Soft-switching power converters using air-core resonant inductor

Abstract

Unique systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of a power converter are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is a resonant power converter comprising a DC bus, a primary leg, an auxiliary leg, and an LC resonant circuit. The auxiliary leg is coupled between DC bus and includes a first auxiliary switch and a second auxiliary switch coupled at an auxiliary midpoint connection. The LC resonant circuit includes an air-core resonant inductor and a resonant capacitor coupled between the auxiliary midpoint connection and a primary midpoint connection of the primary leg. A controller is structured to control the first and second auxiliary switch and the first and second primary switch so as to provide resonant operation of the LC resonant circuit effective to provide a substantially zero voltage condition across the first and second primary switch while toggling the switches.