To be cost effective and safe, reliability design, test and health monitoring and management are a necessary part of power electronics implementation and its integration into energy systems. Being able to design power electronics to meet a required lifetime for a given load profile with a certain probability becomes acheiveable as we understand the physics of failure in power … [Read more...] about FEPPCON XI – Part II: Reliability of Power Electronic Systems
Reliability engineering
Totem-Pole PFC Reliability and Performance Improvement With Advanced Controls
Totem-pole power factor correction (PFC) is a simple and highly efficient topology. It is being widely used in high-density and high-efficiency power supply design. However, engineers still face many design challenges, including PFC current reversing prevention at input voltage drop, lightning surge protection, current harmonic reduction, and ac crossover current spike … [Read more...] about Totem-Pole PFC Reliability and Performance Improvement With Advanced Controls
Practical Considerations for Design and Layout of High Power Digital PCBs: Reliably Powering Complex Multilayer Digital Printed Circuit Boards
This article discusses practical aspects of powering complex multilayer digital printed circuit boards (PCBs) from high-energy sources and tradeoffs that are required to make functional and reliable boards. What can be found between two layers of copper in a multi- layer PCB? Most engineers would say dielectric or isolation. Evidently not only that but, according to … [Read more...] about Practical Considerations for Design and Layout of High Power Digital PCBs: Reliably Powering Complex Multilayer Digital Printed Circuit Boards
Assessing Short-Circuit Robustness of 1200 V SiC MOSFETs: Using Deep Structural and Physical Analysis
Silicon carbide (SiC) transistors are known for their high breakdown voltage capabilities and ability to operate at much higher temperatures relative to silicon (Si) power semiconductors. The first commercial SiC MOSFETs were introduced in 2010 [1], [2]. Currently, third generation devices are in production and leading manufacturers will soon release fourth generation products … [Read more...] about Assessing Short-Circuit Robustness of 1200 V SiC MOSFETs: Using Deep Structural and Physical Analysis
How to Design and Implement an Adapter Power Supply With Active Clamp Flyback
Designing power supplies, especially for power adapters, requires that the designer possess a particular level of expertise and insight into implementing the best architecture. This level of expertise is especially relevant when using a power architecture known as Active Clamp Flyback (ACF). This article will demonstrate, to designers, a practical design method to obtain a … [Read more...] about How to Design and Implement an Adapter Power Supply With Active Clamp Flyback
