Efficient Soft-Switching Snubber Cell Design for PWM DC-DC Boost Converters: Enhanced Load-Independent Performance

Soft-switching (SS) boost converters are extensively utilized in applications such as renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, and high-efficiency power supplies, as they offer reduced switching losses and enhanced overall efficiency. Zero-voltage transition (ZVT) snubber cells that used SS operation perform poorly in zero-voltage switching (ZVS) turn-off at light load, although they perform well at heavy load. This study proposes a novel SS snubber cell for the PWM-DC boost converter, ensuring excellent ZVS turn-off performance under all load conditions. The main switch is turned off with ZVS at heavy and light load, so the turn-off performance is independent of the load conditions. In addition, the main switch is switched on with ZVT, and the main diode is switched with SS. The main and auxiliary semiconductor components do not expose additional voltage. In addition, the semiconductor switches are switched on with zero-current switching (ZCS) and switched off with ZVS, whereas the auxiliary diode is switched with SS. The theoretical analysis of the converter is presented, and an experimental study is conducted to demonstrate the analysis. The proposed converter is operated with an output power of 500 W and a switching frequency of 100 kHz. © 2025 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.