Effect on Charging Efficiency using Gallium Nitride Devices
Open Access
- Author:
- Huynh, Thien
- Area of Honors:
- Electrical Engineering
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Seth Wolpert, Thesis Supervisor
Dr. Ronald Walker, Thesis Honors Advisor
Peter Idowu, Faculty Reader - Keywords:
- Gallium Nitride FET
Silicon MOSFET
charging efficiency
power converter - Abstract:
- Electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) were created to lessen our dependence on natural resources. EVs and HEVs run on battery packs and the pack can be recharged from a household outlet. Because the vehicles are charged using energy draw from the grid, the problem of efficiency on a large scale become a concern. For conventional chargers, the charging efficiency may be improved due to enhanced in battery technology, charging protocol, or charging circuitry. Recently, Gallium Nitride (GaN) devices were introduced that have better performance than other semiconductors used in charging circuits. GaN has a higher bandgap than conventional materials which allows it to withstand high level of voltage. GaN can also operate at higher frequency resulting in much faster switching capability. The ability to withstand higher temperature allows GaN devices to require smaller heat sinks which effectively reduce the cost of the devices. In this thesis, a DC-DC converter as used in battery charger will be designed using Gallium Nitride devices and tested for efficiency. The results will be compared with a converter using conventional Silicon components. The results can then be projected to higher voltages and currents. Further study and testing should be applied to chargers used in electric vehicles or hybrid electric vehicles.