Very High Efficiency Bridgeless Boost Totem-Pole PFC using Gallium Nitride HEMTs
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Authors
Geissler, Erik
Date
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
PFC , High Efficiency , AC-DC Converter , GaN , HEMT , Fast Voltage Loop , AC Current Spikes
Alternative Title
Abstract
Data centers have become the backbone of the global economy. The electricity demand for data centers grew tremendously over the last ten years. U.S. data centers consumed 91 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2013 and are on track to consume 140 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually by 2020. AC – DC Rectifiers are the equipment to power the data centers. They convert the AC power from electric utilities into DC power with two power stages. The first stage is the PFC stage that converts the input 220V AC voltage into a 400V DC voltage. The second stage is the DC – DC stage that converts the 400V into 12V which is fed into the motherboard of the data center. Because of the huge electricity bill for the operating of data centers, very high efficiency AC – DC rectifiers are needed.
Existing PFC AC – DC converters use MOSFETs as switching devices. Innovations in MOSFET switches over the last three decades have enabled a steady improvement in power supply design. However, the performance of the MOSFET has reached its theoretical limits. GaN switching technology offers significantly better performance than that of MOSFETs. It grants the opportunity to improve the power density and efficiency of power supplies.
A Bridgeless Boost Totem-Pole PFC topology is selected and designed for maximum efficiency by utilizing GaN switches. Merits include: a custom wound inductor to aid in increasing overall efficiency, a detailed PCB layout for the GaN switches and their respective gate drivers, a high and low-side gate resistance analysis for the GaN switches to reduce the rise and fall time of the gate signals while mitigating the Miller Effect, current control of the synchronous MOSFETs to achieve ideal diode emulation, a soft-start function during the zero-crossings of the line voltage to reduce AC current spikes, a fast voltage control loop for better dynamic performance, and two heatsink designs to reduce GaN switch temperatures during high load operation. Mathematical analysis, simulation and hardware testing were done to verify the performance of the design. Start-up performance, dynamic step-load changes and steady-state performance via PF, THD and efficiency recordings over a range of loading conditions.
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ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
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Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.