DCDC converters are important in any electrical or hybrid automobile to attach the high-voltage battery to the low-voltage auxiliary circuits. This consists of 12 V energy headlights, inside lights, wiper and window motors, followers, and at 48 V, pumps, steering drives, lighting programs, electrical heaters, and air con compressors. As well as, the DCDC converter is vital for growing extra inexpensive and energy-efficient autos with an rising variety of low voltage capabilities. Based on TechInsights, the worldwide automotive DC-DC converter market dimension was valued at USD 4 billion in 2023 and is projected to develop to USD 11 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 15 % through 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 rising ease of use. Because of this, Vitesco created a brand new era of DCDC converters that set new requirements in energy density (effectivity of over 96 %) and sustainability for energy grids, energy provides, and OBCs.
Some great benefits of GaN-based transistors in high-frequency switching functions are appreciable, however much more vital is the excessive switching pace, which has been elevated from 100 kHz to over 250 kHz. This allows very low switching losses, even in hard-switched half-bridges, with minimized thermal and general 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 general 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 (RDS(on)) of fifty mΩ, a transient drain-to-source voltage of 850 V, an IDS,max of 30 A, and an IDSmax,pulse of 60 A.
“We’re delighted to see business leaders like Vitesco Applied sciences utilizing our GaN units and innovating with their functions,” mentioned Johannes Schoiswohl, Senior Vice President &Normal Supervisor, GaN Techniques Enterprise Line Head at Infineon. “The final word worth of GaN is demonstrated when it adjustments 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 general price. The GaN units additionally permit for simplified converter design and mechanical integration. Because of this, the DCDC converters will be flexibly positioned within the automobile, 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 % and improved thermal habits in comparison with the Gen5 Liquid-Cooled converters. They supply a two-phase output of 248 A at 14.5 V steady. The phases will be mixed to realize the utmost output energy. Nonetheless, it is usually attainable to change off one part beneath partial load situations 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 system. 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 part.
Availability
Infineon’s CoolGaN Transistors 650 V can be found now. Extra details about Infineon’s GaN options will be discovered at www.infineon.com/gan.
