Voltage Multiplier Cells Applied to Non-Isolated DC–DC Converters

TLDR

The paper applies a voltage‑multiplier technique to non‑isolated dc‑dc converters to achieve high step‑up static gain, lower maximum switch voltage, and zero‑current switching turn‑on. The voltage multiplier reduces diode reverse‑recovery current, functions as a regenerative clamping circuit to lower layout complexity and EMI, and the authors present its operation principle, design procedure, and prototype results for single‑phase and multiphase converters. The technique yields high static gain and efficiency, enabling compact designs; a single‑phase boost achieved 93 % efficiency at 12 V→100 V for 100 W, while a multiphase interleaved boost reached 95 % efficiency at 24 V→400 V for 400 W.

Abstract

This paper introduces the use of the voltage multiplier technique applied to the classical non-isolated dc-dc converters in order to obtain high step-up static gain, reduction of the maximum switch voltage, zero current switching turn-on. The diodes reverse recovery current problem is minimized and the voltage multiplier also operates as a regenerative clamping circuit, reducing the problems with layout and the EMI generation. These characteristics allows the operation with high static again and high efficiency, making possible to design a compact circuit for applications where the isolation is not required. The operation principle, the design procedure and practical results obtained from the implemented prototypes are presented for the single-phase and multiphase dc-dc converters. A boost converter was tested with the single-phase technique, for an application requiring an output power of 100 W, operating with 12 V input voltage and 100 V output voltage, obtaining efficiency equal to 93%. The multiphase technique was tested with a boost interleaved converter operating with an output power equal to 400 W, 24 V input voltage and 400 V output voltage, obtaining efficiency equal to 95%.