Unit power factor single-phase rectifier with reduced conduction loss using a nondissipative passive snubber

This paper presents a single-phase rectifier with low conduction losses due to the fact of employing only two controlled switches. A passive nondissipative snubber provides a further reduction in the rectifier losses. The snubber allows nondissipative commutation at the switches within a large range of the input current. The snubber also reduces the rate of current grow during the switches turn on and also the rate of voltage grow during the switches turn off. The performance of the snubber circuit associated with the low conduction losses results in a rectifier with high efficiency. The design, simulation and experimental results of a 3 kW rectifier are shown to access the performance of the proposed rectifier.