IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i4p835-d1588513.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

An Investigation of Operational Challenges in MHz Power Converters

Author

Listed:
  • Aqarib Hussain

    (Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA)

  • Andrew Boland

    (Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA)

  • Regan Varner

    (Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA)

  • David Matolak

    (Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA)

  • Kristen Booth

    (Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Aqarib Hussain & Andrew Boland & Regan Varner & David Matolak & Kristen Booth, 2025. "An Investigation of Operational Challenges in MHz Power Converters," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:4:p:835-:d:1588513
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/4/835/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/4/835/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:4:p:835-:d:1588513. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.