This paper presents the analysis, design and implementation of an active-clamped, ZVS forward converter equipped with a soft-switched synchronous rectifier (ACFC-SR) proposed for high-efficiency, low output voltage dc-dc converter applications. The converter efficiency is maximized due to the soft-switching of the main, active clamp, synchronous rectifier and freewheeling MOSFET switches. The operating principles of the ACFC-SR are analyzed in detail and the converter performance is compared with the alternative forward converter schemes employed in low output voltage dc-dc converters. Experimental results are presented for a converter with a dc input voltage of 48 V, an output voltage of 5 V, and operating at a switching frequency of 120 kHz. An overall power conversion efficiency of 92% is measured at an output power of 50 W. In general, experimental performance results are found to be in good agreement with theoretical ones.

This paper presents the analysis, design and implementation of an active-clamped, ZVS forward converter equipped with a soft-switched synchronous rectifier (ACFC-SR) proposed for high-efficiency, low output voltage dc-dc converter applications. The converter efficiency is maximized due to the soft-switching of the main, active clamp, synchronous rectifier and freewheeling MOSFET switches. The operating principles of the ACFC-SR are analyzed in detail and the converter performance is compared with the alternative forward converter schemes employed in low output voltage dc-dc converters. Experimental results are presented for a converter with a dc input voltage of 48 V, an output voltage of 5 V, and operating at a switching frequency of 120 kHz. An overall power conversion efficiency of 92% is measured at an output power of 50 W. In general, experimental performance results are found to be in good agreement with theoretical ones.