leakage inductance of the flyback transformers back to the input power supply. A 4.7 kW laboratory prototype is implemented considering four flyback stages with an input voltage of 96 V and an output voltage of 590 V, obtaining an efficiency of 95%. The converter operates in discontinuous current mode then facilitating the output voltage controller design. Experimental results are presented and discussed.