Active clamp for isolated power converter and method of operating thereof

A power converter, couplable to a source of electrical energy, comprising:

• a primary switching circuit coupled to a primary winding of an isolation transformer and having a power switch that conducts intermittently to transfer energy from said source to said primary winding;
• a rectifier coupled to a secondary winding of said isolation transformer and having a freewheeling diode that conducts to transfer energy to an output of said power converter;
• a secondary active clamp, including:
• an inductor, coupled in series with said freewheeling diode, and
• a series-coupled capacitor and clamping switch, coupled in parallel with said inductor, that cooperate therewith to mitigate adverse effects of a reverse recovery phenomenon associated with said rectifier and to effect substantially zero voltage switching of said power switch;
• and
• a controller, coupled to said power and clamping switches, that controls conduction intervals of said power and clamping switches.