Transient suppressor and power converter employing the same
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to a transient suppressor, a method of suppressing a peak voltage associated with a rectifier, and a power converter employing the same. In one embodiment, the transient suppressor includes a saturable reactor circuit interposed between a rectifier and a transformer winding. The transient suppressor also includes a RC circuit, coupled between the rectifier and the saturable reactor circuit and across the transformer winding, configured to cooperate with the saturable reactor circuit to suppress a peak voltage associated with the rectifier.
1. A transient suppressor for use with a rectifier coupled to a transformer winding, comprising:
a saturable reactor circuit interposed between said rectifier and said transformer winding; and
a RC circuit, coupled between said rectifier and said saturable reactor circuit and across said transformer winding, configured to cooperate with said saturable reactor circuit to suppress a peak voltage associated with said rectifier.
2. The transient suppressor as recited in claim 1 wherein said RC circuit includes a series coupled resistor and capacitor.
3. The transient suppressor as recited in claim 1 wherein said rectifier includes a plurality of rectifying diodes.
4. The transient suppressor as recited in claim 1 wherein said saturable reactor circuit includes a plurality of windings.
5. The transient suppressor as recited in claim 1 wherein said RC circuit includes a resistor and a plurality of capacitors.
6. The transient suppressor as recited in claim 1 wherein said RC circuit includes a capacitor and a plurality of resistors.
7. The transient suppressor as recited in claim 1 wherein said transformer winding is a secondary winding.
8. A method of suppressing a peak voltage associated with a rectifier coupled to a transformer winding, comprising:
blocking at least a portion of a reverse recovery current associated with said rectifier by allowing a blocking voltage to build across a saturable reactor circuit; and
moderating said blocking voltage with a RC circuit thereby suppressing a peak voltage associated with said rectifier.
9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said RC circuit includes a series coupled resistor and capacitor.
10. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said rectifier includes a plurality of rectifying diodes.
11. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said saturable reactor circuit includes a plurality of windings.
12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said RC circuit includes a resistor and a plurality of capacitors.
13. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said RC circuit includes a capacitor and a plurality of resistors.
14. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said transformer winding is a secondary winding.
15. A power converter; comprising:
a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding;
a primary circuit coupled to said primary winding;
a rectifier coupled to an output filter circuit; and
a transient suppressor coupled between said rectifier and said secondary winding, including:
a saturable reactor circuit interposed between said rectifier and said secondary winding; and
a RC circuit, coupled across said secondary winding, that cooperate with said saturable reactor circuit to suppress a peak voltage associated with said rectifier.
16. The power converter as recited in claim 15 wherein said RC circuit includes a plurality of series coupled resistors and capacitors.
17. The power converter as recited in claim 15 wherein said rectifier includes a plurality of rectifying diodes.
18. The power converter as recited in claim 15 wherein said saturable reactor circuit includes a plurality of windings.
19. The power converter as recited in claim 15 wherein said RC circuit includes a resistor and a plurality of capacitors.
20. The power converter as recited in claim 15 wherein said RC circuit includes a capacitor and a plurality of resistors.