Designing Power Converters For 100°C+ Environments: Why Use 225°C-Rated Power Components?

Focus:

In power supply applications that have to operate in ambient temperatures of 100°C or higher, thermal management quickly becomes a major design constraint that must be taken into account from the beginning of product development. When starting such designs, the cooling system-if any-and the proper selection of the components are two key considerations. This article discusses the benefits (greater reliability or life expectancy and smaller design size) of using power ICs with maximum junction temperature ratings of 225°C rather than devices rated at 210°C or lower. Using linear regulators as examples, it describes the impact of temperature rating on the maximum allowable ambient temperature, required PCB footprint, and heatsink size in down-hole-type applications with ambients up to 175°C. The impact of temperature ratings on higher power converters in hybrid electric vehicles and other applications, including the potential to eliminate liquid cooling, is also discussed. Other topics addressed here include the benefits of a high-temperature gate driver in applications of silicon carbide power transistors, component costs, and the company's product offerings.

What you’ll learn:

• How to understand the reliability or design size benefits of using 225C rated power ICs in down-hole and other high temperature applications

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Author & Publication:

Pierre Delatte, CISSOID, Mont Saint Guibert, Belgium, How2Power Today, Aug 31 2011

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