Performance advantage of enhanced transformers with integrated current doubler

Inhalt:
Push pull converters with current doubler rectifier can be realized with magnetic integrated current doublers. This technique allows replacing the three magnetic components of the conventional discrete current doubler by only one device, fulfilling the equivalent electrical functions (power transfer and current ripple attenuation). Nevertheless these special functional integrated magnetic devices suffer drawbacks like increased EMI and winding losses. In order to overcome these drawbacks, this paper will investigate designs with different core materials as well as improved shell-type transformer structures. Different integrated and discrete transformer devices for an automotive on-board power supply will be compared and benchmarked via simulation and experimental results, in order to highlight the differences.