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Virginia Tech

Selection of Primary Side Devices for LLC Resonant Converters

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The demand for high power density, high efficiency bus converters has increased interest in resonant topologies, particularly the LLC resonant converter. LLC resonant converters offer several advantages in efficiency, power density, and hold up time extension capability. Among high voltage (>500V) MOSFETs, Super Junction MOSFETs, such as Infineon's CoolMOS parts, offer lower Rds on than conventional parts and are a natural choice for this application to improve efficiency. However, there is a history of converter failure due to reverse recovery problems with the primary switch's body diode. Before selecting CoolMOS devices for use in a LLC resonant converter, it is necessary to investigate its performance in this application. Field failures of PWM soft switching phase shift full bridge converters have been attributed to large reverse recovery charge in the primary side MOSFET body diode. Under low load conditions the device cannot fully recover, and the large reverse recovery current can cause the device to enter secondary break down, leading to failure. The unique structure of Super Junction MOSFETs, such as CoolMOS, avoid this failure mode by providing a different path for the reverse current; however, the reverse recovery charge of CoolMOS devices is large and can cause a loss of efficiency. For this reason, it is important to avoid conditions under which the reverse recovery characteristics of the body diode can be seen.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2008

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Person, Clark Edwin
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Lee, Fred C.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Wang, Fei Fred
  • Xu, Ming

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-04172008-110626
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/31746

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Person, Clark Edwin. Selection of Primary Side Devices for LLC Resonant Converters. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/31746