Magnetic components are critical in power electronics systems. Introducing an air gap in magnetic cores allows for inductance control and zero-voltage switching, meeting design requirements. However, it also introduces additional electrical effects, such as leakage flux impacting the windings and inconsistent coupling between the primary and secondary windings, leading to uneven current distribution. This study explores the use of an external inductor to replace the required magnetizing inductance, enabling gapless energy transfer in the main transformer. Using MAXWELL ANSYS simulations, we also investigate the limitations of distributed air gaps in addressing these issues. Simulation results demonstrate that this approach effectively reduces air gap losses by 6.5 W and mitigates uneven current distribution. A 750 W converter with an input voltage of 380 V and an output voltage of 12 V was successfully implemented, achieving a maximum efficiency of 95.07%, with experimental results aligning with the simulations.
.jpg "Yu-Chen Liu (he/him/his) photo")