LLC resonant DC‑to‑DC power converter with synchronous rectifiers using high‑ and medium‑voltage gallium nitride‑based transistors

Jinhaeng Jang

LLC resonant DC‑to‑DC power converter with synchronous rectifiers using high‑ and medium‑voltage gallium nitride‑based transistors

Jinhaeng Jang

Vol. 22, No. 8, pp. 1279-1289, Aug. 2022

10.1007/s43236-022-00486-y

Gallium nitride-based transistor

Integrated transformer

LLC resonant DC-to-DC power converter

PCB layout design

Synchronous rectifier

Thermal design

Abstract

The design demands for compact and low-profile power supplies are rapidly growing due to the preference for smaller and thinner appearance of industrial and consumer electronics. In this study, practical design methods for a high-density and low-profile DC-to-DC power converter are proposed. The prototype board of a 24 V/20 A LLC resonant converter was implemented. Given that a half-bridge circuit on the primary side operated with zero-voltage switching, the nominal operating frequency was further increased to 300 kHz. Notably, when an LLC series resonant converter with a low output voltage and high load current operates at a high switching frequency, several practical design considerations are required. A synchronous rectifier on the secondary side was configured to reduce the conduction losses. Gallium nitride-based transistors with high- and medium-voltage ratings were applied to the input and output sides due to their superior switching properties. A multi-layered PCB substrate was introduced to facilitate the design of the devices. Finite-element analysis of the PCB layout and thermal design was empirically conducted through computer simulation techniques. The parallelly connected gallium nitride-based transistors achieved a reliable operation and superior performance. Through a magnetic analysis, the design of a low-profile integrated transformer was optimized for high-frequency operation. Regarded as the most critical issue in gallium nitride-based transistors operating at high frequencies, the performance in electromagnetic interference was verified through effective measurements of conducted and radiated noises.

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Cite this article

[IEEE Style]

J. Jang, "LLC resonant DC‑to‑DC power converter with synchronous rectifiers using high‑ and medium‑voltage gallium nitride‑based transistors," Journal of Power Electronics, vol. 22, no. 8, pp. 1279-1289, 2022. DOI: 10.1007/s43236-022-00486-y.

[ACM Style]

Jinhaeng Jang. 2022. LLC resonant DC‑to‑DC power converter with synchronous rectifiers using high‑ and medium‑voltage gallium nitride‑based transistors. Journal of Power Electronics, 22, 8, (2022), 1279-1289. DOI: 10.1007/s43236-022-00486-y.