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Power Factor Corrector (PFC) totem pole

The continued rise in demand for higher power density and ever more efficient power conversion had driven the continued innovation in wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductor technology. WBG diodes and transistors have enabled totem-pole bridgeless power factor correction to become the dominant solution for many applications, in particular energy storage systems (ESS), electric vehicle charging and uninterruptable power supplies (UPS). This topology can also offer bidirectional operation, enabling power to be transmitted to and from the grid without affecting efficiency.

Block diagram

Design challenges

  • Totem-pole topology can achieve a power factor of 0.99
  • High efficiency, high power factor, and low cost
  • T1 and T2 could either be replaced by a PN diode or SiC (depending on voltage output) to be more cost effective.
  • Alternatively they can be replaced by GaN FETs for more efficiency, with less switching losses and lower thermal dissipation

 

UM90003: 4 kW Bridgeless Totem-pole PFC evaluation board

The NXTTP4000W066 evaluation board is a bridgeless totem-pole Power-Factor-Correction (PFC) circuit. Using Nexperia power GaN FETs a very high-efficiency single-phase AC-DC converter is realized by using a diode-free power GaN FET bridge.

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MOSFET and GaN FET Handbook

Drawing on over 20 years’ of experience, the MOSFET and GaN FET Application Handbook: A Power Design Engineer’s Guide brings together a comprehensive set of learning and reference materials relating to the use of MOSFETs and GaN FETs in real world systems.

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