A power converter configured for coupling to (i) an AC circuit having first and second terminals and (ii) a DC circuit, comprising a first inductor, having first and second terminals, the first terminal of the first inductor configured to be coupled to the first terminal of the AC circuit; first and second rectifying elements (D 1, D 2) connected at a common node, wherein the first and second rectifying elements (D 1, D 2) form a series circuit configured to be coupled in parallel to the DC circuit, and wherein the common node is configured to be coupled to the second terminal of the AC circuit; a control circuit; an active soft-switching cell, comprising: a second inductor (L S) having first and second terminals; first and second switches (S 1, S 2), wherein the first switch (S 1), the second inductor (L S), and the second switch (S 2) form a series circuit coupled in parallel to the series circuit of the first and the second rectifiers (D 1, D 2); a third switch (S A); and a first capacitor (C S), wherein the third switch (S A) and the first capacitor (C S) form a series circuit that is coupled in parallel to the second inductor (L S); and wherein the second terminal of the first inductor is coupled to the first terminal or the second terminal of the second inductor (L S); wherein the control circuit is configured to operate one of the first switch and the second switch as a main switch and the other one of the first switch and the second switch as a rectifier switch, according to the polarity of the AC circuit; wherein the second inductor has an inductance suitable for reducing the rate of current change when the rectifier switch opens; characterized in that the control circuit is configured to operate the one of the first switch (S 1) and the second switch (S 2) which is operated as a rectifier switch and the third switch (S A) to open and close simultaneously. a first inductor, having first and second terminals, the first terminal of the first inductor configured to be coupled to the first terminal of the AC circuit; first and second rectifying elements (D 1, D 2) connected at a common node, wherein the first and second rectifying elements (D 1, D 2) form a series circuit configured to be coupled in parallel to the DC circuit, and wherein the common node is configured to be coupled to the second terminal of the AC circuit; a control circuit; an active soft-switching cell, comprising: a second inductor (L S) having first and second terminals; first and second switches (S 1, S 2), wherein the first switch (S 1), the second inductor (L S), and the second switch (S 2) form a series circuit coupled in parallel to the series circuit of the first and the second rectifiers (D 1, D 2); a third switch (S A); and a first capacitor (C S), wherein the third switch (S A) and the first capacitor (C S) form a series circuit that is coupled in parallel to the second inductor (L S); and a second inductor (L S) having first and second terminals; first and second switches (S 1, S 2), wherein the first switch (S 1), the second inductor (L S), and the second switch (S 2) form a series circuit coupled in parallel to the series circuit of the first and the second rectifiers (D 1, D 2); a third switch (S A); and a first capacitor (C S), wherein the third switch (S A) and the first capacitor (C S) form a series circuit that is coupled in parallel to the second inductor (L S); and wherein the second terminal of the first inductor is coupled to the first terminal or the second terminal of the second inductor (L S); wherein the control circuit is configured to operate one of the first switch and the second switch as a main switch and the other one of the first switch and the second switch as a rectifier switch, according to the polarity of the AC circuit; wherein the second inductor has an inductance suitable for reducing the rate of current change when the rectifier switch opens; characterized in that the control circuit is configured to operate the one of the first switch (S 1) and the second switch (S 2) which is operated as a rectifier switch and the third switch (S A) to open and close simultaneously.