EPC Launches DC-DC Demo Board for 48V mild hybrid cars
1.5 kW, two-phase 48V – 12V GaN FET-powered board targets efficient, smaller, faster, bidirectional converters
EPC has announced the availability of the EPC9137, a 1.5 kW, two-phase 48 V – 12 V bidirectional converter demonstration board based on its GaN FETs. The board operates with 97 percent efficiency in a very small footprint, according to the company.
The design of board is scalable; that is, two converters can be paralleled to achieve 3 kW or three converters can be paralleled to achieve 4.5 kW. The board features four EPC2206 100V eGaN FETs and is controlled by a module that includes the Microchip dsPIC33CK256MP503 16-bit digital controller.
By 2025, one of every ten vehicles sold worldwide is projected to be a 48V mild hybrid. 48 V systems boost fuel efficiency, deliver four times the power without increasing engine size, and reduce carbon-dioxide emissions without increasing system costs. These systems will require a 48V – 12V bidirectional converter, with power ranging from 1.5 kW to 6 kW. The design priorities for these systems are size, cost, and high reliability.
EPC eGaN FETs can operate with 97 percenr efficiency at 250 kHz switching frequency, enabling 800 W/phase compared to silicon-based solutions, which are limited to 600 W/phase due to the limitation on the inductor current at 100 kHz maximum switching frequency. By using GaN FETs, it is possible to reduce the number of phases from five to four for a 3.5 KW converter while increasing efficiency. The efficiency of a four-phase GaN converter operating at 250 kHz is 1.5 percent higher than a five-phase silicon MOSFET-based converter operating at 100 kHz.
Overall, the DCDC converter is three times faster, greater than 35 percent smaller and lighter, and offers greater than 1.5 percent higher efficiency compared to silicon MOSFET solutions. And the overall system cost is less. Additionally, the excellent efficiency and thermal performance of GaN FETs enables air cooling instead of water cooling and the small size of the GaN FETs strongly reduce heat-dissipating aluminium housing for additional system cost saving.
“eGaN FETs provide the fast switching, small size, and high efficiency needed to further reduce the size and weight of 48 V – 12 V automotive power system converters. The demonstrated superior reliability of GaN FETs make them ideal for this very demanding application,” said Alex Lidow, CEO of EPC. “The EPC9137 is an ideal example of the capabilities of GaN FETs to increase frequency and efficiency to allow smaller inductance for less phases and higher power density.”
The EPC9137 demonstration board is priced at $510.72/each and is available for immediate delivery from Digi-Key.
