New Topology Takes Charge Pump To Kilowatt Levels

Electronic Design & Research of Louisville KY has successfully tested a new type of high-power dc-dc converter that delivers 4 kW with high efficiency. The new topology, for which a patent claim was recently filed, is called a charge-and-add (C&A) dc-dc converter.

The first field prototype of this converter was designed for use in electric cars where it steps up a 48-V supply to 240 V for driving a dc motor. According to the company, this converter achieves 87% efficiency at 1-kW output. However, the company plans to raise that performance to 97% in the near future. The output of this step-up converter is adjustable from 0 V to 5 x V_IN, produces low EMI, and weighs less than 10 lbs (Figs 1 and 2).

For applications that require higher voltages, two or more converter units may be stacked (series connected) to produce a higher output voltage. The company is currently designing a 50-kW model. The inventor, EDR’s Vladimir Shvartsman notes that the technology can accommodate power levels of 100 kW or more, but can also be applied to low-power dc-dc converters

In addition, the technology can be extended to inverters. In six months, the company plans to introduce a power supply that converts 12 Vdc to 220 Vac.

Figure 1. EDR’s Vladimir Shvartsman shown with the 4-kW charge-and-add dc-dc converter prototype.

Fig 2. A closeup of the prototype 4-kW converter, which weighs only 10 lbs.