ECEN5817 

Snubber circuit in the flyback converter

Figure 1 shows a conventional hard-switched PWM flyback converter operating at constant switching
frequency fs = 200 kHz. The transformer is modeled as illustrated: the model contains an ideal 1:n
transformer, n = 0.2, a magnetizing inductance LM = 1.5 mH, and a leakage inductance Ll = 16 H. The
MOSFET output capacitance is modeled as a linear capacitance having constant value Cds = 100 pF. The
converter operates in continuous conduction mode. The input voltage is Vg = 300 V, the output DC
voltage is V = 20 V and the output voltage ripple can be neglected. The snubber consists of a diode Ds and
a Zener diode having a Zener voltage VZ = 200 V. Due to various losses, when a resonant circuit is
formed between Ll and Cds, the ringing decays before the end of the switching period. Other than what has
been stated above, you may assume that all components are ideal. Furthermore, you may assume that V
and IM are related to Vg, R, and duty cycle D by the usual ideal CCM PWM converter equations, which
neglect losses, ringing and other nonidealities.

Transformer model
1:n
iM +
Do
_ LM
C
V
R
Vz il _
Ll
+
Vg +
–
+
is Ds

Cds vds
Q _
Figure 1

Consider two operating points, (1) load power P1 = 100 W, and (2) load power P2 = 20 W. For each
of the two operating points, do the following:

(a) Find and sketch the normalized state plane trajectory (jl versus mds) after MOSFET Q is turned
off. Label important numerical values. Use Vg + V/n as the base voltage.
(b) Find, sketch and label important values in time-aligned waveforms vds(t), il(t) and is(t) just before
and after the MOSFET Q turn off.
(c) Find expressions for, and compute values for:
1. Peak MOSFET voltage stress, (vds)max
2. Power dissipated on the Zener diode
3. Total power loss and efficiency of the converter, including all losses during a switching
period due to the leakage inductance and the MOSFET output capacitance.