Lecture 8

Forward Converter

J Fisher (PhD)
Senior Lecturer
 FORWARD CONVERTER

• Forward Converter Transformers

Forward Converter Transformers

• In contrast with the flyback converter, where there are two distinct
phases for energy storage and delivery to the output,

• The forward converter uses the transformer in a conventional

manner, to transfer the energy directly between input and output in
one step.

• The transformer has three windings: windings 1 and 2 transfer

energy from the source to the load when the switch is closed;
winding 3 is used to provide a path for the magnetizing current
when the switch is open and to reduce the magnetizing current to
zero before the start of each switching period.
• For the forward converter, energy is transferred from the source to
the load while the switch is closed.

• Compare to that for the flyback converter, energy was stored in Lm

when the switch was closed and transferred to the load when the
switch was open.

• In the forward converter, Lm is not a parameter that is included in

the input-output relationship and is generally made large.
 D1 Lx

Lm D2

D3
 Analysis for the Switch Closed
• In a practical forward converter a tertiary winding for
demagnetising the core is often necessary. The energy stored due to
I3 is returned to the supply via the tertiary winding and D3.

• In the diagram, the transformer is shown as an ‘ideal transformer’

with a separate magnetising inductance.

• Note the dot convention (dot markings), it shows the currents are
out of phase with each other, in opposite direction to each other.
• Switch S is ON
• The relationship between input and output voltages can be
determined by examining the current in inductor Lx.

• Assuming the output is held at a constant Vo,

• The voltage across the magnetizing inductance Lm is also Vs,
resulting in

• The current in the switch and in the physical transformer primary is

Analysis for the Switch Open
S ON S OFF

I3 completely goes to zero (coil 3

resets) and remains at zero till switch
S is turned on again in the next cycle.
That is, S OFF for longer time (1-D)T
in order to allow for I3 to reset to
zero before next cycle or period.
• The currents in Lx and Lm do not change instantaneously when the
switch is opened.

• Continuity of iLm establishes i1 = - iLm.

• Looking at the transformation from winding 1 to 2, current out of

the dotted terminal on 1 would establish current into the dotted
terminal on 2, but diode D1 prevents current in that direction.

• When D3 is on, the voltage across winding 3 is established at

• With V3 established, V1 and V2 become

• With D1 off and positive current in Lx, D2 must be on. With D2 on,
the voltage across Lx
• Deriving the equation (∆iLx)OPEN
• Meanwhile, the voltage across Lm is v1, which is negative, resulting
in
• Letting ∆Tx be the time for iLm to decrease from the peak back to
zero,

• Solving for ∆Tx,

• The time at which the current iLm reaches zero at t0, is

THE DOUBLE-ENDED (TWO-SWITCH)
FORWARD CONVERTER

Notice, no tertiary
winding but two
switches, S1 and
S2, and four
Diodes, D1, D2, D3,
and D4.

Switches are turned ON and OFF simultaneously

Switching operations
 Quiz 2
• The forward converter of Fig. 7-5a has parameters Vs =100
V, N1/N2= N1/N3 = 1, Lm =1 mH, Lx =70 µH, R =20 Ω, C =33
µF, and D = 0.35, and the switching frequency is 150 kHz.
Determine (a) the output voltage; (b) the average,
maximum, and minimum values of the current in Lx; (c) the
peak current in Lm in the transformer model; and (d) the
peak current in the switch and the physical transformer
primary.