Highest energy density for DCDC converters demonstrated by Vitesco Applied sciences utilizing Infineon’s CoolGaN Transistors

DCDC converters are important in any electrical or hybrid car to attach the high-voltage battery to the low-voltage auxiliary circuits. This contains 12 V energy headlights, inside lights, wiper and window motors, followers, and at 48 V, pumps, steering drives, lighting methods, electrical heaters, and air con compressors. As well as, the DCDC converter is vital for growing extra inexpensive and energy-efficient automobiles with an growing variety of low voltage features. In response to TechInsights, the worldwide automotive DC-DC converter market measurement was valued at USD 4 billion in 2023 and is projected to develop to USD 11 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 15 p.c throughout the forecast interval. Gallium nitride (GaN) specifically performs an important function right here, as it may be used to enhance the facility density in DCDC converters and on-board chargers (OBC). For that reason, Vitesco Applied sciences, a number one provider of contemporary drive applied sciences and electrification options, has chosen GaN to enhance the facility effectivity of its Gen5+ GaN Air DCDC converter. The CoolGaN Transistors 650 V from Infineon Applied sciences AG considerably enhance the general system efficiency whereas minimizing system price and growing ease of use. Consequently, Vitesco created a brand new technology of DCDC converters that set new requirements in energy density (effectivity of over 96 p.c) and sustainability for energy grids, energy provides, and OBCs.

The benefits of GaN-based transistors in high-frequency switching purposes are appreciable, however much more vital is the excessive switching pace, which has been elevated from 100 kHz to over 250 kHz. This permits very low switching losses, even in hard-switched half-bridges, with minimized thermal and total system losses. As well as, Infineon’s CoolGaN Transistors function excessive turn-on and turn-off speeds and are housed in a top-cooled TOLT bundle. They’re air-cooled, eliminating the necessity for liquid cooling and thereby decreasing total system prices. The 650 V units additionally enhance energy effectivity and density, enabling an output of 800 V. As well as, they function an ON-resistance (R_DS(on)) of fifty mΩ, a transient drain-to-source voltage of 850 V, an I_DS,max of 30 A, and an I_DSmax,pulse of 60 A.

“We’re delighted to see business leaders like Vitesco Applied sciences utilizing our GaN units and innovating with their purposes,” mentioned Johannes Schoiswohl, Senior Vice President &Basic Supervisor, GaN Methods Enterprise Line Head at Infineon. “The final word worth of GaN is demonstrated when it modifications paradigms, as on this instance of transferring from a liquid-cooled system to an air-cooled system.”

With GaN Transistors, Vitesco Applied sciences was in a position to design its Gen5+ GaN Air DCDC converters with passive cooling, which reduces the system’s total price. The GaN units additionally permit for simplified converter design and mechanical integration. Consequently, the DCDC converters might be flexibly positioned within the car, decreasing the workload for producers. The usage of GaN additionally permits the facility of the converters to be scaled as much as 3.6 kW and the facility density to be elevated to over 4.2 kW/l. The Gen5+ GaN Air DCDC converters provide an effectivity of over 96 p.c and improved thermal conduct in comparison with the Gen5 Liquid-Cooled converters. They supply a two-phase output of 248 A at 14.5 V steady. The phases might be mixed to attain the utmost output energy. Nonetheless, it’s also doable to modify off one section beneath partial load circumstances and interleave the switching frequency between the 2 phases. As well as, by switching the enter of two phases in collection, the converters based mostly on the CoolGaN energy transistors 650 V can be utilized to implement 800 V architectures with out exceeding the utmost blocking voltage of the gadget. The converters additionally function an remoted half-bridge topology consisting of a GaN-based half-bridge, a completely remoted transformer, and an energetic rectifier unit for every section.

Availability

Infineon’s CoolGaN Transistors 650 V can be found now. Extra details about Infineon’s GaN options might be discovered at www.infineon.com/gan.