Multitrack Power Conversion Architecture

This paper introduces a MultiTrack power conversion architecture that represents a new way of combining switched capacitor circuits and magnetics. The MultiTrack architecture takes advantages of the distributed power processing concept and a hybrid switched-capacitor/magnetics circuit structure. It reduces the voltage ratings on devices, reduces the voltage regulation stress of the system, improves the component utilization, and reduces the sizes of passive components. This architecture is suitable to dc- dc and grid-interface applications that require both isolation and wide voltage conversion range. An 18-80 V input, 5 V, 15 A output, 800 kHz, 0.93 in2 (1/16 brick equivalent) isolated dc-dc converter has been built and tested to verify the effectiveness of this architecture. By employing the MultiTrack architecture, utilizing GaN switches, and operating at higher frequencies, the prototype converter achieves a power density of 457.3 W/in3 and a peak efficiency of 91.3%. Its power density is 3× higher than the state-of-the-art commercial converters with comparable efficiency across the wide operation range.