A Six-level Multi-inductor Hybrid Converter with the Hexagonal Layout to Improve the Current Balancing

Multi-inductor Hybrid converter (MIHC) is a good candidate for the 48-1 V conversion in data server applications due to the relaxed duty cycle requirement and the inherent current balancing for different phases. However, the excessive parasitic parameter mismatch will deteriorate the inherent current balancing features, causing efficiency degradation. In this work, a MIHC converter with the hexagonal PCB layout is proposed to improve the symmetry between different phases. The mismatch of parasitic parameters between different phases is significantly reduced. Finally, a prototype with 200 kHz switching frequency, 48 V input and 1 V/30 A output is built to verify the effect of parasitic parameters on the current balancing.