Bridgeless High-Power-Factor Buck Converter

Abstract

A bridgeless buck power factor correction rectifier that substantially improves efficiency at low line of the universal-line range is introduced. By eliminating input bridge diodes, the proposed rectifier's efficiency is further improved. Moreover, the rectifier doubles its output voltage, which extends useable energy of the bulk capacitor after a dropout of the line voltage. The operation and performance of the proposed circuit was verified on a 700-W, universal-line experimental prototype operating at 65 kHz. The measured efficiencies at 50% load from 115 and 230 V line are both close to 96.4%. The efficiency difference between low line and high line is less than 0.5% at full load. A second-stage half-bridge converter was also included to show that the combined power stages easily meet Climate Saver Computing Initiative Gold Standard.