Using Transphorm’s gallium nitride (GaN) field-effect transistors (FETs), Canadian power supply manufacturer Telcodium has launched high-efficiency redundant AC/DC power supplies with 94% true system efficiency (TSE). The partners claim these are the first-ever redundant AC power supplies implementing GaN FETs in production. According to Telcodium, a single AC series module with redundant AC feeds replaces a typical three-module power supply architecture comprising two power supply bricks and one intermediate bus converter. To achieve the same TSE performance with the typical three-module power supply solution, each unit must offer 97% efficiency, which exceeds the 80-Plus Titanium specification. Makers of redundant three-module AC/DC supplies have not yet demonstrated this performance, says Telcodium.
Telcodium’s GaN-based AC/DC converters with redundant AC feeds offer 94% true system efficiency for single-output units. Image Credit: Telcodium Furthermore the new AC/DC module is 30% smaller than the conventional three-module solution, freeing considerable space inside a host system. The standby power is also less than 1 W. Power factor is better than 0.99. To achieve this performance, the design combines patented front-end circuitry with the JEDEC-qualified 650V GaN FETs from Transphorm. The manufacturer believes the redundant AC series modules will enable data center, server and telecom equipment designers to develop smaller, high-performing systems with unprecedented power supply reliability.
Currently the maximum output power range for the GaN-based AC/DC converters with redundant AC feeds is 200 W to 1,000 W. While the typical output is single 12 VDC, there are versions with three DC outputs (12V, 5V and 3V). However the TSE efficiency for units with three outputs is 92%. The universal form factor for the redundant AC series module is 260 × 100 × 40 mm, and it weighs 1.36 kg (3.0 lbs.). According to Telcodium’s president Gaetan Campeau, the GaN-based redundant AC series is in production.
