A pulse-width modulated and zero-voltage switched inverter based on current ripple principle

Considering the well-known constraints of “hard” switching, power electronics designers have tried to associate ZVS and ZCS concepts already applied in resonant converters with conventional PWM inverters. Introducing such “soft” switching modes requires adding a significant number of auxiliary switches and passive components, as well as oversizing the main converter switches. In this paper, a zero-voltage switched inverter is proposed. This converter needs only three auxiliary elements and minimises voltage oversizing of the main switches. A control strategy is then associated with this inverter and leads to maintaining a real pulse width modulation control. Optimisation of the operating conditions of this converter, by incorporating supplementary networks, is also proposed