Project description
Revolutionising magnetic components for voltage regulator modules
Magnetic components, such as inductors and transformers, are vital for most electronic devices and play an essential role in power converters using frequencies of 100-500 kHz. Unfortunately, these components are bulky, and despite options to adjust switching frequencies to reduce their size, this alternative entails significant power loss. This impedes efforts to miniaturise, integrate, or optimise them. In this context, the ERC-funded H3PMAG project aims to develop integrated, efficient magnetic components optimised for use in voltage regulator modules found in high-performance computing systems. To achieve this goal, it will focus on researching novel magnetic materials, including conductor materials and nanogranular magnetic substances, as well as component integration, to develop the necessary technologies and techniques.
Objective
Today’s magnetic components, such as inductors and transformers, in power converters operating at a low frequency of around 100-500 kHz are large compared to other electronic components. These components are a major constraint, limiting the miniaturization and integration of power electronic systems. Increasing the switching frequency can reduce the size of the magnetic components, but this is generally accompanied by significant power losses. I aim to address the fundamental challenges of magnetic components in the frequency range of 1 MHz to 10 MHz, and the main approach will be to reduce the power loss and the component size by creating unique and innovative solutions. My overall objective is to create novel magnetics technologies within conductor materials, nanogranular magnetic materials and component integration that, together with a new winding pattern technique, will enable creation of power converters with unprecedented power-efficiency and power-density. The specific target is to develop efficient, integrated magnetic components suitable for the voltage regulator modules (VRM) in high performance computing systems. I will demonstrate a new VRM converter that is 50 times smaller in size and 5% more efficient than current VRM products. Achieving successful outcomes will have a major impact on the power electronics infrastructure, with the potential to reduce energy waste significantly. To do this, the project’s research questions and hypotheses will be addressed through 5 objectives in 5 corresponding work packages:
1: Mitigation of high-frequency eddy-current winding loss by creating a novel hybrid material structure;
2: Design of new magnetic materials with nanoparticles for a low magnetic core loss;
3: Creation of new core geometries and winding schemes in magnetics integration to handle large current efficiently;
4: “All-in-one” passive components integration mixing the functions of magnetics and capacitors;
5:Experimental verification and demonstration
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsHost institution
2800 Kongens Lyngby
Denmark