A novel intermediate bus converter topology for cutting edge data center applications

As new technologies emerge data centers and servers have established themselves as one of the largest and fastest growing consumers of power. While switched capacitor converter topologies have some very attractive features, namely low reliance on magnetic components and high efficiency, several critical factors have prevented their adoption in high current data center applications. The family of converters proposed are novel intermediate bus converter that demonstrates the highest performance yet achieved for 48 V to 12 V conversion with up to 2.5 kW/in³ power density, higher than 99% peak efficiency, and 97.2% full load efficiency for 12 V/70 A output. The reduction of voltage stress across the MOSFETs as well as extremely low reliance on magnetics are the key driving factors behind this high efficiency and power density, and are achieved without a sensitive resonant design or the usage of complex control technique.