Switching performance and efficiency investigation of GaN based DC-DC Buck converter for low voltage and high current applications

Khaled Alatawi; Fahad Almasoudi; Mohammad Matin

doi:10.1117/12.2238142

Abstract

The Wide band-gap (WBG) materials “such as Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium nitride (GaN)” based power switching devices provide higher performance capabilities compared to Si-based power switching devices. The wide band-gap materials based power switching devices outperform Si-based devices in many performance characteristics such as: low witching loss, low conduction loss, high switching frequencies, and high operation temperature. GaN based switching devices benefit a lot of applications such as: future electric vehicles and solar power inverters. In this paper, a DC-DC Buck converter based on GaN FET for low voltage and high current applications is designed and investigated. The converter is designed for stepping down a voltage of 48V to 12V with high switching frequency. The capability of the GaN FET based buck converter is studied and compared to equivalent SiC MOSFET and Si-based MOSFET buck converters. The analysis of switching losses and efficiency was performed to compare the performance capabilities of GaN FET, SiC MOSFET and Si-based MOSFET. The results showed that the overall switching losses of GaN FET are lower than that of SiC and Si-based power switching devices. Also, the performance capability of GaN devices with higher frequencies is studied. GaN devices with high frequencies will reduce the total size and the cost of the power converter. In Addition, the overall efficiency of the DC-DC Buck converter is higher with the GaN FET switching devices, which make it more suitable for low voltage and high current applications.

Citation Download Citation

Khaled Alatawi, Khaled Alatawi, Fahad Almasoudi, Fahad Almasoudi, Mohammad Matin, Mohammad Matin, } "Switching performance and efficiency investigation of GaN based DC-DC Buck converter for low voltage and high current applications", Proc. SPIE 9957, Wide Bandgap Power Devices and Applications, 99570C (19 September 2016); doi: 10.1117/12.2238142; https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2238142

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

PERSONAL SIGN IN
Full access may be available with your subscription

Email or Username Forgot your username?

Password Forgot your password?

Show

Remember Email/Username on this computer

Remember Password

No SPIE account? Create an account
or Institutional Sign In via Shibboleth

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $14.40

Non-members: $18.00 ADD TO CART

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years