A 2 kW, single-phase, 7-level, GaN inverter with an active energy buffer achieving 216 W/in3 power density and 97.6% peak efficiency

Yutian Lei, Christopher Barth, Shibin Qin, Wen Chuen Liu, Intae Moon, Andrew Stillwell, Derek Chou, Thomas Foulkes, Zichao Ye, Zitao Liao, Robert Carl Nikolai Pilawa Podgurski

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

High efficiency and compact single phase inverters are desirable in many applications such as solar energy harvesting and household appliances. This paper presents a 2 kW, 60 Hz, 450 VDC to 240 VRMS power inverter, designed and tested subject to the specifications of the Google/IEEE Little Box Challenge. The inverter features a 7-level flying capacitor multilevel converter, with low-voltage GaN switches operating at 120 kHz, the highest switching frequency to date at this power level. The inverter also includes an active buffer for twice-line-frequency power pulsation decoupling, which reduces the required capacitance by a factor of eight compared to conventional passive decoupling capacitor, while maintaining an efficiency above 99%. The inverter prototype is a self-contained box that achieves a high power density of 216 W/in3 and a peak overall efficiency of 97.6% while meeting the constraints including input current ripple, load transient, thermal and EMC specifications.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2016 IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, APEC 2016
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages1512-1519
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781467383936
DOIs
StatePublished - May 10 2016
Event31st Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, APEC 2016 - Long Beach, United States
Duration: Mar 20 2016Mar 24 2016

Publication series

NameConference Proceedings - IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition - APEC
Volume2016-May

Other

Other31st Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, APEC 2016
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityLong Beach
Period3/20/163/24/16

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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