Thermal Performance and Efficiency Analysis of Conventional and Active Clamp Forward Converters

The increasing demand for energy has made the efficient and sustainable use of power sources increasingly popular. Due to their high efficiency, switch-mode power supplies (SMPS) are often preferred over linear power supplies. However, the losses occurring in these converters lead to an increase in the junction temperature of semiconductor components, which affects their operational lifespan. Among SMPS, forward converters are widely used, especially in low- and medium-power applications requiring isolation. In this study, the thermal analysis of conventional and active-clamp forward converters was conducted using the PLECS software. It was found that the active-clamp topology reduces power losses by 44.9% and lowers junction temperature by 27.7%. Consequently, the active-clamp forward converter demonstrates superior performance in terms of efficiency and reliability compared to the conventional method.