GaN has been chosen by Vitesco Technologies to increase the Gen5+ GaN Air DCDC converter’s power efficiency. In this transition, the company has opted Infineon Technologies’ CoolGaN Transistors 650 V. 
These next-gen Transistors is known to greatly enhance system performance overall while lowering system costs and raising user friendliness.
Consequently, Vitesco developed a new generation of DCDC converters that redefined sustainability for power grids, power supply, and OBCs as well as power density (efficiency of over 96 percent).
Although GaN-based transistors have several benefits in high-frequency switching applications, their high switching speed—which has increased from 100 kHz to over 250 kHz—is much more significant.
This allows for minimal system losses overall and in terms of thermal, even in hard-switched half-bridges, with extremely low switching losses. Furthermore, the GaN Transistors from Infineon are contained in a top-cooled TOLT package and have excellent turn-on and turn-off speeds.
Because they are air-cooled, there is no need for liquid cooling, which lowers the cost of the system as a whole. Additionally, the 650 V devices increase density and power efficiency, allowing for an 800 V output. They also have an ON-resistance (RDS(on)) of 50 m?, a transient drain-to-source voltage of 850 V, an IDS,max of 30 A, and an IDSmax,pulse of 60 A.
Vitesco Technologies was able to lower the overall cost of the system by using passive cooling in the design of its Gen5+ GaN Air DCDC converters thanks to the use of GaN transistors. Mechanical integration and a streamlined converter design are also made possible by the GaN devices.
The manufacturers’ burden is thereby decreased because the DCDC converters can be placed in the car in a flexible manner. Utilizing GaN also enables the converters’ output to be boosted to 3.6 kW and their power density to exceed 4.2 kW/l. Compared to the Gen5 Liquid-Cooled converters, the Gen5+ GaN Air DCDC converters offer better thermal behavior and an efficiency of over 96%.
They offer a continuous 248 A two-phase output at 14.5 V. The highest output power can be obtained by combining the phases. However, in situations with a partial load, it is also feasible to turn off one phase and alternate the frequency of switching between the two phases.
Furthermore, the converters based on the CoolGaN power transistors 650 V can be utilized to create 800 V topologies without going above the device’s maximum blocking voltage by switching the input of two phases in series.
Additionally, the converters have an isolated half-bridge architecture with an active rectifier unit for each phase, a fully isolated transformer, and a half-bridge based on GaN.
The Growing Demand of DCDC Converters
Any electric or hybrid vehicle that wants to link its high-voltage battery to its low-voltage auxiliary circuits needs DCDC converters. Headlights, interior lights, wiper and window motors, fans, and electrical heaters and air conditioning compressors all run on 12 V. Pumps, steering drives, lighting systems, and lighting systems run on 48 V.
Furthermore, the development of more reasonably priced and energy-efficient automobiles with a growing array of low voltage features depends on the DCDC converter.
Automotive DC-DC Converter Market Overview
The automotive DC-DC converter market is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15 percent from its estimated value of USD 4 billion in 2023 to USD 11 billion by 2030, according to TechInsights.
Here, gallium nitride (GaN) in particular is important because it may be utilized to increase the power density of on-board chargers (OBC) and DCDC converters.
Key Comments
“We are delighted to see industry leaders like Vitesco Technologies using our GaN devices and innovating with their applications,” said Johannes Schoiswohl, Senior Vice President & General Manager, GaN Systems Business Line Head at Infineon. “The ultimate value of GaN is demonstrated when it changes paradigms, as in this example of moving from a liquid-cooled system to an air-cooled system.”
Availability
Infineon’s CoolGaN Transistors 650 V are available now.
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