Document Type
Article
Abstract
Megahertz switching frequencies in converters significantly reduce the size of passive components, enabling high power density. However, these frequencies also introduce operational challenges, such as the semiconductor device reliability, thermal management, magnetic design and electromagnetic interference. This paper discusses a dc-dc converter operating at 1 MHz and its associated design challenges. The relationship between a GaN device on-resistance, junction temperature and losses in scenarios where the converter operates beyond its nominal design specifications is analyzed. Additionally, a PCB-based inductor is fully characterized and the parasitic effects of PCB traces are examined for a 1-MHz, 1-kW application. Finally, the conducted and radiated emissions of the converter are addressed, supported by simulation and hardware experimental measurements.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Publication Info
Published in Energies, Volume 18, Issue 4, 2025.
Rights
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
APA Citation
Hussain, A., Boland, A., Varner, R., Matolak, D., & Booth, K. (2025). An investigation of operational challenges in MHz power converters. Energies, 18(4), 835.https://doi.org/10.3390/en18040835