Medium Voltage to Low Voltage Contactless Power Transformation for Data Centers

Contactless power transfer (CPT) methods have widely been explored for many applications. An isolated wireless power link enables a touch-safe interface without electrically energized contacts eliminating any arc flash or electrocution hazard. The concept presented here will enable safe medium voltage distribution inside data centers eliminating low voltage distribution with bulky cables bringing voltages larger than 1kV directly to the server rack. This paper proposes high-efficiency single-stage contactless power conversion from medium voltage to low voltage for data center applications. The proposed solution is evaluated using a 10kW design example and verified by experimental tests. A plug-in contactless transformer is developed with customized nanocrystalline cores and 3D printed bobbins to improve the DC-to-DC efficiency and manufacturability. A high efficiency converter is developed to maintain a 48V output voltage with a IOOOV input voltage over a wide load range. The DC-to-DC efficiency and frequency modulation performance are analyzed.