Title :
Optimum nonlinear turn-off snubbers: design and application
Author :
Steyn, Charl G. ; Van Wyk, Jacobus D.
Author_Institution :
Fac. of Eng., Rand Afrikaans Univ., Johannesburg, South Africa
Abstract :
The optimization of the general turn-off snubber, consisting of a nonlinear saturable snubber capacitor with an energy recovery circuit, is done in terms of minimum total energy loss in the power electronic turn-off circuit. To analyze this nonlinear circuit without a computer simulation, a two-step piecewise-linear approximation of the capacitor´s capacitance-voltage curve is presented. Results regarding the total energy loss in the circuit during the switch turn-off indicate that the nonlinear capacitor as a snubber element is superior to the normal linear capacitor even if the ceramic capacitor is used only up to its specified voltage value
Keywords :
capacitors; losses; nonlinear network analysis; overvoltage protection; piecewise-linear techniques; switching circuits; capacitance-voltage curve; energy recovery circuit; nonlinear saturable snubber capacitor; optimum nonlinear turn-off snubber; piecewise-linear approximation; power electronic turn-off circuit; Application software; Circuit analysis; Computer simulation; Energy loss; Nonlinear circuits; Piecewise linear techniques; Power electronics; Snubbers; Switched capacitor circuits; Switches;
Journal_Title :
Industry Applications, IEEE Transactions on
