Case study: Central DC-DC converter
A traditional silver box power supply is large. It’s difficult to fit in tight spaces and its heavy weight inhibits engineers’ goals to increase driving range between charges. The supply and other silver boxes – on board charger and inverter – all require liquid cooling that adds more weight and complexity. A discrete solution likely won’t work on a different platform, and reengineering to scale power up and down requires significant cost and time frames. The key challenges were:
Vicor power modules are industry leading in high density power conversion. Their packaging protects inside components from harsh environmental conditions, eliminating creepage and clearance issues that make discrete solutions so large and heavy. Power modules provide conversion that’s already tested, with simple passive thermal management, and are easy to adapt for use in different vehicle platforms. Their much smaller volume also makes it feasible to combine DC-DC conversion, on board charging and inverter into one box.
Up to 20kW of power in a very compact, lightweight solution
Isolation incorporated within the module eliminates extra components
Reduced weight
The BCM6135 power module converts the high voltage battery power down to a 48V SELV at 98% efficiency. The PRM3735 is used to provide a regulated 48V rail, while the DCM3735 converts 48V to a 12V regulated rail. Modules can be easily paralleled to provide as much power as is needed downstream. With the miniature dimensions of power modules, the resulting overall volume of the power supply is small enough to be located within tight spaces in the vehicle engine compartment where a bulky, heavy discrete power supply simply would not fit.
Isolated converter
Input: 520 – 920V
Output: 32.5 – 57.5V
Current: Up to 80A
Power: 2.5kW
Efficiency: up to 97.3%
61.3 x 35.4 x 7.4mm
Non-Isolated, regulated
Input: 31 – 58V
Output: 36 – 54V
Power: 2.5kW
Efficiency: up to 99.2%
36.6 x 35.4 x 7.4mm
Non-Isolated, regulated
Input: 35 – 58V
Output: 8 – 16V
Power: 2kW
Efficiency: up to 96.5%
36.6 x 35.4 x 5.2mm
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The future of long-haul trucking is accelerating autonomously on a freeway near you
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High-density, high-power modules enable lighter, safer, lower cost tether cables to extend missions
This class of unmanned vehicle is powered and controlled via a tether from a ground-based power source assisting in extended missions
High-efficiency, high-density modules free up space for advanced communications and extend range
High-efficiency class of UAV depend on solar power to meet its long flight time requirements
