Snubbers are an essential part of power electronics. Snubbers are small networks of parts in the power switching circuits whose function is to control the effects of circuit reactances.
Snubbers enhance the performance of the switching circuits and result in higher reliability, higher efficiency, higher switching frequency, smaller size, lower weight, and lower EMI.
The basic intent of a snubber is to absorb energy from the reactive
elements in the circuit. The benefits of this may include circuit damping, controlling the rate of change of voltage or current, or clamping voltage overshoot.
In performing these functions a snubber limits the amount of stress which the switch must endure and this increases the reliability of the switch.
When a snubber is properly designed and implemented the switch will have lower average power dissipation, much lower peak power dissipation, lower peak operating voltage and lower peak operating current.
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Snubbers may be either passive or active networks.
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Passive snubber network elements are
limited to resistors, capacitors, inductors and diodes.
Active snubbers include transistors or other active
switches, often entail a significant amount of extra
circuitry and introduce another level of parasitics
which must be dealt with (usually with a passive
snubber). However, active snubbers are appropriate
in some applications.
