Tips For Applying POL Converters In Downhole A nd Other Harsh Environments

Focus:

Component selection and PCB design are critical when designing power systems for harsh environments such as down-hole applications in gas and oil exploration/production. Even when the power system is developed using familiar ICs such as buck regulators and low dropout regulators (LDOs), the application of these devices quickly becomes complicated by environmental considerations such as extreme temperatures and shock and vibration. This article explores the design of a buck converter, point-of-load (POL) regulator for powering FPGAs in extreme environments with temperatures up to 210°C. Although there is some brief discussion centered around the vendor’s synchronous buck converter for high temp applications, the TPS50301-HT, most of the article discusses buck converter design in generic terms explaining what component types (controller ICs, MOSFETs, diodes, inductors, and capacitors) and material types (PCB material, solder, packaging and leads for ICs and other parts) are required for extreme temperatures and factors that influence reliability and lifetimes. The article begins by briefly discussing FPGA power requirements and why the buck is the preferred topology for powering FPGAs in downhole applications. Then the article reviews the buck converter’s principles of operation, leading to a discussion of the TPS50301-HT’s features such as dynamic biasing that make it well suited for harsh environments. Article concludes by briefly discussing the use of LDOs to power noise sensitive loads such as RF amplifiers.

What you’ll learn:

• How to design buck converters for downhole and other extreme environments
• How to understand what design factors influence the reliability and operating lifetimes of point-of-load regulator designs in downhole applications

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Author & Publication:

Ramesh Khanna, Texas Instruments, Dallas, Texas, How2Power Today, Mar 15 2013

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