A Comparative Analysis of Soft Switching Techniques in Reducing the Energy Loss and Improving the Soft Switching Range in Power Converters

This paper presents a comparative analysis of the zero-voltage zero-current switching (ZVZCS) soft switching technique with zero-voltage switching (ZVS) and zero-current switching (ZCS) counterparts. The generalization of the voltage–current crossover or the energy loss factor obtained from simulation of the prototype converter shows that the ZVZCS significantly reduces the losses and helps to improve the efficiency of the converter as compared to the ZVS or the ZCS. On the other hand, it is also found that the soft switching range of operation of the ZVS and the ZCS is largely affected by the maximum switch voltage and switch current, respectively. In contrast, these factors have a negligible effect on the ZVZCS operation which results in an extended range of soft switching operation. Additionally, a detailed PSPICE simulation is performed for selected ZVS, ZCS, and ZVZCS topologies from the recent literature, and the switching losses in the main switches of the converters are measured. It is observed that the energy losses in the ZVZCS mode are reduced on average by approximately 26% at turn on and 20% at turn off as compared to the ZVS and the ZCS. Furthermore, the low standard deviation in this mode confirms a stable low-loss profile which renders an extended soft switching range. An experimental test is also conducted by building the prototype converter to verify the simulation results. It is found that the switching losses are minimum while the converter is operated in the ZVZCS mode. Additionally, the efficiency drop remains consistently low as compared to the ZVS and the ZCS in the whole operating range. Accordingly, the simulation and the experimental results are both found to be consistent.