2 Power Circuits 51

.----.---o Vs

ZD

PT

Fig. 2.39. Active-clamping circuit for overvoltage protection

40rr===~~====,-,-----~------,-----~
II- Drain voltage I
> 30 H- - · Gate voltage

~20
~ r-----------------------
~ 10
\. __________ _
0~---------------~

0 2 4 6 8 10

<( 10
_o
c
~ 5
:::J
u
c
-~
0
2 6 8 10
t I ms

Fig. 2.40. Simulation of active clamping circuit without free-wheeling diode

Vclamp = vth,MOSFET + Vz + VF (2.8)

is reached, the power-MOSFET turns on again. In the simulated case without

a free-wheeling diode, the MOSFET is kept in the on-state until the current
through the inductor has been reduced to zero. During this phase, the gate
voltage is held at the threshold level.