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Application Guide Snubber Capacitors
frequency, fs, times the number of voltage transitions And calculate the circuit inductance:
per cycle. For example, if your circuit is a half-bridge 1
converter, there are two voltage transitions per cycle Li = -12
= 0.196 H
(67 x 10 )(244 x 106)2
and the power in the resistor is:
Cs = snubber capacitance And the snubber resistor value:
Pr = CsV02 fs
Vo = off voltage R= 0.196/67 (10-3) = 54
fs = switching frequency
Before you can calculate the resistor power dissipation,
Choose a snubber capacitance value which meets you must rst choose the snubber capacitance:
two requirements:
1) It can provide a nal energy storage greater than LiI2 ton
< Cs <
the energy in the circuit inductance V02 10R
CsVo2 > Li I2 I = closed circuit
(0.196 x 10-6)(5)2 2 x 10-6
2
L iI < Cs <
Cs > (160)2 (10)(54)
Vo2
2) it produces a time constant with the snubber Since power dissipation in the resistor is proportional
resistor that is small compared to the shortest to the capacitance, choose a standard capacitance
expected on-time for the transistor switch. value near the low end of the above range. For a
RCs < ton/10 220 pF capacitor and two transitions per cycle, the
power dissipation in the resistor is:
Cs < ton/10R
Pr = (220 x 10-12)(160)2(50 x 103) = 0.2 W
Choosing a capacitance near the low end of the Comparing the Quick design to the Optimum
range reduces power dissipated in the resistor, and design, you see that for the same converter switch
choosing a capacitance 8 to 10 times the intrinsic the required snubber resistors power capability was
capacitance, Ci, almost suppresses the voltage reduced by a factor of 5, from 1 W to 0.2 W, and the
overshoot at switch turn off. Try a capacitance at the snubber capacitance was reduced by a factor of 3.5,
low end of the range as the initial value and increase from 780 pF to 220 pF. This was possible because
it later if needed. the additional circuit measurements revealed that the
source impedance was actually 54 rather than 32
Now revisit the Quick example with the added data , and that the circuit inductance permitted a smaller
permitting Optimum design. Youve taken some capacitance to swallow the circuits energy.
more measurements on your switchmode converter:
the ringing frequency of the voltage transient when Usually the Quick method is completely adequate for
the transistor switch opens is 44 MHz and an added nal design. Start with the Quick approach to prove
parallel capacitance of 200 pF reduces the ringing your circuit breadboard, and go on to the Optimum
frequency to 22 MHz. The switching frequency is 50 approach only if power efciency and size constraints
kHz with a 10% minimum duty cycle, and the open- dictate the need for optimum design.
switch voltage is 160 Vdc with a maximum switch
current of 5A. So you know the following: NOTE: For more on RC snubber design, for RCD snubber design,
and for snubber design using IGBT snubber modules, get the
fi = 44 MHz application note, Design of Snubbers for Power Circuits, at www.
cde.com
Ci = 200/3 = 67 pF
fs = 50 kHz
ton = 0.1/(50 x 103) = 2 s
Vo = 160 Vdc
I = 5A
CDE Cornell Dubilier s 1605 E. Rodney French Blvd. s New Bedford, MA 02744 s Phone: (508)996-8561 s Fax: (508)996-3830 s www.cde.com
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