The use of wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductors like SiC and GaN to improve data center, renewable energy, and EV powertrain efficiencies and speed up EV charging times, requiring that designers use new validation testing approaches to better understand device and system performance. This article begins by reviewing standard double-pulse testing (DPT) of WBGs. It then […]
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What are some design considerations for titanium AC-DC power supplies?
With the development of Energy Star Titanium efficiency power supplies, the power electronics industry has met the challenges of reducing data center energy consumption and supporting a greener society. What were those challenges, and is there a path to “more than Titanium” power supplies? High-efficiency power factor correction (PFC) and high-efficiency dc-dc conversion were key […]
How to choose a voltage transducer
by NK Technologies Choosing the right voltage transducer (also called a voltage sensor) for your application can be daunting since it comes in many configurations. This guide will help you make the right choice. Each application will have unique requirements. To choose the correct voltage transducer, gather the following key criteria, shown in the table […]
What are the derating and other design considerations when using bimetallic thermal control devices?
Several design factors relate to specifying and using bimetallic thermal control devices and how they are used in systems. The metals and structure of the bimetallic element are of first importance. The selection of those metals impacts the device’s sensitivity and other performance parameters. Derating is especially important for conductive-type devices. The coefficients of linear […]
Protecting power supplies: the proper way to parallel for today’s high-power demands
By EA Elektro-Automatik At its core, a power supply is an electrical device that supplies electric power, a combination of voltage and current, to an electrical load, such as a computer, appliance, consumer electronics, or a battery charger, to name a few. Since the primary use of a power supply is to convert electric power […]
What’s the difference between cantilever and disk bimetallic thermal control devices?
The physical structure of the bimetallic element that provides thermal control is the difference between cantilever and disk bimetallic thermal control devices. This article begins by reviewing how bimetallic structures are made and operated. It then looks at how they are implemented in cantilever and disk thermal control devices. Two dissimilar metals are joined together […]
What are the primary applications for bimetallic thermal control devices?
Bimetallic thermal control devices are used primarily for temperature control, over-temperature protection, temperature sensing, and thermal fusing. They are also available in an equally wide range of package styles and are used in a wide range of industries, from consumer to industrial and military/aerospace. Some carry the full load current, while others are designed to […]
FAQ on using electricity to generate heat: part 2
Electrical energy is often used to generate heat via various basic principles of physics. Part 1 looked at the three ways electrical energy and power are used to create heat, using resistive, inductive, and dielectric-based principles. Dielectric-based heating Q: What is dielectric heating? A: Dielectric heating is non-intuitive, hard to grasp, and the contradiction of […]
FAQ on using electricity to generate heat: part 1
Electrical energy is often used to generate heat via various basic principles of physics. Every engineer knows about heat, an omnipresent companion to nearly all electrical, mechanical, and chemical processes. In some cases, this heat creation is intentional and desirable; in others, the heat is unavoidably a consequence of normal operation and is detrimental. This […]
How soft switching and SiC devices improve power conversion
By Mike Zhu, Qorvo Soft switching in DC-DC converters reduces energy loss. SiC transistors allow for higher switching frequencies and, thus, smaller magnetics, which reduces heat. Efficiency and power density are both essential factors in the design of power converters. Every contributor to energy loss generates heat that needs removal by costly and power-hungry cooling […]
