Analysis and Implementation of a Half Bridge Class-DE Rectifier for Front-End ZVS Push-Pull Resonant Converters

Abstract

An analysis of the junction capacitance in resonant rectifiers which has a significant impact on the operating point of resonance circuits is studied in this paper, where the junction capacitance of the rectifier diode is to decrease the resonant current and output voltage in the circuit when compared with that in an ideal rectifier diode. This can be represented by a simplified series resonant equivalent circuit and a voltage transfer function versus the normalized operating frequency at varied values of the resonant capacitor. A low voltage to high voltage push-pull DC/DC resonant converter was used as a design example. The design procedure is based on the principle of the half bridge class-DE resonant rectifier, which ensures more accurate results. The proposed scheme provides a more systematic and feasible solution than the conventional resonant push-pull DC/DC converter analysis methodology. To increase circuit efficiency, the main switches and the rectifier diodes can be operated under the zero-voltage and zero-current switching conditions, respectively. In order to achieve this objective, the parameters of the DC/DC converter need to be designed properly. The details of the analysis and design of this DC/DC converter’s components are described. A prototype was constructed with a 62–88 kHz variable switching frequency, a 12 VDC input voltage, a 380 VDC output voltage, and a rated output power of 150 W. The validity of this approach was confirmed by simulation and experimental results.